GOAT Run 50K Route

The Great Olympic Adventure Trail Run (GOAT Run) 50K course takes place on a combination of single-track trail and logging roads that traverse Kelly Ridge between the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington State.The 50K starts at Granny’s Cafe. After about 1000 feet on a path next to Hwy 101, runners will verge onto a dirt logging road for 6 miles, followed by the entire length of the Olympic Adventure Trail (20 miles of single-track trail), then 4 miles of gravel logging road. The final ¾ mile of the race is on a paved road, finishing with a bang as runners enter Olympic National Park at the deep, glacially carved Lake Crescent. (Distances are approximate.)

Famous for its turquoise blue waters of exceptional clarity, the lake is the perfect place to end the race. The finish line is at Log Cabin Resort on the lake, and runners will be greeted by stunning lake and mountain views, food, and fun. There are rooms, cabins, and campsites at the resort (how great would it be to have your room right at the finish line?), as well as public showers, restrooms, beach, restaurant and beer!

The course reaches a maximum elevation of 1,619 feet, with a cumulative elevation gain of over 3,700 feet across the 31-mile rolling course. The first mile and the last mile are… uh… really hard. The hills in the middle grind on and on. The last logging road stretch? Where it looks flat on the elevation profile? Nope. Misleading. That’s gonna hurt too. Challenging? Absolutely! This is a difficult course. But it’s worth it! The trail is impeccably constructed and maintained, and goes through a variety of forest ages. Highlights include stunning water views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca over to Vancouver Island in Canada, and an incredible log bridge over Whiskey Creek near the town of Joyce. And of course Lake Crescent, the biggest highlight of them all.

There will be minimal aid stations for the GOAT Run, and runners should be prepared to be self-sufficient and carry water and food as needed. The eight aid stations will be at approximately miles 4, 8, 12, 17.5, 21, 25, and 28. There will be food and drinks at the finish line as well. There’s a time limit of eight hours.

See the course map below.

Bridge Along Devil’s Punchbowl at Lake Crescent. (Courtesy Sarah Miller)