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Volcanic 50 race photo

Volcanic 50

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USAug 7, 202750km
BLM Oregon & Washington · flickr (CC BY)
Race date in 305 days
Aug 7, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Cougar · 50km
Entry fee
Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
2027Date Aug 7, 2027 · Entry Feb 1, 2027 ~ Jul 31, 2027
2026Date Aug 1, 2026
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Volcanic 50 race photo
BLM Oregon & Washington · flickr (CC BY)
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Volcanic 50 — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

A grueling 50K-plus course that circles Mount St. Helens.

All but 4.5 miles of the course follows the Loowit Trail, crossing lava fields, rock and pumice terrain, and river crossings.

Runners pass through areas devastated by the volcanic eruption as well as dense forest.

Total elevation gain and loss are each roughly 7,400 feet.

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.

Volcanic 50 runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

Race reports: 1
LibbyRan in 2013
“I didn't finish this race, and I'm thrilled with the experience I had.”

At the Volcanic 50, the runner overcame fear through rocky ground, steep canyons, and rope-assisted climbs. Worsening coughing and fatigue led to a DNF at 20.7 miles, but exploring new terrain and continuing to try were satisfying.

Read the original on The Active Joe

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.

Full recap

Go Beyond Racing · Full recap

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 Volcanic 50 — 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.

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Registration platform UltraSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Volcanic 50 course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
START

Marble Mountain Sno-Park

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Marble Mountain Sno-Park

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
AS2_Toutle 11:30 · AS4_Ape_Canyon 16:00

Show more

Volcanic 50 is a trail ultramarathon that circles Mt. St. Helens in Washington State entirely, organized by Oregon-based race director Go Beyond Racing.

According to 2023 information, the race is believed to be in its 11th year, suggesting it began around 2012–2013.

Course mainly follows the Loowit Trail, which encircles Mt. St. Helens and makes up most of the course,

with only about 4.5 miles running along a different route.

Participants cross lava fields and rock and pumice terrain, ford rivers,

and alternate between the "blast zone" created by the 1980 eruption and dense conifer forest.

Although billed as a 50K, the actual distance is longer, around 32 miles,

with roughly 7,400 feet of cumulative elevation gain, making the perceived difficulty comparable to a 50-mile race.

The 25K division also includes the Loowit Trail, rocky terrain, steep downhills, and debris flow sections, climbing and descending about 3,200 feet.

Organizer
Go Beyond Racing
Typical race-season temperature: around 17°C (63°F)
Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Volcanic 50 race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No public transit; start/finish is Marble Mountain Sno-Park, about 10 miles up Forest Road 83 from the small town of Cougar

Stations & transport near the venue

No bus service or transit card exists in this forest-road area near Mount St. Helens.

The nearest airport is Portland, OR (about 2 hours away) and a rental car is required;

cell service is unreliable near the venue, so download offline maps beforehand.

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.

To enter the 50K (about 32 miles), runners must already have finished at least one 50K,

so this is best tackled after you have built up some experience rather than as a first ultra.

Entry fee was about $185 for the 50K and about $120 for the 25K in the previous year (early-bird pricing from mid-April through late July, fees and taxes extra),

and registration is handled through UltraSignup.

Strict time limit s are enforced throughout course —

at the 2nd aid station the cutoff is 11:30 a.m., and at the 4th aid station it is 4:00 p.m.;

runners who do not pass by those times can be pulled from the race.

Aid station are widely spaced and aid stations are minimal, with only basics such as fluids, electrolytes,

fruit, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, and salty snacks, so bring plenty of your own hydration and race fuel.

Because this is rugged running through lava fields and rocky terrain, trail shoes that protect the ankles and trekking poles are useful,

and the volcanic landscape offers little shade, so sun protection and dehydration management are essential.

Times are local to Cougar. 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.

Time for you, before and after the finish

7 experiences

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

Portland｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Portland International Airport

₩163,393

View on Klook

Joint Base Lewis–McChord | Lewis–McChord Joint Base Airport Private Airport Pickup/Drop-Off Service

₩237,149

View on Klook

The Hood Columbia Loop Day Tour in Portland

₩188,635

View on Klook
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 mapSeeing Cougar with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Cougar.

Total cost and budget for Volcanic 50

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

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

Runner stories and questions about Volcanic 50

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Cougar runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Volcanic 50

FAQ
When does Volcanic 50 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, August 7, 2027 in Cougar, WA, United States.

What distances does Volcanic 50 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Volcanic 50 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00.

Where does Volcanic 50 2027 finish?

Marble Mountain Sno-Park.

What are the Volcanic 50 2027 cut-off times?

AS2_Toutle 11:30 · AS4_Ape_Canyon 16:00.

When does registration for Volcanic 50 2027 open?

Registration runs from Mon, February 1, 2027 to Sat, July 31, 2027.

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