Cape Mountain 50K
May 31, 2025
50K
The 50K offers a gorgeous, challenging course on 90% dirt singletrack and 10% dirt doubletrack and is the 25K loop course run twice, totaling 31.2 miles with 6000’ of elevation gain and loss. The course features miles of glorious old growth coastal rainforest, some fun creeks crossings and outstanding coastline views. This is truly a hidden gem trail network with high quality flowing singletrack that get surprisingly low use. You’ll definitely add these trails to your future coast adventures after running here!
Race Day Schedule
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025
Bib Pickup & Check-In: 7:00AM-7:50AM (at Horse Creek Campground)
Start Time: 8:00AM
Cut Off on course:
11:45AM at Horse Creek Aid #3, Mile 15.6
1:45PM at Dry Lake Aid #4, Mile 22.6
3:15PM at Dry Lake Aid #5, Mile 28.7
Finish Line Cut-Off: 4:00PM (8 hours)
Course Map
Course Surfaces
The course surfaces are generally fast and flowing dirt singletrack and a few intermittent dirt doubletrack sections. Most of the course mileage is very runnable and smooth dirt trail, but there are numerous areas with shallow tree roots and rocks to negotiate, typical of the coast due to the shallow roots systems of the predominant Sitka spruce and Douglas fir forest. Since these trails were originally purpose-built as equestrian trails, they drain very well, they flow nicely and the climbs and descents are neither terribly steep or technical.
Aid Stations
The aid stations are staffed with enthusiastic volunteers offering tasty fuel: Gnarly Nutrition energy drink, water, soda, Spring Energy gels, bananas, oranges, chips, PB&J sandwiches, and more. All Daybreak races are cupless, so be sure to bring your own cup for liquid at aid stations.
| Aid Station | Total Distance (mi) | Segment (mi) | Restroom | Crew | Drop Bags | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start - Horse Ck Campground | 0 | 7.0 | Yes | Yes | -- | -- |
| #1 - Dry Lake Trailhead | 7.0 | 6.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| #2 - Dry Lake Trailhead (2) | 13.1 | 2.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | -- |
| #3 - Horse Ck Campground | 15.6 | 7.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11:45AM |
| #4 - Dry Lake Trailhead (3) | 22.6 | 6.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1:45PM |
| #5 - Dry Lake Trailhead (4) | 28.7 | 2.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3:15PM |
| Finish - Horse Ck Campground | 31.2 | -- | Yes | Yes | No | 4:00PM |
Crew
Crew and spectators are welcome at Dry Lake Aid Station and the Start/Finish area at Horse Creek Campground. Parking is limited, please carpool when feasible.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS from Horse Creek Campground to Dry Lake Trailhead (8 minute drive, 2.4 miles): https://goo.gl/maps/aUCiD6d18kAgzd4b8
Depart Horse Creek Campground entrance and turn right (southeast) on Forest Road 58 for 1.2 miles
Stay right at the road junction to merge onto Forest Road 58-789 (Herman Cape Road) for 1.2 miles. Dry Lake Trailhead will be on the right. Parking is limited—please park efficiently and courteously. DO NOT block roadways.
Drop Bags
Runners may have one drop bag available at Dry Lake Aid Station and one bag for Horse Creek Aid Station. There will be a location at morning check-in to place your bags. The race is not responsible for missing, damaged, lost or stolen drop bags or contents. Please ensure your bag meets these rules:
SIZE: One drop bag per runner. Bag size must be smaller than a 20L daypack, water resistant and made of durable material. Bags that are too large will not be accepted and will not go the aid station.
LABEL: Arrive to the race with a PRE-MADE label adhered/attached to your drop bag that includes your first name, last name and bib number in large bold permanent writing.
Dry Lake drop bags will be returned back to the Start/Finish once the aid station shuts down after race sweepers arrive.
Please be sure to pick up your drop bags after you finish or drive over to Dry Lake Aid Station if you finish early. We do not ship drop bags.
Pacers
The event permit does not allow pacers.
