Willamette Valley Marathon and Half Marathon

Course highlights

This idyllic 13.1-mile course runs through the heart of the Willamette Valley in Yamhill County, winding past a cluster of four American Viticulture Areas (Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton, Chehalem Mountains, and Ribbon Ridge).

The race starts at Stoller Family Estate, perched on a hill just above the towns of Lafayette and Dundee. Once out of the gates of Stoller, the course is lined with vineyards and orchards before reaching a residential section of Lafayette. Runners then begin a scenic three-mile journey along Abbey Road (can you hear the Beatles playing on your iPod?).

The relay transition is located just beyond the entrance to Abbey Road Farm B&B just after mile six. From here runners will take a sweeping left onto Hendricks Road for a long straightway through the tree canopy and eventually past Lemelson Winery where a water and Pinot Gris wine stop is offered.

Destination Races is excited to feature Lemelson Vineyards as the exclusive on course wine stop, located just before mile 9! Be sure to visit Lemelson Vineyards (12020 NE Stag Hollow Rd, Carlton, OR 97111 (503) 852-6619) after the race to relax and unwind with a glass of spectacular wine!

At mile 8 the course veers left where runners will turn left on Mineral Springs Road, for another serene and scenic section of the course. Just after Mile 10, runners will turn right on NE Jernstedt Road where a water stop and band greet them before beginning the 1.6-mile gravel section of the course. A right turn off Jernstedt and onto NE Old McMinnville Hwy points you north and you’ll reach the last water station where the pavement resumes then take turn onto Main Street for the final half mile into Carlton for the finish!