Contents
A view of Mt. St. Helens from the Ammefu trail.
About Wine Country Trail Runs
July 30, 2023
5k, 10k, & Half Marathon
The Wine Country Trail Runs occur at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park near Gaston, OR. Oregon Metro bought this former 1260-acre Douglas Fir tree farm and restored the area to its natural beauty. The ten miles of well-groomed gravel and dirt trails allow visitors to wander through evergreens, maples, white oaks, madrones, ferns, and streams flowing to the Tualatin River. Views of the Cascades, Coastal Range, and the Tualatin Valley are obtainable at different vistas in the park. Oregon Live called Chehalem Ridge an instant classic in the Willamette Valley.
Finishers over 21 can enjoy a splash of wine from Ardiri Winery and Vineyards.
Adaptive 10k racer on the Witches Butter trail
Adaptive Races
Northwest Dirt Churners is proud to have adaptive trail races of 5k and 10k distances. Adaptive racers will start at 8:45 am. The trails at Chehalem Ridge for the 5k and 10k routes are safe and accessible for adaptive racers. Some of the switchbacks have tighter turning radii which may be difficult for some users, depending on their equipment. Participants may have to go slow on some of the turns on the Woodland Trail.
Course Preview of Chehalem Ridge with Adaptive Rider Jeremy P. McGhee
10k and Half Marathon courses circle an oak tree on the Mampał Trail.
Land Acknowledgement
Northwest Dirt Churners recognizes that the trails in Chehalem Ridge Nature Park run through the traditional lands of the Chehalem and the Atfalati people (also known as the Tualatin Kalapuya). We thank these indigenous tribes and their descendants for being these spaces’ original and continuing stewards.
Tribal Artwork designed by Bobby Mercier represents the Tualatin and Kalapuya people at the high point in the park.
What to expect
The Wine Country Trail Runs is open to all levels and types of runners. The 5k is relatively flat and on the dirt Timber Road and pea gravel. There is no cut-off, so run, hike, or both. The 10k and half marathon runs are a little more challenging but not too difficult. All runs will start at different intervals, but runners will be on the course simultaneously.
Runners are rewarded with stemless wine glasses at the finish. In addition, ETA will serve food with vegan options to enjoy in the picnic areas. Participants over 21 can enjoy a splash of wine from Ardiri Winery and Vineyards. Tastings will also be available from Aridiri.
Chehalem Ridge Picnic Area
Courses
All races start and finish at the junction of Timber Road and Woodland Trail by the park’s entrance. Each race begins running down Timber Road and ends on Woodland Trail. The half marathon will have two aid stations, the 10k will have one aid station, and the 5k will not have any aid stations or water stops. The park will be open to all users during the event, including mountain bikes and horses.
There will be water and Naked Nutrition electrolyte drinks at the start, so bring a hydration vest, water bottle, or handheld for the run.
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park Trails and backgrounds (from Bobcat at Oregon Hikers)
Chehalem: ‘outside place’ in Atfalati (Northern Kalapuya); also the name given to a local band of the Atfalati
Ayeekwa Trail: ayeekwa is Atfalati for ‘bobcat’
Ammefu Trail: ammefu means ‘mountain’ in Atfalati
Mampał Trail: mampał = ‘lake’ in Atfalati; probably referring to Wapato Lake, which once existed near Gaston, was converted to onion fields, and part of which now is being restored as a national wildlife refuge.
Zorzal Trail: zorzal = Spanish for ‘thrush’
Castor Trail: castor is Spanish for ‘beaver’
Madrona Trail: the madrone tree (Arbutus menziesii)
Witches Butter Trail: Witch’s butter (Tremella mesenterica) is an orange-colored jelly-like fungus that is parasitic on fungi that inhabit decayed logs.
5K- The 5k starts down Timber Road for 3/4 of a mile and turns right on Ayeekwa Trail. Ayeekwa Trail follows a creek and past a beaver dam. Halfway through the run, turn left on Witches Butter Trail toward Timber Road. Take a left on Timber for a short jaunt and then right on Woodland Trail. Follow Woodland Trail to the finish.