Course Detail By Section:
Start to Aid Station 1 (Dry Lake): Runners depart the start at Horse Creek Campground on the gravel campground road before quickly narrowing onto forested singletrack for half a mile, then continue northerly on an old doubletrack called Horseshoe Lane for another half a mile before merging onto the fantastic Scurvy Ridge Trail and begin looping back south for a rolling 1.5 miles. Scurvy Ridge Trail meets a trail junction with Berry Creek Trail, where runners make a right hand turn and begin a thrilling 800’ switchbacking descent over the next 1.7 miles to the bottom of the Berry Creek canyon. Runners ford the main fork of Berry Creek, which is a 10 foot wide, 4-6” deep crossing on foot, as there is no bridge. After the creek crossing, the trail begins gently climbing to a four way trail junction and runners make a hard left turn and begin climbing up a runnable 700’ climb up the forested Wapati Trail on a broad ridge over 2.2 miles. At the top of this climb is a four-way junction where runners continue straight for a .25 mile descent into Dry Lake Trailhead for Aid Station #1. Drop bag, crew and restroom accessible.
The grassy ridges on Nelson Ridge Trail, called “Tsahawtita” by the native Siuslaw tribe have been stewarded for thousands of years. The Siuslaw practiced cultural burning to maintain the meadows from the encroaching forest, which in turn helped them hunt deer and elk.
Aid Station 1 (Dry Lake Trailhead) to Aid Station 2 (Dry Lake Trailhead): Leaving Dry Lake Aid Station, runners make a hard right up an old doubletrack road bed that has regrown into a verdant lawn-like state through gorgeous south-facing forest as it climbs for half a mile to the Cape Mountain summit meadow. Once in the meadow, the only out-n-back section is a short 200 yard trail up to an interpretive site that tells the history of forest fires and the site of a former US Forest Service lookout tower when the mountain was bald. Descending the mountain summit, runners stay right on rolling singletrack, re-entering the forest for another mile on a rolling descent, with the subtle roar of the ocean below. The course makes a hard right onto an old road bed trail called Berry Lane and makes a fast descent over half a mile and another hard right turn onto the Wapiti Trail for a fast mile-long descent. Near the bottom of the descent, stay LEFT again at the four way junction, now on Nelson Ridge Trail. The course makes a short descent to the south fork crossing of Berry Creek, a slightly smaller crossing than the earlier crossing of the main northern fork. The course begins a long steady incline for 3/4 of a mile, rising higher and higher above the rushing creek through deep cedar forest, before gaining the top of the ridge. One of the more glorious sections of the entire course begins here, where the Nelson Ridge Trail opens up into expansive meadows overlooking the ocean, the Siuslaw River Valley, Florence and the famous sand dunes. Leaving the grassy meadows, the course reenters the forest for 2 miles of rolling trail, offering intermittent southerly viewpoints of the Siuslaw Valley, its many lakes, sand dunes and distant Coast Range foothills. Runners pass by the small Dry Lake, a seasonal pond that dries up at the end of every summer and refills in fall and winter, then reach Dry Lake Trailhead for Aid Station #2. Drop bag, crew and restroom accessible.
Aid Station 2 (Dry Lake Trailhead) to Aid Station 3 (Horse Creek Campground): Leaving Dry Lake Aid Station, runners head north on Princess Tasha Trail for an easy .25 miles ascent to a 4 way trail junction then veer right onto the broad, rolling forested ridgeline trail of Scurvy Ridge back to Horse Creek Campground for Aid Station #3 at the halfway point and completion of loop 1 of 2. A half mile before Horse Creek is a replica of a ‘hitsi’, which were part dug out, part log cabin shelters built by the Siuslaw people when they would spend time hunting elk and deer on the mountain. CUTOFF is 11:45AM at Aid #3.
Aid Station 3 (Horse Creek Campground) to Aid Station 4 (Dry Lake Trailhead): Loop #2 starts now. See “Start to Aid Station #1” description above. CUTOFF is 1:45PM at Aid #4.
Aid Station 4 (Dry Lake Trailhead) to Aid Station 5 (Dry Lake Trailhead): Loop #2 continued. See “Aid Station #1 to #2” description above. CUTOFF is 3:15PM at Aid #5.
Aid Station 5 (Dry Lake Trailhead) to Finish (Horse Creek Campground): Loop #2 continued. See “Aid Station #2 to #3” description above. This time after completing loop #2, arriving at Horse Creek Campground is the race finish, complete with hugs, high fives and awards, as well as post race food and campfire vibes with friends and family!
Cancellations
See the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy.
This event is granted by a Special Use Permit through the Siuslaw National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. The USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers.