Mountain Marathon

The Cloud Cap Mountain Marathon is a scenic double loop style course, characterized as hilly, beautiful and fast, on a variety of gorgeous trails and historic forest roads showcasing some of Mt. Hood’s most iconic areas. From Cooper Spur Ski Area at 3950’ elevation, runners will travel up to 6000’ through the Cloud Cap—Tilly Jane Historic Area, mainly using the Tilly Jane Ski Trail, and the historic Cloud Cap Road.

The marathon course is 26.3 miles long, with 4700 ft. of ascent and 4700 ft. of descent. In all, the course includes approximately 9 miles of singletrack trail, 6 miles of maintained gravel forest roads (lower Cloud Cap Road) and 11 miles of rough, rugged jeep road (upper Cloud Cap Road). There are 4 full aid stations along the course. 

Throughout the course, runners will pass by numerous historic Mt. Hood landmarks. These include the famous Cloud Cap Inn, Tilly Jane A-Frame and several other historic structures, and unrivaled views courtesy of the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire.

Race Day Schedule

• Saturday, September 20, 2025

• Check-In: 6:45-7:50AM at Cooper Spur Ski Area

• Start Time: 8:00AM

• Cutoffs On Course:

  • 1:00PM at Inspiration Point Aid #3, Mile 17.0

  • 2:45PM at Cloud Cap Inn Aid #4, Mile 22.6

  • 4:00PM at the Finish Line (8 hours to finish)

Course Map

• INTERACTIVE MAP: Click HERE to open the course map in CalTopo, where you can change layers, zoom in and out, export a .gpx file, etc.

• GPX DATA: Click HERE for the .gpx data file which includes elevation data.

Elevation Change

The course involves 4700’ of ascent and 4700’ of descent.

Aid Stations

Four aid stations are staffed with enthusiastic volunteers offering tasty fuel: Neversecond gels and hydration drink, water, soda, 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.

Equipment

• Please come prepared for a run in a mountainous environment and bring your desired personal needs in order to stay safe and comfortable, including:

  • At least 12-20oz. of hydration

  • Jacket, hat, gloves if wet weather predicted

• Trekking poles are allowed, although the course is not technical or steep. Poles must be carried the entire length of the route (or dropped in your drop bag at Aid Station 3).

• Headphones are NOT allowed, due to the use of Cloud Cap Road, which is open to vehicle traffic during the event.

• Traction devices (such as micro spikes) may be necessary if we are dealt an early season batch of snow on race day. Snow and icy conditions are uncommon, but not out of the question here in late September, above 5000 feet in particular. We will NOT cancel or postpone the race due to snow or icy conditions, unless severe storm conditions are indicated in the National Weather Service forecast. An email will be sent to notify participants of any potential winter weather impacts.

Course Detail

Start to Aid Station 1 (Inspiration Point): Runners depart Cooper Spur Ski Area on a rocky service road for a quarter mile up to Polallie Ridge Trail. Following Polallie Ridge Trail briefly to the intersection with Tilly Jane Ski Trail, turn hard right and head down Tilly Jane Ski Trail for .75 mile to its trailhead on Cloud Cap Road. Runners then veer left and head up the historic Cloud Cap Road for 3 miles to Aid Station 1 at Inspiration Point, offering a magnificent view up the Eliot Creek canyon, with massive views of Wallalute Falls and the Eliot Glacier looming above.

Aid Station 1 (Inspiration Point) to Aid Station 2 (Cloud Cap Inn): Runners depart Inspiration Point on the Cloud Cap Road for a long, scenic, switchbacking climb for 5 miles offering sweeping views of the surrounding Cascade peaks, the Hood River Valley and of course ever-present Mt. Hood. Reaching the top of the Cloud Cap Road, runners veer left on a short out and back trail to the historic Cloud Cap Inn for Aid Station 2 at the course’s high point at 6000’ and magnificent 360° views. 

 Aid Station 2 (Cloud Cap Inn) to Aid Station 3 (Inspiration Point 2): Departing Cloud Cap Inn aid station, runners join onto the Tilly Jane Trail, passing several historic structures and Tilly Jane Creek before reaching the junction with Tilly Jane Ski Trail and a ripping 2 mile descent with wide open views to the east far into Central Oregon and north into the Washington Cascades and Mt. Adams. After 2 miles of the descent, runners reach the same junction with Polallie Ridge Trail as earlier in the course. The course continues straight on Tilly Jane Ski Trail to begin the second loop of the two loop course. The course repeats loop one from here, back up the Cloud Cap Road to Inspiration Point for Aid Station 3.

Aid Station 3 (Inspiration Point) to Aid Station 4 (Cloud Cap Inn 2): Runners depart Inspiration Point again on the Cloud Cap Road for the long, scenic, switchbacking climb for 5 miles offering sweeping views of the surrounding Cascade peaks, the Hood River Valley and of course ever-present Mt. Hood. Reaching the top of the Cloud Cap Road, runners veer left on a short out and back trail to the historic Cloud Cap Inn for Aid Station 4. 

Aid Station 4 (Cloud Cap Inn) to Finish: Departing Cloud Cap Inn, runners join onto the Tilly Jane Trail, passing several historic structures and Tilly Jane Creek before reaching the junction with Tilly Jane Ski Trail again, then the 2 mile sweeping descent down to the junction with Polallie Ridge Trail where the day began, then veer right onto Polallie Ridge Trail for half a mile before connecting back onto the final service road down to Cooper Spur Ski Area for the finish!

Crew/Spectators

Spectators are welcome at the Start/Finish area at Cooper Spur Ski Area as well as at the Tilly Jane Sno Park area to cheer on runners beginning their second loop of the course at approximately mile 14. No aid support is allowed except at aid stations. Crew/spectators shall NOT drive up the Cloud Cap Road during the race, as there is plenty of aid station support and we do not want vehicle traffic congesting the road and stirring up dust for the runners to contend with.

Drop Bags

Drop bags will be available at Aid Station #1 and #3 at Inspiration Point.

Cancellations

See the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy.

This event is located on the Mt. Hood National Forest. 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. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.