The Ruff - Carson, WA

The Ruff : Carson, WA (Nov 22, 2026)

The Ruff is a trail race held at the Dog Mountain Trailhead in Carson, Washington, inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The event features a 7-mile course run entirely on single-track trails that goes to the summit of Dog Mountain and returns via the Augspurger Trail. The climb to the summit covers approximately 3 miles with about 3,000 ft of gain, followed by roughly 4 miles of downhill to the finish. Runners will pass viewpoints with views of the Columbia River, Mt Hood to the south, and Mt St. Helens to the west.

Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers, top masters male and female, and sponsors provide a prize of a pair of shoes for first place male and female. Separate 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 supplied by Ninkasi Brewing Company and pizza provided by Backwoods Brewing Company. Well behaved dogs are welcome. The event is conducted under a special use permit in partnership with the US Forest Service and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and the organizer follows USDA nondiscrimination policy. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.