50 Miles to the rooftop of Oregon

50.1 miles / Point-to-point / 11,100’ of gain / 9,300’ of loss

The 50 Miler offers an absolutely stunning and world-class point-to-point mountain trail race route, featuring volcanic alpine ridgelines up high and big forests, wildflower meadows and waterfalls down lower. This challenging and scenic mountain trail race shuttles runners out to the start line at the east edge of Mt. Hood National Forest’s Ponderosa backcountry, then runs ridgeline trails back onto the volcano, up high into the alpine, then down to the finish at Mt. Hood Meadows. Runners will encounter an incredibly broad spectrum of PNW trail terrain, from Ponderosa, juniper and mantanzita-lined dirt single track, to steep, historic rocky ridgelines, some rough doubletrack and steep, plus exposed and sometimes scrambly volcanic alpine trails. Truly magnificent views abound from start to finish!

Race Day Schedule

• SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025

• Bib Pickup:

  • Friday: 5PM-6:30PM at Mt. Hood Meadows

• Shuttle Bus Departure: 5:10AM

• Race Start: 6:00AM at Underhill Site

• Awards Ceremony: 3PM

• Cut-Off: 14 hours (8:00PM)

Course Map

• COURSE MAP: click on the map image to open, save or print a high resolution copy. This map was custom made by your race directors.

• INTERACTIVE MAP: Click HERE for an interactive course map in Caltopo.

• GPX DATA: Click HERE for a .gpx data file of the course with elevation data included.

Elevation Change

Approximately 11,100' of ascent and 9,300' of descent.

Aid Stations

There are 7 aid stations on the course, all staffed with experienced, enthusiastic volunteers plus professional medical personnel. Hydration and fuel options included: 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. 

Crew & Spectators

A Crew Guide will be posted here in the spring.

Crew are welcome at Aid Stations #1, 2, 5, 6 & 7 and of course the Finish Line area for runner support. Crew and spectators must follow race rules and directions given by an event official, medical personnel or aid station captain.

Drop Bags

Drop bags will be available at Aid Station #2, #4 & #5.

RETURN: Please consider that drop bags will not be returned back to the race staging area until AFTER the aid station cutoff and shutting down after race sweepers arrive. Note that Aid Station #5 at Umbrella will not close until 5PM and bags will not return to the finish until approximately 5:30PM. You are welcome to retrieve your drop bags from the aid station before then if needed.

CONTENTS: Do not store valuables in drop bags! This includes car keys, ID, phones, bank cards, etc. The race is not responsible for missing, damaged, lost or stolen drop bags or contents.

FORGOTTEN BAGS: Please note we do not ship or deliver forgotten drop bags. You can arrange to pick up forgotten drop bags from us if we have them.

Poles & Gaiters

Trekking poles are allowed and shoe gaiters are generally encouraged for the section between Aid Station 6-7, where it is more technical, steep and rocky, with intermittent loose volcanic scree encountered.

Pacers

No pacers allowed.

Course Detail By Section:

Start to Aid Station 1 (Fifteenmile): Posted soon.

Aid Station 1 (Fifteenmile) to Aid Station 2 (Surveyors): Posted Soon.

Aid Station 2 (Surveyors) to Aid Station 3 (High Prairie): 7.8 miles. Runners ride shuttle buses for 25 minutes from Mt. Hood Meadows to the Start Area up on Surveyors Ridge east of the mountain. The course departs on a brief section of gravel road before joining Surveyor’s Ridge Trail for a flat, fast mile before crossing Forest Road 44 and onto Cooks Meadow Trail. From here, runners face a long, rolling 7 mile climb on the serenely flowing Cooks Meadow Trail, offering several spectacular viewpoints of Mt. Hood along the upper half of the climb. At the top of Cook Meadow Trail, runners reach the first Aid Station at High Prairie on the border of the Badger Creek Wilderness near Lookout Mountain, the second highest point on the entire Mt. Hood National Forest. Drop Bags available at High Prairie.

