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Baker Lake 50k race photo

Baker Lake 50k

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Baker Lake 50k race photo
Baker Lake 50k race photo
Baker Lake
US
Lhb1239 · CC BY-SA 3.0David Weekly · CC BY 2.0Lhb1239 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Race date Expected Oct
October 2027
City · Distance
Baker Lake · 50km
Entry fee
$85From the 2026 edition
Status
SoonSee how to enter ↗
2027Date October 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Oct 3, 2026 · Entry ~ Oct 2, 2026 · Entry fee $85 · Start 08:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Nov 15, 2026
Baker Lake 50k race photo
Lhb1239 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Baker Lake 50k race photo
David Weekly · CC BY 2.0
Baker Lake 50k race photo
Lhb1239 · CC BY-SA 3.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Baker Lake 50k — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This is a trail race held at Baker Lake in autumn.

The 50K out-and-back course passes through dense forest trails with great scenery.

It starts at Kulshan Campground, where free camping is available the night before.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Baker Lake 50k runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
Sarah CuffRan in 2017 · Finish time 6:14:41
“Final official time of 6 hours, 14 minutes and 41 seconds.”

The runner walked some of the uphill sections in the second half, but resumed running, passed several runners late in the race, and finished in an official time of 6:14:41.

Read the original on RunFasterSarah
StephanieRan in 2017 · Finish time 4:54:47
“I also did much better eating than I have in the past, and took in calories at regular intervals.”

Stephanie controlled her early speed and fueling at the 2017 Baker Lake 50km, finishing in 4 hours 54 minutes 47 seconds. She enjoyed forest trails and seeing friends on the out-and-back course, but return-leg thirst highlighted the importance of early hydration.

Read the original on Team RunRun

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Baker Lake 50k Race Recap 2019

Sarah Cuff

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Baker Lake 50k — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Baker Lake 50k course map and elevation

Your 50km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
Time limit07:00
Show more

Course closes at 18:00 (early start 07:00)

EventStartTime limit
Ultra08:0018:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Kulshan Campground

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The first 0.4 miles after the start follow a paved road across Upper Baker Dam.

About 1 mile of unpaved gravel road follows, leading to the entrance of the Baker Lake Trail.

From there, 14 miles of singletrack follow the lakeshore, including short stretches through old-growth forest.

The trail is gently rolling terrain with repeated ups and downs, and there are also moss-covered bridges to cross.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Baker Lake 50k race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Bib pickup

🔴 There is no advance pickup, and start-wave assignments are made during race-day packet pickup.
Race day only on Oct 3 (Saturday) (start 08:00)

Kulshan Campgrounds, Baker Lake, WA

race venue

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit; the nearest town is Concrete, WA, approximately a 20-minute drive away; no bus service…
  • Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system serves Baker Lake in the North Cascades; this is a remote, car-access…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit; the nearest town is Concrete, WA, approximately a 20-minute drive away; no bus service to the venue

The race starts and finishes at PSE Kulshan Campground on Baker Lake in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, a remote National Forest recreation site accessible only by car via Baker Lake Road.

This is a genuinely remote National Forest venue in the North Cascades with no public transit whatsoever; car access only, including unpaved forest roads for the final stretch. The race is held annually on the first Saturday in October.

From I-5 Exit 232, take SR20/Baker Lake Road to the Kulshan Campground parking lot.

Getting to the finish

Same as start (out-and-back course ending at Kulshan Campground)

No transit near the finish; free first-come, first-served camping is available on-site for runners.

Map

Road closures

Parking at Kulshan Campgrounds, with overflow along the roadside; no shuttle

Start shuttle

The 50k starts and finishes at Kulshan Campground, which has plenty of parking; runners may park on the road if necessary.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system serves Baker Lake in the North Cascades; this is a remote, car-access rural venue with no public bus service. A vehicle is required to reach the trailhead.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Baker Lake in October — cool, with an average temperature of 7°C.

Your fingers and ears will feel the cold first, so bring gloves and a beanie.

Wear several thin layers on your torso so you can remove them while running.

A separate processing fee ($7.81) is added when paying for entry fee.

Public transportation does not reach the venue.

A private car or rental car is the only practical option.

Ultras are decided by fueling and foot care rather than speed.

Break in your shoes and socks well before race day, and if there are nighttime sections, bring spare batteries for your headlamp.

The start is at 08:00. Registration is open until October 2, 2026.

Times are local to Baker Lake. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Burlington Airport Pickup (Welcome)

Local driver meets you in person, flight delay monitoring included (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Welcome Pickups

Tours and activities around the Baker Lake 50k in Baker Lake

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Burlington Airport Pickup (Welcome)

Local driver meets you in person, flight delay monitoring included (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Welcome Pickups

What to see in Baker Lake after the race

Seeing Baker Lake with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Baker Lake.

Flights, hotels, airport transfers and budget for Baker Lake 50k

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Baker Lake 50k

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Ask the runners preparing for this raceWrite a post
CourseBib & expoGetting aroundStay
Baker Lake runners' room
MORE RACES.

Frequently asked questions about Baker Lake 50k

FAQ
When was Baker Lake 50k 2026 held?

It was held on Sat, October 3, 2026. The next race is October 2027.

When does Baker Lake 50k 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in October 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, October 3, 2026.

How much is the Baker Lake 50k 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $85.

What is the time limit for Baker Lake 50k 2027?

Course closes at 18:00 (early start 07:00). (From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Baker Lake 50k 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Baker Lake 50k 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00. (From the 2026 edition)

What time should I arrive at the Baker Lake 50k 2027 start area?

Early start check-in 06:00, regular check-in 07:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Baker Lake 50k 2027 start?

Kulshan Campground. (From the 2026 edition)

What is the Baker Lake 50k 2027 course like?

The first 0.4 miles after the start follow a paved road across Upper Baker Dam.

About 1 mile of unpaved gravel road follows, leading to the entrance of the Baker Lake Trail.

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