Portland and Hood to Coast passing through Columbia County

Hood and Portland to Coast are traveling through Columbia County this Friday and Saturday, August 23-24, 2024. Runners and walkers will not be traveling through the city limits of St. Helens, though they will pass through Scappoose.

The racecourse runs just outside St. Helens through the Warren area to the Fairgrounds. However, you will likely still encounter increased traffic and event participants visiting local businesses in St. Helens.

This year’s stop at Columbia County Fairgrounds will include hot beverages, hot meals, and snacks sold as a fundraiser to support the St. Helens High School Safe and Sober Senior event. This fundraiser will run on Friday, August 23 beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing while supplies last.

This year’s course:

Highway 30 (from Scappoose)Church Road (Warren Baptist Church is an exchange point)Hazen RoadBennett RoadSouth Bachelor Flat RoadSaulser Road (Columbia County Fairgrounds is a runner/walker AND van exchange)

Some vans will be directed to use Millard Road to South Bachelor Flat Road from Highway 30. Other vans will use Saulser Road to Skyes Road and Scappoose Vernonia Highway.

Race route from the Fairgrounds:

Saulser RoadSykes RoadWest Kappler RoadBrinn RoadPittsburg Road

Watch out for runners and walkers if you are traveling these county roads and try to plan an alternate route if possible.

Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District shared the following advice on their Facebook page for residents in the area:

"Our largest piece of advice for everyone is avoiding unnecessary travel for the roughly 24 hour period beginning next Friday 8/23/24 in the afternoon - our best advice is to either hunker down or stay away. There will be over 2,000 participant vans on the road, along with significant numbers of support vehicles for the relay. Additionally we are expecting over 12,000 participants walking and running on the roads and major highways during this time. It is not a great time to go grocery shopping or out to dinner as it could take you hours to get in or out of our area."