Beacon Rock 50km

The Beacon Rock 50k is apart of the Rainshadow Running series which has some of the most beautiful and challenging trail ultras throughout the Northwest, Rainshadow Races will leave you wondering: Why run anywhere else?The Beacon Rock 50k and 25k is one of the most unique party weekends among Rainshadow's family of destination races. Like all of our races, they offer a chance to get away and relax with family and friends, but with the added bonus of a grassy group camp we'll have all to ourselves. High vistas offer sweeping views of the Cascades - including Mt Hood and Mt Adams - and the entire Columbia River Gorge.Post-race, we'll all be hanging out at the finish, lying in the sun-warmed grass, drinking local beer and other tasty beverages, eating pizza and other great food, listening to live music from The Pine Hearts, and taking turns cruising down our homemade Slip N' Slide!Whether you're a Rainshadow veteran, or brand new to our race series, we're glad you've found us here!

Both the 50k and 25k start and finish at the Beacon Rock State Park group campsite; the 50k is actually two loops of the 25k course. For this run, you'll cover all the best trails in Beacon Rock State Park, including Hardy Ridge, Hardy Creek, and Hamilton Mountain. From Hamilton Mountain you'll have great views of the Cascades (especially Mt Hood and Mt Adams) and the entire Columbia River Gorge. The 25k gains about 3700 feet, with two big climbs - Hardy (mostly gradual) and Hamilton (mostly steep) - and two long downhills. The 50k gains about 7500 feet and, as its two loops of the 25k, takes you up each climb and down each descent twice. The trails, with the notable exception of the steep climbs, are generally very runnable and in great condition. There's a bit of pavement at the beginning and end of each 25k loop.Each loop has a mixture of pavement(0.6mi), single track trail, and wider double track or dirt road. Most of the time the tread is smooth, the grade gradual and you can trust your footing but of course there are exceptions! Turn By Turn Course Instructions: 0.0 Start at Group Camp off of Kueffler Rd0.2 Right onto Kueffler Rd0.5 Left onto dirt road to Equestrian Trailhead0.8 Equestrian Trailhead and the start of the Equestrian Trail2.6 Left onto Hardy Ridge Trail4.4 Right to stay on Hardy Ridge Tr5.5 Aid Station -- continue down Hardy Ridge Tr6.2 Left onto Equestrian Trail6.8 Right onto Hardy Creek Trail7.9 Left onto Hamilton Mountain Trail9.8 Top of Hamilton Mountain--Continue North on Hamilton Mountain Trail10.7 At “Saddle” go Left10.8 Right onto Don’s Cut-Off Trail11.1 Right onto Upper Hardy Creek Trail11.3 Left onto Hardy Bridge Trail11.8 Aid Station--Left onto Hardy Ridge Tr12.5 Left then immediately right onto Loop Trail13.0 Left onto Equestrian Tr14.8 Equestrian Trailhead -- continue down the dirt road to Kueffler Rd15.1 Right onto Kueffler Rd15.4 Left into Group Camp15.5 Aid Station and 25k finish

You're in the forest most of the time but the views(on a clear day) going up and from the top of Hamilton Mountain of the Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood, and Mt Adams are spectacular.

50k runners who would like to have a drop bag at mile 15.5 can do so and leave their bag, labeled with their name and bib number, at check-in. No drop bags for 25k runners.

Our races strive to use as few disposable products as possible, therefore our aid stations will have just a tiny amount of cups, we highly recommend that runners carry their own cup or bottle or other drinking vessel. For the 50k there are 5 aid stations at mile 5.5, 11.8, 15.5, 21.0, and 27.3. For the 25k there are two aid stations at mile 5.5 and 11.8.

You'll have 9 hours to finish the 50k, and 7 hours to finish the 25k.

Our aid stations always feature plenty of water, potato chips, PB&J, fresh fruit (oranges, bananas, grapes), chocolate/candy, GU gels and GU Brew, tortillas for gluten-free folks, and tasty Trail Butter inside those tortillas. We'll also have soda such as Coke and Ginger Ale.