5k Elevation Profile
Half Marathon competitors enjoying the trails of Chehalem Ridge Nature Park.
10k- 10k participants will enjoy views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier on the Ammefu Trail, a beaver dam on the Ayeekwa Trail, nurseries on the Witches Butter Trail, and vineyards on the Mampał Trail. Most of the course is on double-track pea gravel and dirt trails, with some running on Timber Road. The Mampał aid station is at mile 4.25.
10K Elevation Profile
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park trails run through meadows, forests, and ridgelines.
Half Marathon- The half marathon uses every Chehalem Ridge Nature Park trail. This includes views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier on the Ammefu Trail, a beaver dam on the Ayeekwa Trail, nurseries on the Witches Butter Trail, and the Tualatin Valley and Coastal Range on the Chehalem Ridge Trail, and vineyards on the Mampał Trail. The course is on double-track pea gravel and dirt trails, with only the first quarter-mile on Timber Road. The Madrona Aid Station is at mile points 5.2 and 6.3. The Mampał aid station is at mile point 10.
Half Marathon Elevation Profile
All races finish on the Woodland Trail.
Race Day Details
7/30/2022
Adaptive Trail 5k & 10k – 8:45 am
Half Marathon – 9:00 am
10K – 9:30 am
5k – 10:00 am
Chehalem Ridge Nature Park opens at 8:00 am. No event parking is allowed in Chehalem Ridge Park except for adaptive participants. Instead, runners will park on the shoulder closest to the park on the west side of the entrance.
Check-in at the picnic area near the start from 8:00 am-8:30 am for adaptive participants, 8:15 am-8:45 am for the half marathon, and 8:15-9:45 am for the 5k and 10k. Water and Naked Nutrition Electrolyte will be available to fill a water bottle before and after the race (remember this is a cupless race). Park restrooms are in the picnic area.
The half marathon will start at 9:00 am, the 10k at 9:30 am, and the 5k at 10:00 am at the junction of Woodland Trail and Timber Road. We’ll have a pre-race meeting five minutes before each start.
The finish is also at Woodland Trail and Timber Road. Finishers will enjoy vegan and non-vegan food from ETA.
Finisher’s stemless wine glasses
About Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
- Address:
- Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
- 38263 SW Dixon Mill Rd, Cornelius
- Dogs and other pets are not allowed because they can damage sensitive habitats and threaten wildlife.
- Smoking and vaping are not allowed.
Enjoy food from ETA Catering at the finish.
Registration
This race is limited to 200 total runners. Registration begins May 1st.
There will be raffled sponsor prizes for race finishers.
5k – $45, $55 after July 1st
10k – $60, $70 after July 1st
Half Marathon – $70, $80 after July 1st
Merch is also available to purchase.
No refunds, as all sales are final. See the race cancellation policy for more details.
USA Track and Field sanctions the Wine Country Trail Runs.
Results, Pictures & Race Reports
Pictures 2022 – Jaime Cartales Photography Jason Fedchak
2023 Jason Fedchak
Mampał Aid Station runners get refreshed on the hot days of summer.
Sponsors
Does your half marathon welcome walkers? What is your time limit for the half? Do you use timing chips?
We don’t have a time limit for the half marathon, but we would like it to be done in 4 hours or less. We use the UltraSignUp app for timing. We can make arrangements to start early if you want.
Will the Half marathon be marked better this year. I got lost and ended up running 15.4 miles out there. I know I wasn’t the only one. There were at least two others who were wondering around.
There are many turns at Chehalem Ridge Nature Park, so we made over 40 signs last year to help runners stay on course. We received several comments about how well the course was marked from runners after the race and through the post-run survey. However, we know some runners made wrong turns, particularly at one spot. We will change the signage at that spot. We will also improve our pre-race email and announcements to help runners with race directions.
hi! Is there day of registration? I couldn’t register online as we had to wait to see if my any of my daughter’s events, if she qualified for Finals (that run through Sunday). She did not so I am available to run this on Sunday.
Sorry we didn’t get back to you soon enough before the race. We were marking the course and preparing for the event all day. See you at Oxbow?