Needles 50k

Event Overview

The Needles 50k is an ultramarathon held on a loop course in the mountains near Easton, Washington. The event is described as being held in a "fatass" style, meaning it is unsupported. There will be no aid stations or course markings provided by the organizers. Runners must be self-sufficient, treating their own water from creeks and carrying all their own food.

Course Details

The course is a single loop connecting several mountain peaks and areas, including Domerie Divide, Thomas Mountain, French Cabin Mountain, Little Joe Lake, Thorp Mountain, Kachess Ridge (also known as The Cardiac Needles), and Silver Creek. The route involves approximately 10,000 feet of climbing. A GPX track of the course will be provided at least one week before the event, and runners must pre-load it into their chosen map app for navigation.

Water Access

Untreated water is available in creeks at several points along the course. The specific locations are:

• Silver Creek (mile ~1.7)
• French Cabin Creek (mile ~12.3)
• Thorp Creek (mile ~14.5)
• Little Joe Lake outlet (mile ~16.1)
• A spring under Thorp Mountain (mile ~19.9)
• Silver Creek (mile ~25.2)
• Silver Creek at Boy Scout bridge (mile ~27.9)

Participant Requirements

A prerequisite for the 50k distance is completing a 50-mile trail run in 12 hours or less. All runners are required to carry a phone with the course GPX downloaded. An official finish requires providing summit selfies at designated points, including Thorp Mountain, and submitting a GPX track to confirm the full course was covered.

Registration Notes

Registration for the 25k distance is delayed. It is intended as a drop-down option for 50k runners, and 25k entries may be available at a later date. The event has a 12-hour cutoff time for an "official" finish. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.