2027 Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Run

Few half-marathons measure themselves in vertical feet. The Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Run starts in Lithia Park at 1,900 feet and grinds upward to the 7,500-foot summit of Mt. Ashland, gaining more than a mile of elevation. It's a small, intense field — roughly 240 runners each year, from around seven states — and the payoff is a summit finish with sweeping mountain views over southern Oregon.

First run in 2003, the race has a committed, community feel. Proceeds benefit Ashland Woodland and Trails Association, Ashland DEVO, and the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association, so every entry gives back to the trails. Don't come for a PR; come for the challenge. With temperatures that can reach the low 80s at the top, this is a leg-burning, lung-opening climb that ends at the mountain's high point.