The Smith Rock Ascent races have become so popular, and it is easy to see why. You get to spend the weekend at one of the most scenic places in Oregon – Smith Rock State Park. The event spans the whole weekend, with a 50K on Saturday and the 15-Mile on Sunday. The trails in and around the state park provide stunning views of the rock faces where you’ll see climbers scaling the tall walls, as well as vistas of the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson. You’ll get up high in both races, where you see the grasslands around you. This race is a treat for your eyes, and for your legs.
50K:
$100 (Nov 1 – 14, 2020)
$110 (Nov 15 – Dec 31, 2020)
$115 (Jan 1 – May 9, 2021)
15 Mile:
$80 (Nov 1 – 14, 2020)
$90 (Nov 15 – Dec 31, 2020)
$95 (Jan 1 – May 9, 2021)
No day-of-race registration is available this year.
Due to capacity restrictions related to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are not able to put on the 4-mile or the free kids fun runs in 2021.
You can order an optional race shirt/merchandise for extra during the registration process through March 31.
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.
Friday, May 14, 2021
Saturday, May 15, 2021 – 50K
Sunday, May 16, 2021 – 15-Miler
There are changes to the 2021 races, in order to protect racers and volunteers from exposure as much as possible. Check here often as we’ll update the information as it changes the closer we get to race day. The changes will also be included in the pre-race email we send the week prior to the event.
You can expect at the least:
Usually everyone has to park off-site and take a shuttle to Smith Rock State Park, but that isn’t going to be the case in 2021! There is a designated parking lot just for racers at the State Park this year. Drive all the way through the park until you see the event parking signs and a volunteer directing you where to park. Carpooling is encouraged as the lot isn’t huge. There is no off-site parking or shuttles this year.
For 2021, the race start and finish is moving a little bit east of the grassy picnic area, to the Canyon Trail.
The aid stations at this Smith Rock race will have the typical ultra fare: chips and cookies, candy, pretzels, pickles, fruit, GU gels, GU electrolyte drink, soda and water. Runners are welcome to carry their own food too.
Bib pickup is at FootZone (842 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon 97701) on Friday, May 15 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. You can also pick your bib up race morning at the start, beginning at 7:00 a.m. Runners are highly encouraged to pick up bibs at FootZone in order to reduce congestion and lines race morning.
This is usually the best part of the race – hanging out after you finish, enjoying a beer, hard cider, or chocolate milk while you eat the best burrito you’ve ever had, as you cheer other racers across the finish line. Due to restrictions related to the Coronavirus, there is no post-race hangout for 2021. Racers will need to leave the finish area, after they catch their breath, so as to keep the number of people gathering low. We’ll hand you a burrito and beverage and you can head back to your car as you reflect upon your awesome accomplishment.
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive very nice awards and products from our sponsors. We also have awards for 1st-3rd place age group winners, in 10-year age categories. There are plenty of great raffle prizes too. Because the race is chip-timed, and there are wave starts in 2021, we won’t know the winners until the race is complete. Prizes will be mailed after the event.
Allow 3 hours from Portland or Salem. Directions to Smith Rock State Park from Portland are here.
Camping is available at Smith Rock State Park here. Camping around the park is first-come, first-served and fills up quickly. Other nearby lodging options are here. Lodging options exist in Bend (30 minutes to start/finish) and
in Redmond (15 minutes) and Madras (25 minutes).
We love volunteers and our racers do too! To make this race a success we need 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 with the heart.
We’re all over social media and the trail running community is active:
Follow Smith Rock Ascent Facebook page
Follow Go Beyond Racing on Facebook
Get inspired with the Go Beyond Racing Instagram
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 Smith Rock race? Talk to our friends at Wy’east Wolfpack. They provide excellent coaching and training services.
The Smith Rock Ascent 50K provided 2 points, and provides 15M 1 point, toward every race of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®.
We acknowledge that these races occur on the traditional homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and the Tenino Tribe.
