FAQs

Please check back periodically for updated 2023 event information.

When is the Great Columbia Crossing 10K run/walk?

The 2023 Great Columbia Crossing 10K will take place in-person on the morning Sunday, October 8, 2023. The race starts at 8:45 a.m. Participants will need to be in line for the shuttles by 7:00 a.m. on Race Day. Shuttles will run from the Port of Astoria, Oregon and the Port of Chinook, Washington to the Starting Line at Dismal Nitch, Washington.

What is the event day schedule?

We keep a very tight schedule on race day to ensure our event starts and finishes on time, per our agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Transportation. We ask that you familiarize yourself with our Race Day Schedule and arrive on time. You risk missing the race if you arrive too late on race day.

What is the event route?

Participants start at Dismal Nitch Rest Area in Washington. They head southwest on State Route 401 toward US-101/Oregon Coast Hwy. Participants turn left onto US-101/Oregon Coast Hwy, cross the Astoria-Megler Bridge and make a left onto US-101/W Marine Drive. They turn left and head through the parking lot near Basin Street and follow arrows west to the Riverwalk. Participants stay on the Riverwalk and then turn right onto Hamburg Street, right on Gateway and then go straight to the Finish Line at the foot of Basin Street! Check out the Course Map for a visual representation of the course. The Great Columbia Crossing 10K course is USATF certified: # OR22006JH

How much is registration? What is included with registration? Where can I register?

Please check on our Registration Page for more updated information about cost, what is included with your registration and how to register. Registration will open this summer.

All registrants must sign-up using our online application hosted by GetMeRegistered.com. Registration will close on October 7, 2023 or when we sell out at maximum capacity. Maximum capacity is 3,500 in-person participants.

How many people can participate in this event?

We are limiting in-person registration to 3,500 participants. A Great Columbia Crossing virtual 10K option is available.

What is the virtual 10K?

The following is from the 2022 virtual 10K (stay tuned for 2023 information): For those that are unable to participate in the in-person event in Astoria, we are offering a virtual 10K race option similar to that offered in past years. 2022 Virtual 10K Information (stay tuned for 2023 updates): Participants can register for $35, which includes a race packet with a Finisher medal, race bib, an event t-shirt, and free shipping of packet materials (virtual 10K registrants wishing to have a packet mailed outside of the U.S. will be contacted with the International Shipping options and invoiced the balance for the increased postage). Participants are responsible for providing the correct shipping address during online registration.

Throughout the race week from Oct. 9-16, virtual 10K participants can run their own course at their own pace, and post their times to the results page by Sunday, October 16. Show-off your well-earned Finisher medal on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #GreatColumbiaCrossing

Virtual 10K participants do not qualify to win overall or age group awards. A bib from the virtual 10K will not grant access onto the bridge for the in-person race.

Please visit the Virtual 10k Page for more information. Virtual 10K registration closes on Monday, September 26, 2022 to allow time for shipping these materials to our virtual participants.

Why do you need my age/date of birth during registration?

The race bib you are provided is unique to YOU based on the information you provide when you register. Do not switch your race bib with someone. All paid in-person race participants will be timed individually by Eclectic Edge Racing. We will recognize the top three overall male and female finishers; the top overall male and female Masters finishers; and top three male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups will include: 14 & under, 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80 & over.

How does electronic chip timing work?

I'll say this again, this is very Important: The race bib you are provided is unique to YOU based on the information you provide when you register. Do not switch your race bib with someone. We contract with Eclectic Edge Racing, out of Eugene, to provide electronic chip timing for all of our paid participants. The chip is attached to the bottom of your bib, on a perforated tear tag. As soon as you cross the start line, your time starts! The chip records your finish time once you step across the finish line. We will have a line of volunteers at the finish line who will take the perforated tear tag off your bib. In order to get accurate timing, you must wear your bib on your front and on your top layer of clothing. Chip timing doesn't mean you have to run or walk at a certain pace. Participants can run, jog, walk, skip, stroll, etc. Go at whatever pace works for you!

Am I eligible? Can my kid participate?

Children under 10 (as of race day) may register for free without chip timing. All in-person participants of any age must register in advance. To include chip timing, in-person race participants must register and pay the registration fee.

The Great Columbia Crossing Virtual 10K is a fun option for the entire family. It is an event enjoyed by both amateurs and skilled athletes. All ages are welcome to register for this year's virtual event. Because each registered participant gets the same perks, registration is the same cost for minors and adults. Every minor (age 17 and under) must be accompanied by an adult guardian at all times during their participation in the virtual event.

Do you offer registration discounts for groups, seniors or members of the military?

