Wine Country Trail Runs

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 pea 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.

The park is located near the heart of Willamette Valley’s wine country. No matter which direction you are coming from, Beaverton, Forest Grove, or Newberg, you’ll see rolling vineyards along the way. Click this link for wineries in the area.

10k and Half Marathon courses circle Iowa Hill.

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 three 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 Gnarly Hydrate at the start, so bring a water bottle or handheld for the run. Use the discount code DIRT15 for 15% off to try Gnarly Hydrate and other Gnarly nutrition products. Also, our friends at Ultimate Direction have great handhelds for running.

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.
Iowa Hill: several original settler families in this part of the Tualatin Valley were from Iowa

5K- The 5k starts down Timber Road for 3/4 of a mile and turns right on Ayeekwa Trail. Ayeekwa Trail follows Christensen 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

The trails in Chehalem Ridge Nature Park are well-manicured pea gravel and dirt, including the Mampa Trail with views of the Coastal Mountains.

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 Iowa Hill 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 trail in Chehalem Ridge Nature Park. 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 Iowa Hill aid station is at mile point 10.

Half Marathon Elevation Profile

All runners finish on the Woodland Trail.

Race Day Details

7/30/2022

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. Instead, participants 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 8:15 am-8:45 am for the half marathon, 8:15-9:45 am for the 5k and 10k. Water and Gnarly 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.