Scenic Half Marathon

With a route across Sandpoint’s iconic Long Bridge, offering panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains – what else could we call it but the ‘Scenic Half Marathon’! Well-known as an established, fun and professionally managed race, the Scenic Half Marathon attracts hundreds of runners from all across the country to participate in this annual event.The Scenic Half Marathon hosts a trio-race event, giving participants the option to compete in a 13.1 mile Half Marathon, a 10K or a 5K. Each independent race awards age category winners and Half Marathon competitors who complete the race receive a finisher’s medal. As the benefactor, the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, is committed to supporting the local community and Greater Sandpoint area. By donating a portion of each registration to the non-profit organization, Community Cancer Services, the Chamber hopes to impact the charity’s mission to support women’s health issues.

With a route across Sandpoint’s iconic Long Bridge, offering panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains – what else could we call it but the ‘Scenic Half Marathon’! Well-known as an established, fun and professionally managed race, the Scenic Half Marathon attracts hundreds of runners from all across the country to participate in this annual event.The Scenic Half Marathon hosts a trio-race event, giving participants the option to compete in a 13.1 mile Half Marathon, a 10K or a 5K. Each independent race awards age category winners and Half Marathon competitors who complete the race receive a finisher’s medal. As the benefactor, the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, is committed to supporting the local community and Greater Sandpoint area. By donating a portion of each registration to the non-profit organization, Community Cancer Services, the Chamber hopes to impact the charity’s mission to support women’s health issues.

The race’s half marathon, like its 10K and 5K runs, starts on Sandpoint’s City Beach, which lies at the end of the island just across the waterway from the city’s downtown. From there, runners follow Bridge Street to 1st Avenue, where they follow the bike path and then head to the Long Bridge that crosses the lake.They follow the highway over the bridge, passing through Triangle Park, all the way to the half-way turnaround point on Lakeshore Road, on the southern side of the lake.From there, runners then head back along Lakeshore Road and re-join Highway 95 that leads to the Long Bridge and then head back over the lake to Sandpoint City Beach, along the course they’ve just run, back to the finish line.With the exception of a brief stretch of bike paths in the early part of the race, most of the rest of the course is run on paved surfaces.

Runners get ample exposure to one of the natural features that makes the Sandpoint area such a mecca for tourists at the annual late-summer Scenic Half, which takes runners on an out-and-back route that crosses the bridge over Lake Pend Orielle, a pristine, 43-mile-long lake carved by glaciers, whose shoreline wraps for more than 100 miles along the Kaniksu National Forest here in Northern Idaho.

Free parking is available all throughout downtown Sandpoint on Sundays. It is suggested that participants park outside of Sandpoint City Beach and walk to the race start line, as the parking lot will not become available for vehicles to enter and leave the beach area until after the course closes.

A secure fenced area located at the start line will be available for participants to drop off their personal items (backpacks, extra clothing, car keys, etc.) before the races. Items will be bagged and tagged your race bib number. You may also leave items at any of the aide stations along the course. These items will be available for pick up at the bag drop location at the end of the race. Please have your racer bib with you when you drop off and pick up your items. It is suggested you wear clothing that can be tossed and forgotten, as any unclaimed items at the end of the event will be donated.

A medical station, water station and toilets are all available at the start location of the races. Additional water stations are planted every 2 miles along the course and toilets are located at each turnaround point on the route. Aide stations are indicated on the course map.