Event Overview

Welcome to the Rogue Gorge, offering incredibly beautiful and challenging 50K, Half Marathon & 12K trail races entirely along the iconic Upper Rogue Wild & Scenic River in the Southern Oregon Cascades! The Rogue Gorge Trail and Upper Rogue River Trail (a National Recreation Trail) provide miles of enchanting singletrack trails through the most vibrant fall foliage unmatched anywhere in Oregon, hugging tightly to the old growth forested bluffs above the famous river as it churns its way through collapsed lava tube chasms, cascading waterfalls and underground tunnels. We are thrilled to host an event on the awe-inspiring Upper Rogue River!

Background

The cataclysmic volcanic eruption of Mt. Mazama that created Crater Lake 7,700 years ago forever changed the lands we now know as Oregon. The legacy of the eruption can be found throughout Southern Oregon, and nowhere is it more evident than on the Upper Rogue River, just 20 miles west of Crater Lake National Park. Once buried by hundreds of feet of pumice, ash and lava after the eruption, the Rogue River has freed itself over the millennia through the relentless erosive power of its waters, creating a series of fascinating features in the process. The river thunders and boils through hard basalt lava and pumice canyons at Rogue Gorge and Takelma Gorge, disappears underground through ancient lava tubes at Natural Bridge and drops off numerous waterfalls in a lush, sweet-scented old growth forest of colossal Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and sugar pine.

Land Acknowledgement: We honor and recognize that we gather for this event on the traditional lands of the Takelma, Southern Molalla and Klamath peoples, who have occupied and stewarded these lands for countless generations. We respect their right to self-determination and their sacred connection to these lands and waters.

Registration

Laughs, smiles, hugs and high fives are free. The registration fee includes a beautiful, fully marked race course (by the Race Director), cool staging venue, parking, timing and results, aid stations, medical support and communications, custom finisher awards, professional photography, hundreds of hours of planning and several other essential services and requirements we don't need to mention. 

The registration fee does not include a race shirt, hat or other add-on sales. Please review the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy if you have questions about withdrawing from the race. 

Pro/Elite Runners

We reserve a limited number of entries for professional athletes. Email us if you earn all or some of your living racing on trails and have a competitive resumé.

Race Timeline

Friday, October 18, 2024

• Optional Bib Pickup and campfire: 6:00PM-8:00PM @ Union Creek Picnic Shelter. BYO camp chairs and beverages.

Saturday, October 19, 2024

• Bib Pickup Opens: 7:00 @ Union Creek Picnic Shelter

• 50K Race Start: 8:00AM

• Final Cutoff/Race Conclusion: 5:00PM at Finish Line (9 hours).

Sunday, October 20, 2024

• Bib Pickup Opens: 7:00AM @ Union Creek Picnic Shelter

• Half Marathon Race Start: 8:00AM

• 12K Race Start: 8:30AM

• Event Conclusion: 12:00PM at Finish Line

Sponsors

Getting Here

The races are staged at the Union Creek Day Use Picnic Shelter & Amphitheater, in historic Union Creek, Oregon, within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in the Southern Oregon Cascade mountains. Union Creek is on Hwy 62 (Crater Lake Hwy), about 23 miles west of Crater Lake National Park, 11 miles north of the small town of Prospect, and 55 miles north of Medford.

The charming Union Creek Historic District was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's along the banks of Union Creek, a tributary of the Rogue River.

DRIVING: Approximate drive time to Union Creek from the following cities (all highway miles, no backroads or forest roads):

• Portland: 4.5 hrs

• Eugene: 2.5 hrs

• Bend: 1.75 hrs

• Medford: ~1 hr

AIRPORTS: The nearest regional airports are in Medford, Eugene and Redmond, Oregon.

Parking

The Union Creek Campground campsite stalls for all event parking. Please carpool if possible for you to do so.

