The Volcanic 25K is a great way to race at Mt. St. Helens, without having to run all the way around it. The course includes the Loowit trail, some boulder fields, a fun cushy downhill, a debris flow, and woodsy trails. The race involves 3,300 feet of gain and loss.
There is no pre-requisite for the 25K, like there is for the 50K. And, this 25K will count as a pre-requisite for the 50K. So, you can run the 25K this year, and then run the 50K in a future year!
Interactive Course Caltopo Map
The 25K course starts out just like the 50K, by heading up Swift Creek trail to reach the Loowit. You’ll run on the Loowit trail to the first aid station at Butte Camp. This section does involve some boulder fields – a real St. Helens experience!
At the Butte Camp aid station, you’ll depart from the 50K course and head down the Butte Camp trail for about 3 miles where you’ll turn left onto the Kalama Ski trail. This is a fun, forested trail where you can make up some time lost on the boulders. Shortly after turning onto the Kalama Ski trail you cross a debris flow that doesn’t really have a trail so you’ll just follow the course markings. The aid station is where the trail crosses the Climber’s Bivouac road.
After this aid station, you will continue on the Kalama Ski trail for a short distance then will take a left to connect to the West Fork Snowmobile trail. You’ll follow this through the forest on single and double track trails, passing through some clear cuts and crossing a unique metal bridge before getting back to the Swift Creek trail to return to Marble Mtn Sno Park and the finish line. This last section has some sneaker hills so be ready for them.
There are two aid stations along the course. They will serve the GU electrolyte drink, GU gels, soda, water, PB&Js, chips, M&Ms, and gummy bears.
| Aid Station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Butte Camp | 6.3 |
| Bivouac | 11 |
| Finish | 15.0 |
Go Beyond Racing is cupless. You’ll need to bring your own cup for liquid aid at all aid stations. You can refill bladders and bottles too. Read more about what it means to be cupless.
There is no cutoff for the 25K. However, this is a running race, not a walkers event.
There is no mandatory gear for the 25K, however we recommend that you carry a light-weight jacket/shell as the weather on the mountain can change at anytime and often.
