ORRC Turkey Trot at The Zoo

The Turkey Trot is considered a private event. The zoo is closed for this event except for participants with bibs. Your bib allows entry into the zoo.

Animals will not be available for viewing (if you see some, that's great, but don't plan on it). The train and carousel will NOT be open and no concession stands will be open. 

Registration 

- Registration for non-ORRC members is capped at 2,300. Registration is open through 11:59 pm November 26, 2025, or until the registration cap is reached whichever comes first!

- There is no limit for ORRC members!

- There is NO DAY OF RACE REGISTRATION! 

- The zoo requires admission/registration for any child 2 years and older. Children under the age of 2 who are NOT participating in the Tot Trot or Gobble Gallop, or are riding in a stroller while their parent is running/walking, do not need to register to get in.

Family Rates

Awesome family rates (3-5 people) are available by choosing our multi-person pricing option in the sign-up process. Registration info must be completed for each family member. ORRC member discount does not apply. 

1) Start by registering the first person. DO NOT PAY UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE ADDED ALL FAMILY MEMBERS!!!

2) Then scroll down to "+ Add Another Registrant"option.

3) Click the carrot - "^" to the right and on the same line as "None", revealing the family rate as shown below.

4) Select the family option and then add registrations for other family members.

NOTE: There is no day-of-race registration.

Zoo Entry

The zoo is closed to the general public. Zoo membership will NOT get you into the zoo. Only paid event registrants will be able to enter the Zoo. Your bib serves as your zoo entry so you MUST WEAR IT (do not leave in your car, or under clothing). Additional entry bibs are available for purchase at the event for those not participating in the ORRC events. 

Children who enter the Tot Trot or Gobble Gallop will receive one free adult entry with their registration. Any other family members wishing to watch the kids runs must purchase an additional entry to get in the Zoo. Zoo membership will NOT get you into the zoo. 

Restrictions - No Pets and Bikes (do NOT bring your dog!)

The Oregon Zoo does not allow pets or bikes on their premise. Strollers and child carrier backpacks are encouraged to position themselves for the fourth start wave at 7:36am. 

Click on the heading/link above to see the 5K course on Mapmyrun

Map of Turkey Trot Zoo Areas

Map of Turkey Trot Start Line Area

Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.

 
Early Bib Pickup
We strongly encourage picking up bibs and shirts starting the week before to avoid Thanksgiving Day long lines!
 

Foot Traffic (Sellwood)            Saturday, Nov. 22, Noon to 4 p.m., 1260 SE Lambert Ave., Portland, OR

Foot Traffic (Westside)            Sunday, Nov. 23, Noon to 4 p.m., 13306 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR 

Oregon Zoo                             Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oregon Zoo Cascade Grill, to the right after ticket booths.

Day of Event Timeline

6:30am to 7:30am - 5K Packet Pick-up at the Oregon Zoo Cascade Grill, to right after entering main gates. Pick up bib, beanie, pre-ordered shirts for the 5K, Tot Trot and Gobble Gallop.

7:30am to 8:30am - Tot Trot and Gobble Gallop Packet Pick-up continues at the Oregon Zoo Cascade Grill

7:30am 5K Run start for faster runners (9 minute/mile pace or faster) at SW Knights Blvd start line between Oregon Zoo and Western Forestry Center. 

7:32am 5K Run start for slower runners (10 minute pace/mile or slower)

7:34am 5K Walk start for faster walkers (15 minute pace/mile or faster)

7:36am 5K Walk start for families/groups/people with strollers

8:30am- Tot Trot (Ages 0-4) - Oregon Zoo Elephant Plaza 

8:40 am- Gobble Gallop (Ages 5 - 10) - Oregon Zoo Elephant Plaza

This event is noncompetitive, so it will not be timed, there are no medals, and there will be no overall or age group awards. There will be a clock at the start line and at the finish line.

