Racers paddling a red canoe across Diamond Lake below Mount Thielsen
Diamond Lake, Oregon / October 2026 / 44 frames

USARA National Championships 2026

The USARA National Championships came to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in the race's 27-year history. With Bend Racing as race director and Jason Magness designing the course, four-person teams took on 32 hours of full-on adventure around Diamond Lake.

USARA and AR North America Series banners among fallen leaves at race check-in
Racer tracing a route on a course map
Mount Thielsen's spire above a burned forest in morning light
Team riding mountain bikes along a forest road
Mountain biker in a blue jacket riding through the forest, background blurred with motion
Racers walking down a wooden staircase through autumn forest
Racer climbing a rocky slope in autumn forest
Two racers paddling a yellow packraft through whitewater
Two racers in a black packraft punching through whitewater
Racers resting by headlamp light at a night checkpoint
Low sun over a volcanic crater rim and distant mountains
Racer descending into a vast volcanic crater
Team hiking along a volcanic ridge below a rocky peak
Team cresting a dark ridge under wispy clouds
Two racers paddling a green packraft on a blue lake
Race plate 010 on a mountain bike's handlebars at night
Mountain bikers with headlamps riding a lava trail at dawn below Mount Thielsen
Morning mist over a calm lake reflecting forest and clouds
Mountain biker riding through golden grass in a burned forest
Racer running a forest trail with a map in hand, a teammate behind
Racer scrambling over a mossy boulder, reaching out with a map case
Smiling racer climbing a steep forest slope
Two racers in a purple and yellow packraft running a rapid
Two racers in a black packraft on a whitewater river, seen from above
Sunset glowing over a lake through pine branches
Aerial view of a volcanic ridge at dusk
Racer hiking among stunted trees on a rocky volcanic slope
Racers silhouetted on a ridge against streaky clouds
Grinning racer holding up a sandwich on the ridge, a teammate behind
Racers carrying their packrafts past the USARA finish banner on the lakeshore
Racers marking up their maps at tables during pre-race planning
Mountain bikers riding through frosty burned forest at sunrise, Mount Thielsen behind
Smiling racer riding a mountain bike across a dam beside a lake
Mountain biker in a red jacket riding past a large tree, background blurred with motion
Team of four smiling at a fenced viewpoint in the forest
Two racers scrambling over mossy rocks among autumn leaves
Two racers paddling a yellow packraft past rocky cliffs
Packraft on a fast blue river through autumn forest
Racers warming up beside a glowing wood stove at night
Sunset over the forest with a lake and Mount Thielsen's spire in the distance
Team trekking along a ridge high above a forested valley
Racer drinking from a bottle while climbing a crater rim, a teammate behind
Three racers hiking along a cinder ridge
Racers paddling a red canoe across Diamond Lake below Mount Thielsen