The Mt. Hood 50 is a heavily shaded 50-mile race that is run almost entirely on the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon.
The trail is generally soft with good footing, although there are some technical sections with rocks and roots. This is a excellent "first 50" race. Runners will start by running North from the Clackamas Ranger Station to the Frog Lake Aid Station, just before Highway 26. They will then return to the start/finish and head South to the Warm Springs Meadows Aid Station, where they will turn around and head back to the finish. Total elevation gain is approximately 5,630 feet.
The Mt. Hood 50K is a heavily shaded trail race that is run on the Pacific Crest Trail and around Timothy Lake. The first 21 miles of this race are on the 50-mile course. Runners will start by running north from the Clackamas Ranger Station, skirting the eastern edge of Timothy Lake before joining the Pacific Crest Trail. You’ll pass through two aid stations before reaching the Turnaround aid station. You will then return the way you came on the PCT, but will turn onto Timothy Lake trail when you reach the lake, running counter clockwise around it. After one last stop at an aid station at the dam, you’ll head for the finish line. The trail is generally soft with good footing, although there are some technical sections with rocks and roots.
Newly added, the 25K starts and finishes at the same spot as the 50M and 50K, but involves some different trails in the 6.5 miles as participants make their way around Clackamas Lake and head north. Then racers will run around Timothy Lake. The course involves wooded single-track.