The chocolate turkeys are BACK! Each participant receives an awesome chocolate turkey at the finish line (made by Promotional Treats). At the finish line we'll also have fruit, water, donuts, etc. Gobble Gallop and Tot Trot kids receive a special commemorative ribbon and goodies.

All participants and volunteers get a Turkey Trot beanie. We'll have adult-sized beanies and kid-sized beanies. 

T-shirts are available for $20 and must be pre-ordered by November 1st.

All participants have a chance to win one of 150 humungous Costco pumpkin pies.  Check your bib to see if you're a winner. If you win a pie, but need to run before you take it home, claim it early. Check in with the volunteer, claim your pie, put your name on it, and pick it up by 9am.

PLEASE NOTE: The concession stands at the zoo are closed! There is no opportunity to purchase food or drinks including coffee from the zoo. If you need coffee BRING IT WITH YOU!

There will be no aid station on the course so we encourage participants to bring their own hydration should you need it. There will be food and drink at the finish line.

Through November 1st A long-sleeve tech shirt is available for purchase when registering for the event for an additional $20.

Guaranteed shirt availability cut-off date is November 1st. After November 1st purchasing a shirt is no longer available.

Drop bags and a monitored location will be provided inside the Cascade Grill (inside the Zoo's main gate). Bags must be picked up by 9am. You can you this to check your free pie if you win a pie!

Parking near the Oregon Zoo is free until 9:30am. (Parking is $2.00 per hour after 9:30 AM) or $8.00 all day. Parking is limited and the lots WILL FILL UP!!! There is no shuttle from overflow parking, so if the zoo lot is full, you will need to drive to the nearest MAX station and take MAX to the zoo station.

We encourage you to ride Tri-Met. Call 503-238-RIDE or see trimet.org for the Holiday schedule for MAX. If you use TriMet we'll give you a coupon good for a free appetizer at the Spaghetti Factory (one of our event sponsors)

At our running events, ORRC strives to promote inclusivity and fairness for all participants. While it's true that running only requires a pair of shoes, we understand that barriers to entry exist. Our Pay It Forward Fund (PIFF) assists those with financial difficulties paying for race fees. Contact this event’s race director about discounted race entries. We want to emphasize that everyone is welcome at our races, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+.

Great volunteers make great ORRC events! Please consider helping ORRC at the Turkey Trot by signing up to volunteer - click here. You'll receive our hearty gratitude, a beanie, and a coupon code worth $50 on your next ORRC event in the coming year.

Shoe Donation

We are offering shoe recycling at the race. You may bring your GENTLY USED sneakers for reuse with Sneakers4Good. For example, perhaps they have served their life with 400 miles of running, but could still be used for walking or daily wear. We prefer reasonably CLEAN and DRY shoes, as we must dry them before shipping. Very worn or ripped shoes can be recycled but not reused. Any funds earned from shoe recycling will support ORRC’s Community Outreach program. 

We'll have a donation box at packet pick-up at Foot Traffic and in the Cascade Grill at the Zoo.

