The Best Running Races in Bend, Oregon This Spring and Summer

Bend doesn't really do "off-season" when it comes to running. The minute the snow line creeps back up Mt. Bachelor, the start lines start popping up across town, on trails, in breweries, along the Deschutes.

Whether you're chasing a PR, a finisher beer, or just an excuse to spend a Saturday morning outside, here's our running list of the spring and summer races worth circling on your calendar.

The Marquee Race: Pole Pedal Paddle

If you only do one event this season, make it this one. The SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle turns 50 on May 16, 2026, and the 50th-anniversary edition swaps out both ski legs for trail runs on Mt. Bachelor, before the classic bike, run, paddle, and sprint legs into Bend. It's part race, part festival, all Bend.

Spring Races

A handful of standout spring events on every Bend runner's short list:

• The Salmon Run — April 18, 2026. Half marathon, 10K, and 5K along the Deschutes River corridor. A fast, scenic course and one of the most popular early-season races in town.
• Bend Trail Series – Race 1 — May 7, 2026. A four-mile trail run kicking off Go Beyond Racing's beloved Thursday-night series.
• COCC Jungle Run — May 7, 2026. A 4-mile and 2-mile run on the Central Oregon Community College campus trails.
• Happy Girls Bend — May 9, 2026. A half marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids run with a community-first vibe that draws women and families from across the Northwest.
• Kids Glow Run — May 21, 2026. A short evening run designed for families - neon, glow sticks, and one of the most fun starts of the season.

Summer Races

Once the temperatures climb, the racing scene leans into trails, breweries, and ultra-distance territory:

• Oregon Brewery Running Series – Bend — June 27, 2026. A 5K that ends at a local brewery. Pace optional, pint mandatory.
• Bend Trail Series – Race 3 — July 16, 2026. Another Thursday-night trail run in the series, with courses ranging 4 to 7 miles across summer.
• Alpine Solstice — A midsummer mountain run staged by Alpine Running, with longer distances on Bend's high-country trails.
• Oregon Cascades 100 — July 25, 2026. The big one. 100-mile and 50-mile ultra options through the Cascade backcountry — a bucket-list event for the trail community.

What Makes Racing in Bend Different

Three things, mostly.

The first is the variety. Within a single season you can race pavement along the river, singletrack through ponderosa pines, and high-alpine trails above 6,000 feet. Few towns of this size offer that range.

The second is the community. Bend's running culture is built around small race directors, locally owned shops, and start-line crowds where you'll inevitably see someone you know. Races here feel like neighborhood gatherings that happen to involve timing chips.

The third is the setting. There aren't many places where your warm-up view includes the Cascades and your post-race recovery involves jumping into the Deschutes. Bend turns a 10K into a full day out.

Tips From Local Runners

• Register early. The Salmon Run, Happy Girls, and the trail series regularly sell out before race day.
• Train for elevation. Bend sits at about 3,600 feet, and many trail races climb higher. Out-of-town runners often underestimate this.
• Watch the weather. Spring mornings can start in the 30s and finish in the 70s. Layers matter.
• Stick around after. The finish-line scene - beers, food trucks, dogs, kids - is half the reason people come back year after year.

Thinking About Making Bend Your Home Base?

Running culture is a big part of what makes Bend feel like Bend. Trail access from neighborhoods like Northwest Crossing, Tetherow, and Shevlin Ridge means you can step out your front door and onto singletrack within minutes, and that's exactly the kind of detail that drives a lot of relocations we work on.