May 29th – 5k – 25k – 50k

Presented by

Your Destination Mountain Running Festival

Ski Hill 50k

Date: Saturday, May 29, 2027
Start: 7:00 am
Distance: 50k
Elevation Gain: 7,300ft
UTMB Index: 50k event
Start/Finish: Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, WA

Early registration is open!

DOUBLE TROUBLE

This race is sneaky tough. Long climbs, midday temperatures, and a loop you need to complete twice.

This is the longest race of the weekend, and no easy task to complete. The trails are cruisy causing many runners to overrun the downhills. an easy recipe to tire out the quads. Memorial Day tends to be warm and lap two is tough. Last year, 26% of runners DNF’d.

Do you have what it takes?

THE COURSE

The Skihill 50k starts and finishes at the Leavenworth ski hill. This is a well-graded, cruisy course with a sneaky little section that is the favorite of the race directors 😉

Start up the Nut, a mountain bike trail that switchbacks until you feel like you might get dizzy. Pop out onto Ranger Road, a nice double track that keeps the climbing consistent until you hit the mile 5.5 aid station. The climbing gets steep as you’ll get above the alpine with some of the best views of the Cascades around.

Thus begins a long, steady descent into Freud Canyon. The running is good, enjoy it. A cheeky little up and over takes you back into the start/finish. Buckle up, because you have one more loop to do!

This course features primarily non-technical single track (with some technical sections), and some double track.

AWARDS & FOOD

Skihill 50k finishers receive a meal at the start/finish line, snacks, and kombucha with their entry.

All finishers may choose one of the following during registration: A custom wooden finisher award block hand designed by race director, Joe McConaughy; or three trees planted in the Pacific Northwest through our partnership with One Tree Planted.

Podium awards are presented to the top 3 men, women, and top nonbinary participant at the ski hill grounds after the race. All awards are custom wooden designs from Wolfmother Workshop.

AID STATIONS

We will have aid stations on the course with hydration drinks, gels, pbj, chips, fruit, and other various nutritional snacks. Näak is our race nutrition sponsor, and they’ve provided us with Boost drink mix (60 gram carbs), waffles, and Boost Gels. Please remember this is a cupless race so there will be no cups at the aid stations. Huge shoutout to Cowgill. Expect a cowprint and a party!

Mile 5.5
Mile 7.8
Mile 12.3
Mile 15.3 – Drop Bag
Mile 20.8
Mile 22.8
Mile 27.8

CUTOFFS

Mile 15.3 – 12:30 pm
Mile 22.8 – 2:00 pm
Finish Line- 5:00 pm

MEDIA

Our wonderful creatives captured amazing photo and video from last year’s race. We compiled a compilation below. This can also give you a sense of what our event is like:

Ultrasignup’s Behind the Bib Video Recap by Kim Haven
Sophie/Gracie Hinz video compilation
Somer Kreisman: 50k start, 25k on trail/finish line, podium
Tiere Bowman: Prerace, start/finish line, 5k, festivities
Spencer Jones: Upper aid station/ridgeline, inflatable race
Mikaela Mulhall: Start/finish line

POLICIES

Please review other race policies here

REGISTRATION

$140 until January 31, 2027 DON’T MISS OUT
$155 until April 22nd, 2027
$165 until May 26th, 2027

Early registration is open!

SCHEDULE

May 28th, 2027

We plan to have a bib pickup and music the night before. More details will be provided later.

May 29th, 2027

6:00 am Packet Pick Up Open
6:55 am Pre-race Meeting – Must be present
7:00 am 50k Start
5:00 pm 50k finish

From 8:00-5:00 pm, friends, family, volunteers, and you are welcome to join in on the Leavenworth Trail Fest Festivities at the ski hill grounds. This includes kids race, costume race, a community gravel ride, hammerschlagen and field games, kombucha keg, food, brand and gear demos. The Ski Hill Lodge is also open with snacks, beverages including beer and coffee (or tea, respect).

SUPPORTING

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, a major force in developing and maintaining trails in this area, is our nonprofit sponsor. $7 from each paid registration goes directly to Evergreen.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer with us! There is no better way to spend your weekend than helping people achieve their goals. Also, earn $20 credit per hour served for future race entries or Free race entries according to position. We will post a link to volunteer positions at a later date.

CUPLESS

We will not be providing any cups on the course or at the start finish line. Please bring your own cup and or hydration vessel.

PNW YOUTH TRAIL PROJECT

We recognize and support all youth U20 at every event we hold through Mountain Running Races LLC. Youth can register for The Town 5k event for 50% registration discount. We ask that youth wanting to run the 50k or 25k to please reach out to us via email and we’ll give you a 50% discount.

SUSTAINABILITY

One Tree Planted

We have partnered with One Tree Planted to give all participants an opportunity to plant three trees in the State of Washington rather than receive a finishers award. You can help us stay carbon neutral and make a difference in air quality. You can select this option during registration.