Kachess Ridge 50

You won’t want to miss this point-to-point adventure in the heart of the Cascades! Starting by Lake Kachess, you’ll climb through big forest into alpine meadows. After a steady, long climb, you’ll roll along Kachess Ridge with 360-degree views. Chikamin Ridge and Mt. Daniel loom large to the north, the mountains of Snoqualmie Pass to the west, and the Stuart Range to the east. Lake Cle Elum and Lake Kachess rest down in the valleys below. Topping out at the Thorp Mountain Lookout (5853ft), you’ll be sad to begin your descent back to the valley below. But don’t worry, camping, post-race food, and festivities await you at the finish line at Salmon La Sac.

Course Notes

Shuttles will take you to the starting line at Kachess Lake. Then you’ll begin your climb up the Kachess Ridge Trail. After a grueling start with over 1300ft of climbing, the grade mellows out, but the climbing continues all the way to Hard Cheese Aid Station at ~7.5 miles. Here, the 50k distance continues along the ridge, while the 50M runners get their extra vert and distance in doing a figure 8 loop on winding trails in the French Cabin Creek area.

After the extra loop, the 50M and 50k courses rejoin for a climb to the Thorp Mountain Lookout, grab your token, and enjoy the final 5 miles of rolling ridgeline before coming into the No Name Ridge Aid Station. Then you’ll begin your steady descent into the Cooper River Drainage. After passing the Cooper Aid Station, you’ll head up the valley, running along the shores of Cooper Lake and then the Cooper River. After one more punchy climb, you’ll join up with an old forest road and flow back down to Cooper Aid Station, continuing to follow the Cooper River to its confluence with the Cle Elum River. Then it’s just a few miles to the finish line

Start/Finish, Directions, and Parking

All runners should arrive at the Salmon La Sac SnoPark at least 1 hour before the shuttle departure time for their event. There is plenty of parking, but we always encourage carpooling.

The race starts near Lake Kachess, down the road from the Kachess Ridge Trail. Runners will be shuttled to the start. The race finishes back at the Salmon La SnoPark north of Cle Elum.

Runners may be dropped off at the starting line, but there is no parking! Spectators wishing to cheer on starting runners will have to park beneath the power lines on the main forest service road and walk approximately 1 mile to the start line. 

Location of Start

Location of Finish

Finisher swag

Every finisher at an Evergreen Trail Run event receives a piece of handmade finisher swag, dubbed a woodle! We make our awards using solar power in Anacortes, Washington. All participants will also recieve a race specific t-shirt with thier entry.

Accommodations

Camping is available at the finish line, located at the Salmon La Sac SnoPark. There are also plenty of hotels and nightly rentals in and near the towns of Cle Elum and Roslyn.

Registration

50k:
April 20: $140 (early bird special)
April 22: $165
June 31: $180
Race day: $185

50 Miler:
April 20: $190 (early bird special)
April 22: $215
June 31: $235
Race day: $250

Youth/Senior Pricing

Participants 22 and under or 65 and over can receive a discount of 15% on their registration fee. Please fill out this form to receive your discount if you apply.

Trail Mix Fund

Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? We can help with the Trail Mix Fund.

This is a cupless race!

This is a cupless race. All runners should carry with them a refillable container that they can run with. There will be a limited number of cups for emergency situations.

Post-Race:

We’ll have a variety of hearty, hot food and drinks for everyone at the finish line!

Race Notes:

Pacers: No pacers are allowed in this event

Crew: Crew members can meet their runners at Knox Creek, Thorp Creek, and Cooper Aid Stations. Runners are not allowed to receive aid outside of designated aid stations.

Drop Bags:
50-miler: Drop bags will be available at No Name Ridge

50K: Drop bags will be available at Knox Creek, No Name Ridge, and Cooper Aid Stations.

Required Gear:
50-miler: Participants must carry a headlamp, a light rain/wind jacket, 2L water capacity, and have the course GPS downloaded onto a phone or watch.

50K: Participants must carry a light rain/wind jacket, 2L of water capacity, and have the course GPS downloaded onto phone or watch.

Woodland Speeders Kid’s Race

As part of our Woodland Speeders program, we offer free kid’s races at all of our events. Parents are welcome to run with their kiddos. You can register your child during the registration process for your own race or sign them up later. The course at Kachess Ridge will be approximately 1 miles with minimal elevation gain. The kid’s course will start and finish at the Salmon La Sac SnoPark.