Trail running Bend vs. Eugene

[Steve97415]

There are fir/hemlock forests in Eugene vs. sagebrush and ponderosa pines in Bend. Anything east of the Cascade Range is a much drier, basin-and-range ecotype ("high desert" in the local idiom). Bend is almost like Colorado. The running season will be year-round in Eugene while Bend transitions to snow sports in November. In both cases, the best trails will be something you'd need to drive to.

As WolfBoy914 pointed out, Ashland rates high for out-your-door trail running, because the trail network, which is vast, starts in town. It runs from the Talent Irrigation ditch trail just above town, which in runnable all year and goes all the way up the mountain to the Pacific Crest Trail, which is covered in snow for most of the year.

When it comes to the practicality of finding employment, Eugene will be the easiest place to settle in...and it will be tough enough even there.

http://www.ashlandtrails.org/Maps/Maps_Slice8.html

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

I remember when I hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim it took me three days. The trail runners did it in hours ....... Rim to Rim.

Originally Posted by davidruns

Yeah, but you probably got a lot better pictures than they did!

Oh yah. And camping with a thick steak at Phantom Ranch on my 40th Birthday, Priceless.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Both sides of the Cascades have excellent hiking trails that you can run on.,. The same goes for the Oregon Coast.

Forest is different on the 2 sides of the Cascades. Forest is very thick with a lot of underbrush and blackberries on the west side.

The forest is pretty much clear in Central Oregon. You can see for a distance and the trails don't get over-grown.

But both sides have wonderful trails that are well mapped.

On the west side, you will be running in the rain and mud for over half the year. The plus for that side, is that you can drive to the coast and use the coast trails, which are spectacular, although also wet and muddy for part of the year.

In Central Oregon, it is dry. There is running all year. You just run further down in elevation when the mountains get snow.

If you are competing, then Central Oregon gives you a lot better lung development and more efficient use of oxygen. Olympic athletes in many different sports train in Bend.

You can't lose, no matter which town you pick. There are excellent trails no matter where you go in Oregon.