• Is the zoo going to be open? Will I see animals? The zoo is not open. There are no concession stands open and there is no guarantee you will see animals. If you see them, that's a bonus, but don't plan on wandering around the zoo after the event looking at animals.
• Can I pick up someone else's bib for them? Yes! no problem. 
• Where do I pick up my bib at the zoo? Registration bib-pickup is in the Cascade Grill ballroom downstairs. This is after the ticket gates to the left, but prior to the entry to the zoo by the mountain goat exhibit, where they will check for your bib as you enter. 
• Do I need my bib to get into the zoo? Yes! The zoo will only allow entry for those with a bib. This is considered a private event and zoo membership will not get you into the zoo to either watch the finish or watch the kid's runs. 
• I'm a member of the zoo. Will that get me entry? No. Only a race bib will allow you entry into the zoo.This is considered a private event and zoo membership will not get you into the zoo to either watch the finish or watch the kid's runs. 
• Where is the start of the 5K? The start is at the cross-walk in front of the Forestry Center by the MAX lightrail station.
• Where is the start of the Tot-Trot/Gobble Gallup? The kid's runs are inside the zoo past the 5K finish line near the elephant plaza.
• What time is the start of the 5K? The start will be in waves, every two minutes. Faster runners will start at 7:30, slower runners at 7:32, faster walkers, at 7:34, and families and people with strollers at 7:36. 
• What if I arrive late and miss the start? Once all the waves have started, there will be a sweeper sent on the course. If you arrive late you can still start the 5K, but if you see the sweeper on their way back, you must turn around to stay ahead of the sweeper. Once the sweeper has reached the turnaround on the course, the volunteers will be closing the course and taking down directional signs and cones. So you must be ahead of the sweeper for safety concerns.
• What time is the start of the Tot-Trot/Gobble Gallup? The Tot-Trot (ages 0-4 years old) starts at 8:30am. The Gobble Gallup (ages 5-11) starts at 8:40am
• Is it a hard course? Yes! The 5K is all either downhill or uphill with very little flat. So if you have problems with hills, this might not be the event for you.
• Can I watch my kid in the Tot Trot/Gobble Gallup? Yes! Each kid's run entry includes one free adult entry into the zoo. If there is more than one adult wanting to watch the kid's run, they need to purchase an additional entry into the zoo. 
• If the 5K is sold out is there a wait list? No, there is no waitlist for this event. It is limited to 2300 entries for non-ORRC members. There is an unlimited number of entries for ORRC members. So if you want to register after the 2300 non-member limit is reached, you can become an ORRC member and then register.
• Is there day-of-race registration? No, there is no day-of-race registration for any of the events. The only day-of-registration option is to purchase additional zoo entry tickets.
• Is there early bib pickup? Yes, there are three different days prior to the event where you can pick up your bib. 
  • Foot Traffic (Sellwood)            Saturday, Nov. 22, Noon to 4 p.m., 1260 SE Lambert Ave., Portland, OR
  • Foot Traffic (Westside)            Sunday, Nov. 23, Noon to 4 p.m., 13306 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR 
  • Oregon Zoo                             Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oregon Zoo Cascade Grill, to the right after ticket booths.
• Can I bring my dog? No. No pets are allowed inside the zoo other than trained service animals. If you have a service animal you need to contact the zoo ahead of time so they are aware of your situation. Otherwise, please leave you dog at home.
• Are there bathrooms at the start or on the course? There are no bathrooms on the course or at the 5K startline by the Forestry Center. There are plenty of bathrooms at registration pickup at the Cascade Grill just inside the zoo gates (you don't need a bib to access the bathrooms there). There are also bathrooms at the finish.
• Is there water or an aid station on the course? No, there is no aid station or water on the 5K course. So if you need hydration please bring it with you. There is water at the registration pickup area and at the finish area.
• Will I get a medal? No, we do not offer a medal for this family fun run. We offer chocolate turkeys and every entry gets a beanie hat.
• Can I buy a shirt? Yes, there is a separate shirt available for purchase. The last day to purchase a shirt is November 1st. 
• I purchased the wrong size shirt. Can I exchange it? We only order enough shirts to cover those pre-ordered. There can be no exchanges prior to the event. If, after the event if over, there are leftover shirts, you could try and exchange yours for the closest available desired size.
• Where do I park? Is parking free since it's Thanksgiving? The parking lot outside the zoo does charge for parking, but not until 9:30am. So if you finish prior to 9:30, parking is free. After 9:30 it is $2 per hour or $8 all day. Parking is limited and the lots WILL FILL UP!!! There is no shuttle from overflow parking, so if the zoo lot is full, you will need to drive to the nearest MAX station and take MAX to the zoo station. We encourage you to ride Tri-Met. Call 503-238-RIDE or see trimet.org for the Holiday schedule for MAX. If you use TriMet we'll give you a coupon good for a free appetizer at the Spaghetti Factory (one of our event sponsors)

ORRC Turkey Trot