The 2020 Lionshead fire burned over the lower portion of the course and around Olallie Lake. We won’t know the state of the area and the impacts to the 2021 race for awhile. Additionally, depending on the COVID situation at race time, pacers and/or crew may not be allowed due to restricted participant requirements. We are expecting to have this race, but it could be quite different than in normal years, including a modified course. The information below is assuming the race is the same as usual. We’ll update as we know of specific changes.
One of the country’s most beautiful 100-mile races starts at Olallie Lake and runs past more than 25 mountain lakes between Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood. This race features the best trail running Oregon has to offer – technical and rocky sections, views of mountain peaks in every direction, and 60 miles of luscious sections of the Pacific Crest Trail.
The race is a lottery. You can enter the lottery starting February 1st, until February 6th at 6:00 p.m. PT. The drawing occurs on Sunday, February 7th at 10:00 a.m. PT. You can watch live on Go Beyond Racing’s Facebook or Instagram. The race capacity is 150 runners. 128 97 people from the cancelled 2020 race chose the rollover option, so there are only 22 53 names that we can draw for the 2021 race. Those not selected in the drawing are put on the wait list. Registration for the wait list reopens on February 8th.
NOTE: We are not processing credit cards for awhile. This means everyone will show up on the wait list. First listed are the rollovers, then those drawn in the lottery, and then the actual wait list starts at #151.
$300 (Feb 1 – 6, 2021)
$310 (Feb 15 – Mar 31)
$320 (Apr 1 – Sep 1)
No day-of-race registration
Optional shirt is available for purchase during registration. Shirts are available until August 25.
Please note that there are no transfers to other runners. If you need to cancel your registration and it’s more than 30 days prior to the race, you will receive a 50% credit toward a future Go Beyond Racing race. If your cancellation is 30 days or less from race day, there is no credit, no refund, or no transfer. See our full cancellation policy for details.
Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? We can help with our Trail Mix Fund.
Please note that there are no transfers to other runners. If you need to cancel your registration and it’s more than 30 days prior to the race, you will receive a 50% credit toward a future Go Beyond Racing race. If your cancellation is 30 days or less from race day, there is no credit, no refund, or no transfer. See our cancellation policy for details.
As trail runners, we benefit from the work of those who built and maintain the trails where we run. Many of the organizations and groups who do this work have little and shrinking budgets and rely heavily on volunteers. We strongly believe that all of us should give back by volunteering to do trail work on a regular basis.
All racers (those entered and those on the wait list) must complete a total of eight (8) hours of trail work. The trail work doesn’t need to be done before registering; just sometime after October 1, 2020 and before September 1, 2021. The required form is signed by the trail work site manager and emailed before the deadline. Entrants and waitlisters without the required trail work will forfeit their spot on September 2nd and the next on the wait list is invited to take the place. We define trail work as maintenance of existing trails and development of new. The trails can be anywhere in the world. More details on the requirement are in this post.
Go Beyond Racing hosts several trail work events throughout the year – check our Events Calendar for those. We will also post opportunities we hear of in the Mountain Lakes 100 Facebook Group.
Here’s a report showing all current entrants who have completed all 8 hours. Waitlisters won’t show on this report until they are actually in the race, even if you’ve submitted your hours.
The top three male and female finishers will receive prizes from our sponsors. There are also many raffle prizes. All finishers will receive a belt buckle and a finisher pint glass. Those who finish under 24-hours earn a special buckle.
The all-you-can-eat breakfast (mmm, bacon) is free for all volunteers, racers and up to three of their crew. Families and friends can purchase a meal for $5. We hope everyone stays and enjoys the fun!
The weather in the northwest in September is usually fairly stable with cool, clear days. The temperatures can drop to the 30s during the nighttime. However, as with any mountain race, the weather can be unpredictable so pack accordingly and check the weather before you leave. Here’s a link to the weather forecast for Olallie Lake and one for Timothy Lake.
There are many campgrounds near the start/finish. There are also some cabins and yurts at Olallie Lake Resort.
Detroit Lake is one hour of the start and has several lodging options.
Government Camp is about 1.75 hours from the start and has lodging also.
Double check these directions to what Google Maps gives you. Google Maps may tell you to turn onto Forest Road #4220 from Hwy 46. Do not take this as it is a much slower and bumpier option for high-clearance vehicles. The below are the best routes.
From Portland The best route from Portland is through Estacada on Highway 224. From I-205/224 (Clackamas), take Hwy 224 east for approximately 43 miles. Continue on Highway 46 for approximately 21 miles to Forest Service Road 4690. Turn left and continue for approximately 8 miles to Forest Service Road 4220. Turn right and drive approximately 5 miles to Olallie Lake Resort. The road is paved until the last 10 miles, where the road turns to gravel and is slow-going and rough in spots. Passenger cars can certainly make this, but high clearance vehicles like trucks and SUVs are better.
From Salem The best route from the Salem area is through Detroit to Forest Highway 46. Turn left just as you pass over the bridge into Detroit. Follow Highway 46 for approximately 21 miles to Forest Service Road 4690. Turn right and continue for approximately 8 miles to Forest Service Road 4220. Turn right and drive approximately 5 miles to Olallie Lake Resort.The road is paved until the last 10 miles, where the road turns to gravel and is slow-going and rough in spots. Passenger cars can certainly make this, but high clearance vehicles like trucks and SUVs are better. It is about an hour drive from Detroit to the start. NOTE: Map programs will not display this route during the winter as the road is closed while it is snowed in.
Parking at Olallie Lake Resort is tight and we need to be considerate of other visitors and forest users. Please park tightly and be considerate of others, and don’t make us be the parking police. There are three places to park:
We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE CARPOOLING!
If you are interested in carpooling, you can post here to find or give a ride. This is a Google spreadsheet that is viewable to anyone with the link, so only post what you want public. Carpooling earns you a Carpool Coaster too!
We love volunteers and our racers do too! To make this race a success we need almost 100 people to help at bib pickups, race start and finish, aid stations, and on the trail. You can sign up for the assignment you’d like on Ultrasignup. Click on the green Volunteer button.
This race is called Mountain Lakes 100 because… it is in the mountains. It is remote. There is no internet or cell service. There are no stores or gas stations nearby. Many of the roads are not paved and some are rough. There are no showers. Please come prepared with this in mind. In fact, consider this a nice weekend away from the city in all senses. The start/finish is at 5,000 feet elevation and the high point on the course is at 5,700 feet.
We do have a few rules that apply to all Go Beyond Racing races. Be sure you are familiar with them.
Need help getting ready for this race? Talk to our friends at Wy’east Wolfpack. They provide excellent coaching and training services.
The Mountain Lakes 100 provides 5 points toward every race of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®
Mountain Lakes 100 is a Western States 100 qualifier
We have a vibrant community on our Mountain Lakes 100 Facebook Group. Join to learn from those who have run before, connect with runners, find pacers, etc.
Follow Go Beyond Racing on Facebook. You can participate in the conversations on Twitter and follow Go Beyond Racing on Instagram to stay inspired.
We acknowledge that this race occurs on the traditional homelands of the Molalla Tribe, Tenino Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs.
