The Ruff - Carson, WA

The Ruff, Carson WA

The Ruff is a trail race scheduled for November 22, 2026, in Carson, Washington, organized by Elevated Trail Racing. The event uses the Dog Mountain Trailhead as the start and finish location and is listed as a single-day, offline, in-person race.

The 7 mile course is run entirely on single-track trails. Runners ascend the Dog Mountain Trail about 3 miles with roughly 3000 feet of elevation gain to the summit, then descend about 4 miles via the Augspurger Trail back to the trailhead. The route offers views of the Columbia River Gorge area and nearby peaks.

Bib pickup is available at the Dog Mountain Trailhead on the morning of the race; participants are asked to consider carpooling because parking at the trailhead is limited.

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

Food and drink will be available, with beer provided by Ninkasi Brewing Company and pizza provided by Backwoods Brewing Company. The race is held under a special use permit in partnership with the US Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Elevated Trail Racing LLC follows applicable non-discrimination policies. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.