ORRC Turkey Trot at The Zoo

ORRC Turkey Trot at The Zoo takes place in Portland, Oregon, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, at the Oregon Zoo. The 5K (3.1 miles) starts at 7:30 a.m. near the Forestry Center, passes the International Rose Garden, and finishes at Elephant Plaza inside the zoo. Kids' events, the Tot Trot and the Gobble Gallop, are part of the morning. Participants receive a beanie and a chocolate turkey, an event t-shirt is available for purchase, registration is limited, and entry fees help support the Oregon Zoo.

Finishing inside the zoo makes this a family-friendly outing as much as a race, and the kids' events let the youngest members of the group take part. The 5K distance suits first-timers and regular runners alike: six weeks of three short runs a week for the former, and a weekly interval session for the latter. Since registration is limited, sign up early. Late November in Portland is typically cool and wet at 7:30 a.m., so plan on a light rain layer and a warm-up jog.