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What we’re about

Northwest Trail Runners offers a diversity of trail running experiences designed to engage trail runners of all ability levels. These include Saturday morning and Tuesday evening runs in Forest Park or other trails around Portland, adventure runs in the gorge or other scenic locations, and trail running trips that showcase the treasured wildscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

Tuesday and Saturday runs are generally 5 - 7 miles long with a variety of paces and experience. Our adventure runs are more challenging in both length and elevation and are targeted towards more seasoned runners.

Northwest Trail Runners also looks to build a vibrant trail running community, form friendships and adventure ideas, introduce people to the wonders of adventure running, and to actively engage our members in caring for our wild places, open spaces, and public lands.

We look forward to growing and exploring the wild treasures of the Pacific Northwest with you!

FAQ's

What pace do people run?
We have many different paces of runners and sometimes people walk if they are recovering from injury. It will depend on the elevation and distance of the route, and who shows up that day. If you like a speed challenge there is usually someone who will take you up on it!

Do you regroup during the run?
Yes, we usually regroup one or more times (depends on the route) to keep the group closer together. If you will be walking or running a slower pace let the organizer of the day know. We may not be able to wait for you at the regrouping if you are far behind but can discuss other options to keep you engaged.

I'm nervous about meeting new people! Will I fit in?
We have all been there! We are a casual, welcoming group focused on building community. Many of us joined solo and have built friendships which have continued outside the scheduled runs. We usually have a good number of "regulars" and a few new people at each of our runs.

Where do you run?
The bulk of our runs are in Forest Park which contains 80 miles of trails to play in. We also venture out to other spots around Portland and do an occasional adventure run in the gorge, up or around mountains, or at the coast.

What types of events do you have?
We have regularly scheduled Tuesday night (6:30pm) and Saturday morning (9:00am) runs, 5-7 miles in length, generally posted a week in advance. In addition, we schedule occasional adventure runs (see above) and special events. Examples of special events from the past: volunteer trail maintenance with Forest Park Conservancy, Wildwood End to End run, Pi day pie run, New Year's day relay, summer picnic.

I have another question. What should I do?
Send a message to one of our organizers or post a message on one of our events. We'd love to hear from you!

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