Willapa Trail Festival

Willapa Trail Festival

The Willapa Trail Festival is a series of trail footraces held near Chehalis, Washington, with start and finish at Owl and Olive Cafe beside the Willapa Hills State Park Trail and the upper Chehalis River. The event uses the Willapa Hills Trail, a 56 mile former rail grade that runs from Chehalis to Raymond and ends in South Bend along the Willapa River and Willapa Bay.

Distances offered:

• 100 mile
• 50 mile
• 50K
• 25K
• 5K

The trail is described as flat, wide double track with mostly hard packed gravel surface, making navigation straightforward and the course difficult to get lost on. The 100 mile course includes about 96 miles on improved packed gravel and about 4 miles of pavement. The 50 and 100 mile distances include additional out-and-back sections beyond the main eastward leg of the course.

Aid stations will be placed along the routes. The 5K, 25K, and 50K will have 2 to 3 aid stations. The 50 mile course adds an out-and-back with one additional aid station. The 100 mile course includes seven aid stations. Stations will offer water, electrolytes, and common ultra snacks such as candy, cookies, chips, fruit, and gels. Overall cutoff for the 100 mile race is 34 hours; there are no overall cutoffs for the 25K, 50K, or 50 mile races, though aid station closing times will apply.

OlyTrailRunners is a nonprofit organizer. Entry fees are listed by distance and used in part to support trail maintenance. Some parking and limited camping are available at Owl and Olive, and dogs are allowed on leash. The 2026 permit is pending and race details may be adjusted if trail construction affects the west end of the route. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.