Aid Station 3 (High Prairie) to Aid Station 4 (Bennett Pass): 9.1 miles. Runners depart High Prairie on the historic Bennett Pass Road, a technical doubletrack with a rocky 2-mile cliffside descent, offering magnificent views of Wy’east. Runners then transition onto the Gunsight Ridge Trail at Gumjuwac Saddle, traversing some technical, punchy sections of talus slope and rocky ridgeline trail through wildflower meadows, mountain larch and fir forest. Several viewpoints along Gunsight trail feature expansive Mt. Hood views to the west and the Central Oregon high desert to the east. The Gunsight trail ends and runners turn RIGHT back onto the historic Bennett Pass Road, heading straight for Mt. Hood along the historic Bennett Pass Road for a 2 mile rolling descent on rough, narrow and rocky doubletrack down to Bennett Pass Aid Station.

Aid Station 4 (Bennett Pass) to Aid Station 5 (Umbrella): 4.3 miles. Leaving Bennett Pass Aid Station, the rough doubletrack gives way to somewhat smoother, fast gravel forest road for two miles, ending at Bennett Pass Sno Park. Exiting the Sno Park, the course turns RIGHT on the paved road shoulder to cross the overpass above Hwy 35, then onto the narrow “Historic Mt. Hood Highway”, a quaint one-lane, one-way paved roadway that was the first road to travel around the mountain— you are now officially on the slopes of Mt. Hood! From the Sahale Falls Bridge on the roadway, the course makes a punchy LEFT turn uphill, connecting onto Sahale Falls Trail, which climbs for 1.5 miles then turns LEFT onto Umbrella Falls Trail, offering a mile of gently rolling ascent through intermittent forest and very lush wildflower meadows, a few small crossings and the stunning veil of the Umbrella Falls waterfall itself! Another .25 miles to reach Umbrella Aid Station at a road crossing. Crew Access and Drop Bags available at Umbrella Aid Station #3.

Aid Station 5 (Umbrella) to Aid Station 6 (Ski Patrol): 2.5 miles. Departing Umbrella Aid Station, runners begin a gradual climb up Umbrella Trail for 1.5 miles through an exquisite mix of forest and lush meadows, offering lovely and ever-closer views of the Mt. Hood summit. Runners turn RIGHT for a very brief (literally a few strides) section of Timberline Trail, then turn LEFT onto a rough and steep gravel service road for 1 mile. The climb gets steeper and steeper as it climbs up to Ski Patrol Aid Station #4. Crew Access available at Ski Patrol.

Aid Station 6 (Ski Patrol) to Aid Station 7 (Ski Patrol 2): 3.2 miles. This segment is the crux of the course and BY FAR the most exposed, steep and technical zone, but also offers unmatched panoramic views for hundreds of miles, as well as adjacent glaciers and deep canyons high on the mountain. Leaving Ski Patrol Aid Station, runners head up the Wizard Trail, climbing 1500’ in 1.6 miles, immediately surrounded by volcanic alpine, where the trails are much rockier and primitive— pay attention to the course flagging, as the trail can appear faint and sometimes turn abruptly after a sharp or steep turn. The final section to climb is a scree field with numerous short switchbacks up to the spine of the moraine which flattens out. This is the 8000’ level and the turnaround point on the course, where the peak of Mt. Hood surprisingly doesn’t seem quite so high since it’s barely more than 3000’ to the summit!! Make sure to verify you’ve reached the turnaround using the hole punch on your bib! From the turnaround checkpoint, begin the epic descent back down to Ski Patrol Aid Station. Keep your descent under control, as to keep your feet beneath you and your front teeth, knees, elbows and skin intact. :) Crew Access available at Ski Patrol.

Aid Station 7 (Ski Patrol 2) to Finish (Mt. Hood Meadows): 4.2 miles. Departing Ski Patrol, runners descend Lower Wizard Trail for a ripping descent for 1.5 miles, then turn LEFT on Timberline Trail for another 1 mile rolling descent, then turn RIGHT onto Jack’s Woods Trail. After passing the ski lift at Heather Canyon on a short gravel service road and turning LEFT to get back on the trail, runners turn RIGHT at the junction this time toward the finish. The remaining 1.5 miles of the course is rolling, mostly downhill through a mix of lush meadows and forest, before the final descent down to Mt. Hood Meadows (yes, you will hear and see us cheering for you!), where runners finish at the lodge Sun Deck under the summit of the mountain with friends and family!

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.