This is our Plan B course. It will be the 2021 course since we cannot use the Olallie Lake Resort and surrounding area as our start/finish, due to damage from last year’s fires. This year’s race will start and finish at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station instead. It covers 74 miles of the usual Mountain Lakes course, skipping the furthest south portion and adding the extra in around the Timothy Lake area. Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station is the location of our Mt. Hood 50 races and also is the large crew-accessible aid station for the usual Mountain Lakes 100 route.
This Caltopo map is the best way to see the course and you can zoom in and out, move around, and change layers (and clicking the Fire History option shows you where last year’s fire burned):
Online Interactive Course Map
The course starts at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station. You will head out northwest on the Miller trail, cross paved road #57, and drop down to Timothy Lake and then connect with the Pacific Crest Trail. You’ll stay on the PCT to the Little Crater Lake aid station.
Leaving the aid station, you’ll continue north on the PCT. This is the section of course that has that stunning view of Mt. Hood you see in the Mt. Hood 50 race photos.
Turning around at the aid station, you head back to the Little Crater Lake aid station. Since this is early on, you’ll be passing other runners and be able to cheer them on.
Shortly after the aid station, you’ll stay to the right to get onto the Timothy Lake trail. You’ll pass through the North Arm campground and stay alongside the lake until crossing the dam and arriving at the next aid station.
From the dam you will continue on the Timothy Lake trail. This section does have some rocks and roots to negotiate but also takes you right next the lake. The trail will cross road #57 twice before you get back on the Miller trail to return to the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station where you started.
Whether you have crew here or utilize your drop bag, you will leave the ranger station by crossing road #42 and rejoin the Miller trail to connect with the Pacific Crest Trail. Running south on the PCT, you’ll have a climb to get to the next aid station. This one is at a rare spot on the course where you may be able to pick up cell service under the powerlines.
This section drops down to the Warm Spring River (a good spot to dip your hat) and then climbs up to the aid station.
You’ve got a steady climb from Warm Springs and will pass through the highest point on the course on your way to Pinheads aid station. This is the most remote aid station so please do not consider dropping here. You got this – you’re half way done!
You’ll start to pass by some lakes as your near Olallie Meadows. You’ll turn off the PCT to drop down to this aid station. This is a crew/drop bag accessible spot so restock, get your headlamp if you aren’t already carrying it, and get ready for the return trip north.
Turning around and heading back exactly the way you came, you’ll pass the same aid stations on your way to the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station.
Leaving Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station, you’ll return to the southeast back to the Miller trail, but at the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail, you’ll stay straight onto the Headwaters trail. You’ll carefully cross paved road #42 near the Joe Graham horse camp, avoiding the PCT and get onto the Old 1916 Trail. It’s here that you get some double-track before T-ing into the Pacific Crest Trail and then going north on the PCT to the aid station. Does it look familiar? You’ve been here before but that was awhile ago.
You take the exact same route you did in the beginning of the race, leaving the aid station and joining the Timothy Lake trail to go around the lake to the dam. This is a crew-accessible aid station, but they’ll need to be quick to beat you back to the finish line. Just 4 miles to go!
Continue from the aid station on the Timothy Lake trail, crossing the paved road (even more carefully now that you’re tired) twice and rejoin the Miller trail that will bring you to that finish line and buckle!
11,000 feet of gain and loss.
All aid stations are stocked with the usual ultra food (i.e. chips, PBJ, fruit, cookies, crackers, candy), in addition to S-Caps, water, GU Hydration electrolyte drink, and GU gels. There is also warm food (chicken and veggie broth, tater tots, mashed potatoes, quesadillas) available during the night.
| Aid Station | Segment Distance | Total Distance | Elevation Gain | Elevation Loss | Crew Access | Porta-Potty | Drop Bag | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start (Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station) | Yes | |||||||
| Little Crater Lake | 6.0 | 6.0 | 102 | 249 | No | No | No | |
| Frog Lake | 8.2 | 14.2 | 1302 | 623 | No | No | No | |
| Little Crater Lake | 8.2 | 22.4 | 623 | 1302 | No | No | No | |
| Dam | 4.9 | 27.3 | 154 | 151 | Yes | No | No | |
| Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station | 4.0 | 31.3 | 220 | 82 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5:30 p.m. |
| Red Wolf | 5.3 | 36.6 | 843 | 39 | No | No | No | |
| Warm Springs | 5.5 | 42.1 | 630 | 984 | No | No | No | |
| Pinheads | 7.2 | 49.3 | 1198 | 606 | No | No | No | |
| Olallie Meadows | 7.7 | 57.0 | 873 | 1068 | Yes | Pit Toilet | Yes | 1:00 a.m. |
| Pinheads | 7.7 | 64.7 | 1068 | 873 | No | No | No | |
| Warm Springs | 7.2 | 71.9 | 606 | 1198 | No | No | No | |
| Red Wolf | 5.5 | 77.4 | 984 | 630 | No | No | No | |
| Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station | 5.3 | 82.7 | 39 | 843 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9:00 a.m. |
| Little Crater Lake | 7.2 | 89.9 | 102 | 249 | No | No | No | |
| Dam | 4.9 | 94.8 | 154 | 151 | Yes | No | No | |
| Finish (Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station) | 4.0 | 98.8 | 220 | 82 | Yes | Yes | 2:00 p.m. |
All aid stations are cupless; bring your own drinking cup/vessel if you want to take liquid aid. You can refill bladders and bottles. Read more about Go Beyond Racing going cupless.
There are three cutoffs:
Runners that do not depart prior to the cutoffs are not allowed to continue.
There are two drop bag locations; at Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station and Olallie Meadows. You’ll hit the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station drop bag twice. There is a designated area to drop off your drop bags at the start. Drop bags from Olallie Meadows are returned to the finish around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, when those aid station volunteers return.
Because drop bags are transported during a race, here are some best practices and restrictions around the size, quantity, and contents for Go Beyond Racing races. We are serious about these and do have the right to say NO to drop bags that are too big, too heavy, or not sturdy enough for transport.
Runners are allowed ONE crew vehicle. The course doesn’t requires two crew vehicles to support the racer and there is just not enough parking at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station for that many cars. Please plan to utilize one vehicle for your crew, and ideally pacers, to get around the course. This may require some planning so don’t wait til the last minute to figure this out.
Crew vehicles must display their Crew Pass on the dashboard at all times during the race. These are picked up at bib pickup at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station aid station.
Crew is allowed only at the following Aid Stations:
Crew, spectators, and vehicles are not allowed at any other aid station.
Runners whose crew access them anywhere on the course other than at the crew-accessible aid stations are disqualified. Make sure your crew know this!
There is no internet or cell coverage at the race, so do not plan to access this page and click these links while at the race – you won’t be able to. Use them before you leave internet coverage and print or screen shot.
Pacers are only allowed to start at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station – as runners pass through the final time, at mile 82. Due to our permit restrictions, runners are not to use a pacer anywhere else on the course.
Pacers must pick up Pacer Bib and sign a waiver at the Clackamas Lake Historic Ranger Station prior to joining their runner. All Pacers must wear their Pacer Bib at all times when on course. Runners are allowed only one pacer to run with them.
Muling is permitted.
