Hagg Lake Triathlon and Trail Festival
Gaston (Henry Hagg Lake), United States · July · Independent (WHY Racing Events)
Why people love it
- One of the oldest US triathlons, 45 editions, with sprint, duathlon, aquabike and trail runs the same weekend
- Bike loop around a forested reservoir with little traffic; a 2023 podium finisher called it one of his prettiest
- About 40 percent of the 2023 field were first-timers; the mood is friendly and relaxed
- Camping at the venue; race-morning packet pickup from 7 am, parking $7
- Sheltered reservoir swim, about 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F) in summer, wetsuit optional
Watch out for
- Hilly bike and run: nonstop short climbs and a half-mile (0.8 km) pitch near 10 percent, taken twice at Olympic
- Not a PR course; posters in 2006 and 2012 warned first-timers about the hills
- Date moves between June and August; 2027 is listed for 7 August
- Rural venue, 47 km (29 mi) from Portland airport; few aid stops and toilets
- Wave starts can mean being kicked while passing earlier waves (2018 recap)
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Friendly 45-year-old event, praised in 2018, 2022 and 2023 write-ups; hills divide athletes; only 2 RaceRaves ratings (4 of 5) and mostly old forum posts · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
A 2018 recap had results by 10:30 am and awards almost on time; a trail runner praised volunteers. Few toilets and aid stops. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Two lake laps of 750 m (0.47 mi), two hilly bike loops of 20 km (12.4 mi); doable with hill training · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.2
Repeating the 10 percent pitch on loop two; hilly 10 km (6.2 mi) run · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.5
Optional per organiser; water 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F) is under the USAT 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit in nearly every year · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.2
Recaps report 22 °C (71 °F) in 2018 and 18 to 20 °C (65 to 68 °F) in June 2007. Organiser says warmer in summer. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Sheltered reservoir in forested hills, no chop reported; thin evidence · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.9
Two laps, wave start, passing slower swimmers · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Scenic forested lake, wave start; kicked while passing earlier waves (2018). Water clarity not reported · Low confidence
- Swim supportStandard3.3
Wave starts and a lifeguarded course assumed; kayak and rescue numbers not published · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.8
Podium finisher in 2023 called surface good; one 2006 gravel worry · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Park road that 'goes nowhere but the lake' with near-zero traffic (2006); closure policy not confirmed · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.3
Forested reservoir loop; 2023 podium finisher called it one of the prettiest he had ridden · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm4.0
Sheltered by forested hills; no wind complaints in any report · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.3
Rollers and a steep climb taken twice · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.4
Est. 500 to 700 m (1,600 to 2,300 ft) over about 40 km (25 mi); no published gain · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Fast 30+ mph (48 km/h) descents and sharp short climbs on a park road · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse2.4
Remote lake park, spectators mostly at the finish festival · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard2.9
Five Olympic run water stations, but a RaceRaves reviewer wanted more aid stops and toilets. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Lakeside road through forest · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.7
Hills plus warm morning, five aid stations · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.2
10 km (6.2 mi): steep start, long climb home; est. over 100 m (330 ft) · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Estimated 13 to 29 °C (55 to 84 °F); hot spells such as 2023 · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.9
Dry Oregon summer, but June 2007 was cool and rainy and date has moved from June to August · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Forested reservoir and hills, called scenic by organiser blogger, 2023 podium finisher and reviewers · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.6
Single loop around a big lake; viewing mainly at the swim and finish · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Altitude not published; Coast Range foothills, well under 700 m (2,300 ft) · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Rural; rooms in Forest Grove or Hillsboro 30 min away; onsite camping · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Normal Portland-area prices, camping is cheap; not researched in depth · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Camp at start and finish; otherwise drive in, $7 parking · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
Portland airport 47 km (29 mi) away by a rural road · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One venue, race-morning pickup from 7 am, $7 parking, friendly packet pickup (2022 review) · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine2.6
Gaston and Forest Grove are small; festival food and a local brewery on site · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Gaston (Henry Hagg Lake), Oregon, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 7 August 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (WHY Racing Events)
- Field size
- About 700 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $167
- First held
- 1982
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Henry Hagg Lake, Bobcat Cove area, west of Portland (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Steep pitch after the turnaround and a half-mile (0.8 km) climb of about 10 percent near the park entrance (2006 posters)
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Mostly open lakeside road with some tree cover
- Air temperature
- 13–29 °C (55–84 °F)
- Humidity
- Low to moderate (Oregon summer)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International (PDX), 47 km (29 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Onsite camping
- Booking
- Venue is rural; hotels are in Forest Grove, Hillsboro or Portland (30 to 60 min). Camping at the venue Friday and Saturday nights. Packet pickup Friday 10 am to 6 pm at Foot Traffic Westside (2026) or race morning from 7 am; parking $7 at the park (per RaceRaves reviewers).
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum 'Hagg Lake?'Raced 2006 · forum · Mixed
Locals told a nervous first-timer this is no PR course: nonstop short hills on the lake loop, one half-mile (0.8 km) climb of about 10 percent that Olympic riders repeat on loop two, then fast 30+ mph (48 km/h) descents. The run starts with a steep hill out of transition and finishes uphill. Everyone still called it fun and scenic.
“You aren't going to be setting any PR's there”
- Slowtwitch forum 'Portland/Hagg Lake bike course'Raced 2006 · forum · Mixed
Posters preparing for the 2007 USAT national championships describe a rolling lake loop with many short climbs, one flat stretch across the dam and one steep pitch after the turnaround. Traffic is near zero because the road goes nowhere but the lake. One poster hoped for a gravel sweep before race day.
- Slowtwitch forum 'USAT AG Nationals Lake Water Temp'Raced 2007 · forum · neutral
A mid-June club swim measured about 65 to 68 °F (18 to 20 °C (68 °F)) with cool cloudy air of 55 to 60 °F (13 to 16 °C (61 °F)). Most wore full wetsuits, a few swam sleeveless or without. Another local said the lake is not generally cold and he swims it suit-free in summer.
- Slowtwitch forum 'Hagg Lake is A mother!'Raced 2012 · forum · Mixed
An Olympic finisher was shocked by the constant up and down, while veterans called it a fun, pretty course that just suits stronger cyclists and trail runners. One said fit athletes lose only a few minutes against a pancake-flat Olympic.
- Run Oregon blogRaced 2018 · blog · Positive
A recap of the 36th edition. The lake was 71 °F (22 °C), the swim course well marked, but a last-wave start meant being kicked while passing slower swimmers. Bike and run were hilly with a steep climb out of transition. Awards started nearly on time, results were up by 10:30 am, and the expo had coffee and music.
Show 1 more
- RaceRavesRaced 2022 · aggregator · Positive
Two reviews on the page (rated 4 out of 5 overall, 2 ratings), both from trail-run entrants rather than triathletes. They praise staff, volunteers, clear communication, easy packet pickup, $7 parking, camping at the venue and the post-race food and beer. Complaints were few aid stations and few toilets.
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Sources
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