Yakima River Canyon Marathon
Ellensburg, WA
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join one of the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic Boston Qualifiers. The Yakima River Canyon Marathon features an exceptionally scenic point-to-point course as it offers spectacular views of the Yakima River Canyon. It starts on Canyon Road .2 mile south of the Berry Road intersection in Ellensburg, Washington. After two loops, … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Mar 28):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 60 | 55 | 51 | 52 | 66 |
| L (°F) | 37 | 42 | 33 | 37 | 45 |
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Gorgeous Scenery and Gentle Course
If you're looking for a small, homespun race and you enjoy running in beautiful, natural and QUIET spaces, this is the race for you. While the production quality (swag, pre-race … MORE
If you’re looking for a small, homespun race and you enjoy running in beautiful, natural and QUIET spaces, this is the race for you. While the production quality (swag, pre-race communication, etc) is not anywhere near other races, this race feels very community based and the way that community runs used to be (or at least how I would imagine them to be!).
There are two hills–one around 11/12 and the other at 22/23, but they are not as brutal as you might expect and very easy to walk. The biggest challenge for me was not stopping and sitting to just take in the beauty of the river and the canyon. I usually run with something playing in my ears, but the quiet and stillness of the canyon inspired me to run without any noise and just the sound of my feet hitting the ground.
This was the first year back after two off due to COVID and it showed a bit. Pre-race communication were non-existent (I wasn’t sure that the race was even happening for certain until I picked up my bib) and for runners who revel in swag, you will be disappointed. But the people who put it on are as kind as can be and you’ll feel like a part of something. Not all races can say that.
First Marathon
I never would have called myself a runner even though I did XC, wrestling and Track(1600M) all 4 years of highschool. 13 years later some friends started talking about running … MORE
I never would have called myself a runner even though I did XC, wrestling and Track(1600M) all 4 years of highschool. 13 years later some friends started talking about running a marathons and something in me snapped. With 3 months to get ready I decided to sign up for this race that finishes in my hometown. I was completely out of shape with no plan or experience beyond 5k races in highschool. The training runs got less and less miserable until I actually started enjoying them. The night before the race I was so nervous and almost dropped to the half. Decided to go for it despite the doubt and finished which was my only goal. This race got me back into running again.
The Yakima Canyon is net downhill but there are 2 big stretches of uphill and the bigger one toward the end is a real killer. The race is well-organized, lots of aid and volunteers. The scenery is great, the road snakes along the river. There is lots of different views of the river, cliffs and hills. I remember seeing several giant eagle nests and having eagles gliding along the river next to me during this run. I am Writing this review 2 years after the run. I do plan to run this race again but with proper preparation and to finish with a respectable time.