There are significant costs to hosting a race of this size and our registration fees are determined based on the inherent cost-per-participant, therefore we cannot offer discounts. Event planning during this pandemic is challenging. The services and supplies that we rely on to bring you an enjoyable and safe experience have also been impacted and in many cases are more expensive this year.

The Great Columbia Crossing 10K is a fundraiser for the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, allowing us to continue hosting this event year after year and continue providing the services we offer year-round.

Additionally, this event directly gives back to our community in two ways: 1) By employing/hiring/utilizing chamber members and local businesses for event logistics, supplies and services and 2) By giving donations to area nonprofits in exchange for services provided during the event. This really is a community-focused event.

Can I bring a bag? NO.

NO BAGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE SHUTTLE BUSES OR THE RACE COURSE. This includes fanny packs, backpacks, running belt pouches, diaper bags, purses, camel backs, shopping sacks. NO BAGS are allowed. You can carry loose items in your pockets (keys, water bottles, etc.). This policy was created with local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. This policy is in place for your safety.

Are drones/UAS allowed? NO.

Leave the drone at home! NO DRONES/UAS ARE ALLOWED. Failure to comply will result in expulsion from future AWACC events.

Where is "Gear Check" drop off and pickup?

The Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce provides a “Gear Check” service! When you arrive at the starting line, you can find the “Gear Check” truck located at the east end of the Dismal Nitch Rest Area, past the portable restrooms. Look for the "Gear Check" sign! You can put your sweatshirts, jackets and anything else you don't want to carry during the race in a plastic sack (provided by "Gear Check") labeled with your unique bib number. We will shuttle the sacks across the river, and they will be available for pick up next to the water tables near the finish line. These items must be turned in before 8 a.m. as the gear check truck will need to depart before the bridge is closed to traffic.

Where can I park on race day? Where do I catch the shuttle? Can I get dropped off at the starting line?

Parking is available at the Port of Astoria (Oregon) and the Port of Chinook (Washington. From there, a shuttle with transport you to the starting line at the Dismal Nitch Rest Area. If you park in Astoria, follow traffic signs off Highway 30 to Hamburg Street and then flaggers will direct drivers to the correct parking lot. In Astoria, participants who arrive later will have to park farther away from the shuttle bus loading site. DO NOT attempt to drop off participants or watch participants begin the race at the starting line at Dismal Nitch Rest Area. All participants MUST take the shuttles from the Port of Astoria or the Port of Chinook. Space is limited, and we need to keep the road open for buses transporting 3,500 participants. For parking at the Port of Astoria, use the following address for GPS: 413 Gateway Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103. For parking at the Port of Chinook, use the following address for GPS: 743 Water Street, Chinook, WA 98614.

Will a shuttle bus return me to the parking lot at the Port of Chinook after the race?

Yes. Shuttle buses returning to the Port of Chinook (Washington) will load from the parking lot off Basin Street (Port of Astoria) at leave at 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

What if I need special accommodations on the shuttle?

If you or a loved one needs special accommodations on the shuttle due to a disability, wheelchair, etc., please call ahead to let us know. We want to ensure you have the best possible Great Columbia Crossing experience, but we need your help to do so.

What impacts are there to vehicles during the event? Is the bridge closed to traffic?

Your patience on race morning is greatly appreciated. There will be heavy traffic crossing the bridge early in the morning, as our shuttles to the starting area begin at 6:30 a.m. Starting at 8:30 a.m., the Astoria-Megler Bridge will be CLOSED to all vehicle traffic, to allow the race to start promptly at 8:45 a.m. The bridge will reopen to regular traffic at 11:00 a.m. Members of the local community should plan ahead and make alternate travel plans for race morning. If you need to cross the river that day, consider changing your trip schedule to cross the bridge prior to the closure or after the closure. We appreciate the assistance and coordination from the many agencies that provide traffic control, security and safety for the event.

How long does the course stay open? What if I can't finish the race?

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is only open to participants from the race start at 8:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. This means participants have roughly two hours to travel about 5.2 miles of the 6.2-mile race course, as the final mile of the event takes place on city streets after exiting the bridge. If you cannot cross the bridge within the two hour time limit, you will be picked-up by a “sweeper bus" at 10:45 a.m. This is necessary to ensure the bridge can reopen to vehicle traffic promptly at 11 a.m. The finish line will stay in place until 11:30 a.m. All participants MUST finish the event course by that time. Those who sign up for this event should be able to sustain a walking pace of 3 mph for the duration of the course.

What is the bridge incline like?

The uphill portion of the bridge is a little more than 3,250 feet, which is about .61 of a mile. The hill starts about 3.9 miles into the race. The bridge crest is about 4.5 miles into the race. The grade of the hill is 5.62%, or a little less than a 4° slope.

How do I get my race packet?

