Corvallis Half Marathon & 5K

Saturday, April 15, 2023 • Corvallis, OR • Course Map

Surrounded by mountains to the west, east and south, this city in the heart of western Oregon’s Willamette Valley plays host to the annual Corvallis Half Marathon, which saw nearly 1,000 runners and walkers cross the finish line last year on a route that takes runners on a tour of the full variety of scenery this city has to offer.

Corvallis lies in the valley within a couple hours’ drive of many of Oregon’s more well-known cities — like Portland and Salem to the north, and Eugene to the south — and is the home of the campus of Oregon State University.

Famed for its recognition as one of the nation’s best college towns, the city also lies within a day’s drive of some of Oregon’s most dramatic and gorgeous natural attractions, including skiing in the nearby mountains and the Oregon coast less than 50 miles away.

Runners (and walkers — the race is open to both) follow an out-and-back loop course for the half marathon that starts and finishes on the Oregon State University campus, near Reser Stadium, the home field of the OSU Beavers of the Pac-10 NCAA football conference.

From there, runners then head out on a tour around the southeastern corner of the campus, and then head east along Campus Way all the way through the heart of the OSU campus.

The course exits campus with a right turn off Campus Way onto 26th Street where runners continue north until turning onto 27th Street and reaching Walnut Boulevard. Runners then follow Walnut Boulevard west and then south for the next several miles as they tackle the first big hill of the course.

The second big hill comes just after exiting Walnut Boulevard, as runners make a right turn onto Oak Creek Drive toward Bald Hill Natural Area, a 284-acre park that’s a favorite of locals for its gravel and dirt trails that take walkers, hikers and runners from the base of the hill all the way to the top.

After heading into the Bald Hill Natural Area, runners turn right at the base of the hill and follow the winding path through the park all the way northward to Oak Creek Drive, and they make their way along the first of the race’s two big uphill stretches as they head through Bald Hill. The incline, thankfully, is a gradual one, rising about 100 feet in elevation over the course of the mile through the park area. Along the way, the trails pass through a number of wooded areas and wide-open prairies, where plentiful wildflowers bloom in the spring.

Next, runners turn onto the multi-use path leading out of Bald Hill, eventually merging with Campus Way, after which it begins the long straightaway stretch back down toward the OSU campus for the race finish.

Foggy morning scene in Corvallis, Oregon, in December 2012. (Photo by Bill Young/flickr)

Race Weather & Climate

Nestled in the heart of western Oregon’s Willamette Valley, just over 80 miles south of Portland, the city of Corvallis typically experiences mild to moderately cool and drier weather conditions than the preceding winter months, when area precipitation is heaviest.

On race day (April 15), the average low is 39ºF and the average high is 59ºF.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Corvallis Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

8:00 AM – half marathon early start for walkers
8:30 AM – half marathon runners
8:50 AM – 5K

Fees

$70 and up for the half marathon

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the Corvallis Half Marathon, register online at RunSignUp.com here.

Official Race Website

www.corvallishalfmarathon.com

Comments

Ever run in the Corvallis Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.

See more races in: April, Oregon

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