Accommodations

LOCAL LODGING: The Union Creek Resort offers quaint accommodations adjacent to the race staging area, with rustic cabin rentals, lodge rooms, a general store and Beckie’s Cafe, a great little restaurant serving the tastiest pies around! Additional lodging options are in nearby Prospect, with the nearest large city accommodations in Medford, an hour south of Union Creek on Hwy 62.

CAMPING: The Union Creek Campground adjacent to the race staging area will be exclusively available to race participants and volunteers on the night before your race and is first come first served (non-reservable). The Camping fees must be paid (cash/check) at the entrance/info booth when you arrive and have chosen a site in the campground. Year-round camping with amenities is also available at Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area, about 20 miles south of Union Creek on Hwy 62.

Local Areas of Interest

Make your race day a weekend trip! Hang out in Union Creek for the weekend to further explore the local historic area (there are many more trails here too). Crater Lake National Park is close by and usually remains open through the end of October, depending on when the first significant snows return. The Prospect Scenic Viewpoint along the Rogue River includes the ‘Avenue of the Boulders’, and a short hike to a few of the tallest waterfalls in Oregon.

*Please note there is another Union Creek Campground located on the other side of the state in Northeastern Oregon, which is NOT the one we will be at!

Race Day!

Weather

Click HERE for the latest National Weather Service forecast for Union Creek. Keep an eye on this weather forecast during race week so you are prepared. Early morning temps are generally cool, usually in the 40°F’s but can dip into the 30’s. Daytime temps are generally mild in the 60°F’s but can range from the 50’s to the upper 70’s. The course is mostly shaded and the river has a significant cooling effect on warm afternoons.

Sunrise/Sunset Info

• AM TWILIGHT STARTS: 6:57 AM

• SUNRISE: 7:26 AM

• SUNSET: 6:22 PM

• PM TWILIGHT ENDS: 6:51 PM

Post Race

We will have post race food, beverages and the tunes bumping for race finishers. Stay and enjoy the campfire finish line vibes as we cheer on all the runners!

Awards

• Every participant receives a sweet custom award as they finish their race.

• A raffle of some awesome sponsor swag will be held while runners are out on the course and will be available for pick up at the race finish area.

• The top 3 female and top 3 male finishers receive a custom award.

General Info

Volunteers!

We love our volunteers and couldn’t pull of the event without them! To sign up for a volunteer task, click HERE.

Beneficiary

A portion of race proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Siskiyou Mountain Club, whose mission is to keep the backcountry experience alive in the corners of Northwest California and Southwest Oregon. Working with internal staff, interns and volunteers to first restore, then maintain, and finally promote the region’s great trail legacy. We are proud to support this wonderful organization!

Youth Initiative

The Rogue Gorge 12K race is proud to a part of the USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail Running Youth Initiative – a program in cooperation with the American Trail Running Association (ATRA) designed to increase 14 to 18 year old kids participation in trail races and lay the groundwork for American excellence in elite trail running competitions.

Youth get a discounted registration fee. The Youth category (Age 14-19 on race day) also has a limited number of free entries. Email the Race Director for more information.

Photography

We are proud to have James Holk taking all official event photography this year!

Race Swag

Our top-shelf custom race t-shirts and hats are from Territory Run Co., based in Portland, Oregon! Race hats are made of soft and light moisture-wicking materials with the race logo. Race swag is not included in the race entry fee and must be picked up at race check-in or packet pick-up, no exceptions. All unclaimed shirts will be sold on race day. 

Social Media

We stick mostly to Instagram and Facebook. Give us a follow on IG or hit the 'like' button on the Facebook page to stay in the know.

Pet/Dog Policy

Well-behaved, leashed dogs under responsible supervision are allowed at the staging area and crew accessible aid stations but not on the course. Aggressive and/or persistently loud pets are not allowed and shall be instructed to leave the permitted area by race officials and/or the Forest Service.

Training & Coaching!

Get the training prep needed for a successful race from Trails & Tarmac! They provide exceptional training and coaching services and are familiar with the area. 

Cancellations

Please refer to the standard Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy.

This event is located on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, managed by the United States Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.