Once you register for the race you will have the option to either pick-up your packet at the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce during the days leading up to the race or have your packet shipped to you for a fee (registrants wishing to have a packet mailed outside of the U.S. will be contacted with the International Shipping options and invoiced the balance for the increased postage). Participants are responsible for providing the correct shipping address during online registration. Please note that we are not able to bundle shipping for multiple packets sent to the same address. If you opt to have your packet shipped to you, your packet will arrive the 1st week of October to the mailing address you provided at the time of registration.

You will be charged $15 if you pick-up your packet on race day (Sunday, October 8).

More information regarding packet pick-up times and location will be provided upon registration.

What do I need for packet pick-up?

The following is from 2022 (stay tuned for 2023 packet pick-up information): Upon registering for the race, participants will be required to select a packet pick-up time slot between Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 8, 2022 or you may choose to have your packet shipped to you. If you did not opt to have your packet shipped, you are required to attend the time slot you signed up for. You can pick-up your packet during your designated time slot between Oct. 6-8 at the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Admin Building, located at 111 W. Marine Dr. Astoria, OR 97103.

Each Great Columbia Crossing paid participant has their own packet, which must be picked-up prior to the race in order to participate. The packet includes their unique bib number, safety pins and 5 Clam Bucks. Participants that selected to ship their packets, or those that chose a Thursday or Friday time slot will be given 5 extra Clam Bucks for 10 total. Participants who purchased a t-shirt with their registration will also be given their t-shirt during packet pick-up.

Children under age 10 who registered as a free participant will also pick up their "kid bibs" at packet pick-up.

If possible, we recommend picking up your packet on Thursday or Friday, when lines are shorter. This helps ease the strain on our staff and volunteers on Saturday and Sunday, our two busiest days for packet pick-up.

You may pick-up a packet for friends and/or family members. If you are part of a group, please send one representative into the building to pick-up packets for all group members. We will ask you for the following information for each of the group members:

- Correct spelling of the participant's first & last name (used during registration).
- City where the participant lives (used during registration).
- Your name (to make note of who picked up the packet on the participant's behalf).

Participants without a bib, included in your packet, WILL NOT be allowed on a shuttle bus and WILL NOT be allowed to participate in the 10K. If you are caught with a fraudulent bib, a bib from the Virtual 10K, or without a bib, you will be cited and banned from future Great Columbia Crossing events.

Where is my registration confirmation?

When you register online through GetMeRegistered, you should receive a registration confirmation via email after you have successfully registered for the event. You can select to have your confirmation email resent on the registration page or CLICK HERE

What are "Clam Bucks?"

Every registered in-person participant will receive 5 wooden tokens known as Clam Bucks, each worth $1 and can be spent just like cash. Redeem your Clam Bucks at a variety of participating chamber member businesses in our area during race week!

A list of participating businesses and instructions on how to use Clam Bucks is on this page and will be provided to registered participants.

Who does this event benefit?

The Great Columbia Crossing is a fundraiser for the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, allowing us to continue hosting this event year after year. Additionally, we give back to our community in two ways: 1) By employing/hiring/utilizing chamber members and local businesses for event logistics, supplies and services and 2) By giving donations to area nonprofits in exchange for services provided during the event. This really is a community-focused event.

Can I bring a stroller for my small child?

Yes, however, only collapsible strollers are allowed, due to space constraints on our shuttle. All participants with strollers must load the shuttle bus at the Port of Astoria at 7:00 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. on race day, as not all of our shuttle buses are equipped with adequate storage for strollers.

Are dogs allowed on the course?

No pets are allowed.

Are bikes, scooters, inline skates, roller skates, skateboards, or pogo sticks allowed on the course?

No.

Will there be timers along the course?

There will be volunteers at each mile marker cheering you on, but since everyone is starting at a different time, mile marker volunteers cannot provide accurate information regarding your time. Once you cross the finish line, however, you can request your exact time from our timing company, Eclectic Edge Racing.

Are earbuds allowed on the course?

We understand that many runners enjoy listening to music while they run, so earbuds/headphones are allowed at the race. However, keep in mind that you will still need to hear race course announcements for your safety, so please keep the volume of your music low enough so you can still hear what is happening around you.

What happens if I’m hurt along the course?

We will have emergency medical technicians placed along the race route and at all of the mile marker locations on the bridge. There are also several law enforcement officers patrolling the route during the entire event who can respond to any emergency situation with lights and sirens. One ambulance is staged at the ODOT headquarters at the base of the Astoria-Megler Bridge in Astoria and one ambulance is staged at the foot of the bridge in Washington.

What is the Chamber doing to keep this event Covid safe?

