The Ruff - Carson, WA

The Ruff, Carson, WA

The Ruff is a 7-mile trail race held at the Dog Mountain Trailhead in Carson, WA, organized by Elevated Trail Racing. The course is entirely on single-track trails within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and uses Dog Mountain Trail to the summit and Augspurger Trail for the descent.

• 7 miles total.
• Uphill: 3 miles with about 3000 ft of elevation gain.
• Downhill: 4 miles to the finish.

The route provides views of the Columbia River, Mt Hood to the south, and Mt St. Helens to the west. Bib pickup is available the morning of the race at the Dog Mountain Trailhead. Parking at the trailhead is limited; carpooling is recommended.

Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers and to top masters male and female. First place male and female receive a free pair of Inov-8 shoes. King and Queen of the Mountain awards go to the first male and female, and a fastest downhill award is given to the top male and female downhill time; an entrant may win only one award.

Food and drinks will include beer provided by Ninkasi Brewing Company and pizza from Backwoods Brewing Company. Well behaved dogs are allowed on course. The event is held under a special use permit in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and Elevated Trail Racing LLC follows USDA nondiscrimination policy. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.