PDX Triathlon Festival (Portland Triathlon at Blue Lake)
Fairview, United States · June · Independent (WHY Racing Events)
Latest edition: The old Portland / Blue Lake Triathlon now runs as the PDX Triathlon Festival at Blue Lake Regional Park, Fairview OR. 43rd edition held 31 May 2026; 2027 edition Sunday 20 June 2027 (44th).
Why people love it
- Flat, fast bike on a mostly closed Marine Drive beside the Columbia River.
- Wetsuit optional in 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) lake water.
- Super sprint, sprint and Olympic all start in waves from one park.
- Parking is included with registration.
- Repeat racers praise the volunteers and organiser.
Watch out for
- Few recent race reports. Most evidence is from 2014 to 2021.
- A swim emergency in 2022 shows open-water risk even with spotters.
- The first 400 m (0.25 mi) of the run crossed grass in 2014.
- Mild headwind in one direction on the river bike.
- The old Portland Tri is now sold as the PDX Triathlon Festival.
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Every report is warm about the event, volunteers and party, but all are from 2014 to 2021 and mostly one blogger. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
A repeat racer called the organiser the best in the region, with smooth setup, extra parking and quick check-in. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.4
Wave starts, a shorter first-tri swim and a super sprint option. Reviewers call it ideal for beginners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat 20 km (12.5 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Sprint winners went about 1:02 in 2014. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
Wetsuit optional. Water of 18 to 23 °C (64 to 73 °F) is under the USA Triathlon limit of 25.6 °C (78 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Water was 21 °C (70 °F) in 2014, 23 °C (74 °F) in 2017 and cooler in 2018. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Small sheltered lake with no chop complaints. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.1
A 0.8 km (0.5 mi) buoyed loop with waves. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Pleasant park lake with wave starts. One racer's goggles fogged, and clarity is not described. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.1
Wave starts and a shorter swim for beginners. Spotters and river rescue pulled a struggling swimmer out quickly in 2022. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Marine Drive and park roads. Surface quality is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Most of the bike is on a section of Marine Drive closed to all but local traffic. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Columbia River views and glimpses of Mount Hood. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Along the Columbia River, with a slight headwind one way in 2017. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.2
Flat, largely traffic-free road. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.5
Flat 20 km (12.5 mi) course. No gain is published. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.1
Out-and-back on straight roads along the river. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
Music and an expo at the park, but athletes are spread out with little roadside crowd. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Water about every 3.2 km (2 mi), plus energy drink and gel on the run, staffed by club volunteers. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Park paths and lake shore, described as beautiful and fun. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
Short run on a cool June morning, with the first 400 m (0.25 mi) over uneven grass in 2014. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run in the park. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Early June is about 12 to 26 °C (54 to 79 °F), and 2018 was described as ideal. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
June in Portland can be cloudy or showery, with occasional heat. No cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.8
Regional park lake with Columbia River and Mount Hood views. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.7
Park setting with an expo, music and food. Parking is included in registration. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Near sea level, about 10 m (33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
The airport area and downtown Portland offer many hotels, and many racers are locals. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Typical Portland prices. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Parking was close to transition in 2014. Swim, transition and finish are all within the park. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Portland International airport is about 12 km (7.5 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.2
Single park venue with easy check-in and extra parking. Race-morning packet pickup was not confirmed. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Portland's food scene is a short drive away. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Fairview, Oregon, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 20 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (WHY Racing Events)
- Entry fee
- About $167
- First held
- 1984
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Blue Lake, Blue Lake Regional Park (lake)
- Water temperature
- 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Air temperature
- 12–26 °C (54–79 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Portland International (PDX), 12 km (7 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Troutdale, Gresham, Portland airport area
- Booking
- Parking is included with registration.
What racers and reviewers say
- Run Oregon: 2017 Blue Lake Triathlon recapRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
A first-person recap that is very positive. Lake about 74 °F (23 °C), goggles fogged, bike called the best part: flat, fast and scenic by the Columbia with a mild headwind. Praise for volunteers, quick setup, extra parking and the post-race food and music. The new super sprint drew beginners.
“ideal for beginners or as a season opener”
- Run Oregon: Blue Lake Sprint Tri recap (2014)Raced 2014 · blog · Positive
A slower, second-time triathlete found a smooth day. Quick park entry, parking close to transition, a clear layout, water announced at 69.8 °F (21 °C) with waves ending with a shorter first-tri swim. Flat, part-closed river bike and a post-race party. Winners were around 1:02.
- Run Oregon: 2018 Blue Lake Triathlon recapRaced 2018 · blog · Positive
Only a search excerpt was read: the lake was a bit cooler than usual but comfortable in a sleeveless wetsuit or none, and the weather was ideal with some cloud. Treat as light evidence.
- Run Oregon: 2019 PDX Triathlon previewRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Course preview listing every distance. Olympic is 1.5 km (0.9 mi) / 40 km (24.9 mi) / 10 km (6.2 mi) with waves at 8:30; sprint is 0.5 mi / 12.5 mi / 5 km. One triangular counter-clockwise swim loop, mid to upper 60s °F (about 19 °C (66 °F)) water, fast flat bike mostly closed, Mount Hood glimpses, flat run in the park.
- RaceRaves: PDX Triathlon Festival reviewsRaced 2021 · aggregator · Positive
Three short reviews, all from duathlon or super sprint entrants (2017, 2021). They rate production and swag 5 of 5, call the organiser the best in the region and praise a two-lap bike with fast straights. Nothing on the swim.
Show 1 more
- KPTV: man pulled from water at PDX TriathlonRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Local news on a 2022 start-of-race medical emergency: a spotter saw a swimmer in trouble and bystanders plus an AMR River Rescue technician brought him to shore; he was in stable condition. Shows swim safety coverage works, but also that open-water risk is real.
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Sources
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