Overall

Every paid participant gets electronic chip timing so your race starts when you physically cross the starting line, not at the "gun". This means there’s no need to crowd together at the starting line. You’ll get an accurate accounting of your individual race time regardless of whether you’re the first or the last person to cross the start line.
To reduce crowing at packet pick-up you may select the option to get your packet mailed to you (for an additional fee).
We'll have disposable masks available for anyone who would like one.
A virtual 10K option is available to accommodate those not able to join us in-person

Packet Pick-up

To reduce crowding at packet pick-up, for an additional fee, you may choose to have your race packet mailed to you.
If you opt to pick-up your race packet in-person, during the registration process you will be asked to select a date the time to come to the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce to pick-up your race packet. This will help us mitigate long lines and more evenly spread people out.
Groups or families can send one person to pick-up all of their packets. (Your designated 'packet picker-upper’ will need to know the name, age and city of residence provided during registration to claim your packet.)

Where do I get a snack and water?

A light snack and water is available at the end of the race (Port of Astoria), straight ahead after you cross the finish line. Look for the WATER and SNACKS banners. A water station is also set up at the starting line (Dismal Nitch Rest Area). Look for the WATER banner. Water is not provided along the race route because it occurs along a state highway that promptly re-opens to traffic following the race, leaving no time to clean up water station garbage.

How many bathrooms will be at the event?

There are 12 portable restrooms where you load the shuttle buses at the Port of Astoria (which is also the finish line area). You will find 39 portable restrooms at the starting line at Dismal Nitch. There will also be a portable restroom at the top of the bridge, for mid-race emergencies. We are not allowed to place any more portable restrooms along the race course, due to the strict time constraints of our event and the need to reopen the highway to vehicle traffic on time.

Is there a finisher medal?

Yes! We have bling for you! Finisher medals are given out to in-person race participants at the Finish Line on the day of the race. If you register for the Virtual 10K, your finisher medal will be mailed to you.

Can you tell me more about the shirt?

Event shirts are long sleeve and available in two fabric choices: 100% cotton or 100% polyester.
The cotton shirt is a classic heavyweight fabric with rib cuffs.
The polyester blend shirt is a midweight performance fabric with a modern classic fit, formerly referred to by our race as the “athletic” option.
Sizing is adult/unisex with one youth shirt option available.

When do I get my race results?

The initial results are posted on our Results Page within 24 hours. The final results will be corrected within 7 days. These results will display all of our participants, as everyone has a timing chip on their bib.

Will there be an award ceremony?

A short awards ceremony will begin promptly at 10:45 a.m. near the finish line. We will recognize the top three overall male and female finishers; overall male and female Masters finishers; and top three male and female finishers in each age group. If you are not at the ceremony, you will be responsible for picking-up your award after the event at the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce office, located at 111 W. Marine Drive in Astoria. If you would like your award mailed to you, there will be a $5 shipping charge. Age groups and categories for men and women will include: 14 & under, 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80 & over.

What is the weather in October?

The weather in October can be fickle. Some years, we've had the pleasure of running and walking under brilliant blue skies and sun. Other years, we've experienced downpours and heavy winds. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, but know that the race will still take place, rain or shine.

Where should I stay if I'm coming from out of town?

You can find a list of area lodgings on our tourism website. The four closest hotels -- all within 5 minutes walking distance -- to the shuttle bus pick-up at the Port of Astoria are Astoria Riverwalk Inn, Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites and Motel 6.

What else can I do in town on event weekend?

Check out our tourism website for area information, or peruse our event calendar for ideas.

What if I choose not to participate?

If you find that you cannot make it to the in-person race, you have the option to transfer your in-person registration to another runner/walker through Monday, September 26th. Email our Event Coordinator at events@oldoregon.com by September 26th to give us time to make the appropriate changes. You’ll still have the option of signing-up for the virtual race until September 26th, if you wish.

May I switch from in-person to virtual?

Yes, but not directly. You’ll need to sign up separately for virtual and transfer your live registration to someone else (see above).

May I get a refund if I don't show-up?

Unfortunately, no. We have a standing and clear “no refund” policy, as does nearly every other race like ours.

Great Columbia Crossing, even more so than most races, has a vast majority of our costs up front, before the race even begins. As a nonprofit we do not have a pool of funds standing by to absorb those expenses and just “take the loss”. A cancellation doesn’t benefit the chamber in any way, which is why we work so hard to make it as safe as possible each year. there are significant upfront costs to hosting a race of this size and your registration fees get spent on those costs as soon as your registration is processed. A cancellation does not create a windfall for the chamber -- just the opposite. So we, like you, definitely don’t want that to happen and we will do everything we can to make sure the race goes on safely and as planned.

When should I mark my calendar for the upcoming Great Columbia Crossing events?

The event is typically held the second Sunday in October. Anticipated upcoming dates are:

Sunday, October 8, 2023
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Sunday, October 12, 2025