race.vacations
Volcanic 50K & 25K — Mt. St. Helens
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Volcanic 50K & 25K — Mt. St. Helens 2026

Marble Mountain Sno Park, WA

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Registration open

Registration opened
February 1, 2026
Entry price
$120–$185

Weather

MonthAvg high / lowBand
August48–78°FWarm
Moderate heat risk~0.6 in typical precipDriest month of the year in the Cascades. Low humidity typical but afternoon temperatures can spike; 80–90% of course is exposed with no shade.

Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.

Route & course

50K

Loop · Trail · starts 7:00 AM
Elev gain
7,400 ft
Elev loss
7,400 ft
High point
4,800 ft
Low point
2,800 ft
  • Start and finish in the same area
  • Easier spectating and repeated aid access
Start · 2,800 ftFinish · 2,800 ftHigh point · 4,800 ft

Almost entirely on the Loowit Trail (all but 4.5 miles). Three rope-assist sections in the first 9 miles near the Toutle River drainage. 80–90% exposed with minimal shade. 8+ mile waterless stretches — carry extra water. The South Fork Toutle River crossing is easiest earlier in the day and later in summer. Finish times typically mirror a 50-mile race. Bib pickup 5:30–6:30 a.m., mandatory gear check.

Course map

25K

Loop · Trail · starts 7:30 AM
Elev gain
3,300 ft
Elev loss
—
High point
4,800 ft
Low point
2,400 ft
  • Start and finish in the same area
  • Easier spectating and repeated aid access
Start · 2,800 ft

Runs Sunday Aug 2. Shares Loowit Trail and boulder fields with the 50K but also includes forested trails not on the longer course, plus a debris flow and cushy downhill section. No prerequisite required. Completing this race qualifies a runner for the 50K in a future year. Bib pickup 6:00–7:15 a.m.

Course map

Travel

Base town
Cougar, WA
Nearest airport
PDX · 75 min
Rental car
Recommended
Rideshare
Poor
Lodging
Limited
Facilities
Limited
Trip length
2 nights
Travel complexity
6/10

PDX is the practical gateway (~75 mi). A rental car is mandatory — no shuttle, no rideshare to the Sno-Park. Cougar, WA has limited lodging; many runners stay in Woodland, WA or Castle Rock, WA for more options, or base in Portland.

Forest Road 83 to Marble Mountain Sno-Park is a maintained gravel/paved forest road accessible by standard vehicles. Arrive early — bib pickup is morning-of only with mandatory gear check.

Best for / avoid if

Best for

  • Experienced trail runners seeking a genuine challenge
  • Volcanic and geology enthusiasts
  • Runners wanting a small-field, permit-limited PNW experience
  • Those chasing a bucket-list volcano circumnavigation
  • Experienced mountain trail runners
  • Runners seeking challenging terrain

Avoid if

  • First-time trail runners or 50K newbies (50K requires prior 50K or Volcanic 25K)
  • Runners who struggle in heat with minimal shade and water
  • Anyone uncomfortable with technical scrambling or river crossings
  • Those needing a fast, road-adjacent course
  • You are a first-time ultrarunner
  • You dislike technical or exposed trails

First-timer mistakes

Underestimating the difficulty based on distance alone — the 32-mile 50K routinely takes as long as a 50-miler. Also: arriving without the mandatory gear check items completed before bib pickup, and not carrying enough water for 8+ mile sections with no source.

Photos

Tap a photo to enlarge.

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