Backcountry Rise - Toutle, WA

Backcountry Rise - Toutle, WA

Backcountry Rise is a trail running event staged at the Mt. St. Helens Science & Learning Center on the slopes above Coldwater Lake. The venue serves as a base camp with a dining hall, bathrooms, interpretive areas, an expansive courtyard and pavilion spaces.

The races take place in the Mt. Margaret Backcountry on the north side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Courses are looped and mostly singletrack, with sustained climbs, descents and exposed sections. An alternate course will be used for 2026 due to an ongoing road closure of Spirit Lake Hwy.

Distances offered:

• 50K: one clockwise loop, 7,600 ft gain and loss, 99% singletrack
• 20 Miler: one clockwise loop, 4,800 ft gain and loss, about 98% singletrack
• Half Marathon: clockwise loop around Coldwater Lake, 2,800 ft gain and loss

The 50K is remote and exposed; three aid stations are provided and prior mountain ultra experience plus safety gear are required. During registration entrants must provide a qualifying result such as completion of a trail 50K, the Backcountry Rise 20 miler, an Ironman or a verifiable self-supported endurance effort; road races do not qualify. The 20 miler has two full aid stations; the half marathon has two aid stations.

Friday night includes optional bib pickup, a spaghetti feed and a trivia and game night. The event is organized by Daybreak Racing and registration closes on Sun, Aug 23 at 11:59 PM PT. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.