October 11, 2025
New Race for 2025!!
October is such a magical time in the Eastern Cascades that we couldn’t resist offering a new event! This course has a bit of it all: smooth single track, incredible views, steep climbs, and technical sections. Oh, and did we mention it’s Larch Season over here?
The 50k will reach elevations over 6000ft, while the 50M will top out over 7000ft at its highest point. This high-elevation course will offer views east into the Entiat River Valley and west towards the glaciated slopes of Clark Mountain and Dakobed (Glacier Peak). With gilded larches to frame the trails, this certainly won’t be a race to miss.
Woodland Speeders Kid’s Race
As part of our Woodland Speeders program, we offer free kid’s races at all of our events. Parents are welcome to run with their kiddos. You can register your child during the registration process for your own race or sign them up later. The course at Mad Meadows will be approximately 1 miles with minimal elevation gain.
Np̓əšqʷáw̓səxʷ / Wenatchi
Yakama
Coast Salish
Mad Meadows
at a Glance
October 11, 2025
50k and 50 Miler
This is a remote course with steep and technical sections of trail.
This institution is operated under a special use permit with the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest.
from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (2020)720-5964 (voice
and TDD).
Finisher swag
Every finisher at an Evergreen Trail Run event receives a piece of handmade finisher swag! We make our awards using solar power in Anacortes, Washington.
HOW WE ARE HELPING SAVE THE PLANET
There are no higher stakes than being kind to the earth; we care deeply about keeping our planet viable for the next generation.
To that end, we organize our events with an eye towards minimizing our impact on the planet. Read more here.
We Welcome All
Committed to Making All Feel Welcome
Evergreen Trail Runs is continuously making efforts to ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe at our running events and in our trail running community. There is space for all on the trails. We have a non-binary registration option and a non-binary category for overall awards.
If you have a suggestion or idea for how we can improve our events in this regard, please let us know!
Course Notes
This is not a course to underestimate! While the views are spectacular and the larches are magical, there are also long, technical sections and steep climbs. There are also wonderful sections of smooth single track along the Mad River and through Mad Meadows.
All distances will start down the Chiwawa River Road (USFS 62). 50k runners will take a right and head up towards the Minnow Creek trailhead on USFS 6210. The 50-mile runners continue down Chiwawa River road until the Rock Creek Aid Station.
After the 50k and 50-mile part ways, the 50k starts a climb up the Minnow creek trail towards Minnow Aid Station. This undulating trail will gradually climb up Minnow Ridge on the slopes above Chikamin Creek. The 50K runners will then Rejoin the 50-mile course at the Chikamin Aid Station.
The 50-mile route starts with a 7-mile, flat warm-up on Chiwawa River Road before passing Rock Creek Aid Station and beginning the long climb out of the river valley. This climb starts out gradually along Rock Creek before turning into steep switchbacks on the way up to Basalt Pass. Runners then descend to Basalt Aid Station and back up to the pass. After the second time at Basalt Pass, runners will enjoy incredible views of the Dakobed Range from a beautifully graded ridge climb toward Garland Ridge. Here, the geology changes, and wild pumus slopes (from the most recent Dakobed eruption 1700 years ago) speckled with golden larches take over the scenery. Then the real fun begins. Runners will enjoy 360° views while flying down Garland Ridge on a technical but incredible descent, with some punchy climbs, before rejoining the 50k course on an out and back to Chikamin Aid Station.
As both distances leave Chikamin Aid Stations, runners will climb towards Chikamin Ridge on well-graded, smooth single track. A truly special treat along this section awaits in a north-facing talus slope dipped in gold from old-growth larch trees. (50-mile runners get to run through this magical place twice!) Remember to look down occasionally because this is a rocky, technical section!
Then, both distances head through an old burn on Chikamin Ridge and down into the wandering meadows on perfect trails. Flying down the Mad River trail and onto the namesake Mad Meadows Aid Station. After this aid station, a short climb out of the meadow brings runners to the final descent on the winding single track of Alder Ridge. Once through the Entiat Aid Station, runners will flow through 4.5 miles of single track along side Chiwawa River Road and back to the finish at Grouse Creek Group Campground.
Registration
50k:
January 1: $120
May 1: $135
August 1: $150
Race day: $180
50 Miler:
January 1: $180
May 1: $195
August 1: $210
Race day: $230
Trail Mix Fund
Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? We can help with the Trail Mix Fund.
This is a cupless race!
This is a cupless race. All runners should carry with them a refillable container that they can run with. There will be a limited number of cups for emergency situations.
Post-Race:
We’ll have a variety of hearty, hot food and drinks for everyone at the finish line!
Race Notes:
Pacers: No pacers are allowed in this event
Crew: Crew members can meet their runners at Rock Creek, Basalt, Chikamin, and Entiat Aid Stations. Runners are not allowed to receive aid outside of designated aid stations.
Required Gear:
50-miler: Participants must carry a headlamp, a light rain/wind jacket, 2L water capacity, and have the course GPS downloaded onto a phone or watch.
50K: Participants must carry a light rain/wind jacket, 1L of water capacity, and have the course GPS downloaded onto phone or watch.
Course and Aid Station Locations
The race starts and finishes at the Grouse Creek Group Campground on Chiwawa River Road. A clearing along this same road offers parking for participants. That said, parking is limited, so please carpool!! Or, if you camp nearby consider riding your bike or walking to the start/finish as a warmup/cool down opportunity 🙂
Schedule
Packet pickup opens on race morning at 5:00 am
Pre-race briefing
15 minutes before each event at the starting line.
Race starts
6:00am: 50 miler
6:30am: 50k
8:30am: Kid’s Race (approximately)
Course cutoffs
8:00am: Rock Creek Aid — 50-mile at mile 7
8:30am: Minnow Aid — 50k at mile 4
10:00am: Basalt Aid — 50-mile at mile 13
2:00pm: Chikamin Aid — 50-mile at mile 26, 50k at mile 9
6:00pm: Entiat Aid — 50mile at mile 44, 50k at mile 27
8:00pm: Course Close
Accommodations
There are plenty of USFS campgrounds and dispersed camping nearby. If something less rustic is your style, the nearby towns of Lake Wenatchee, Leavenworth, and Plain have many lodging options.
Cancellations/Deferrals:
Please note: While you can defer your entry to Mad Meadows as per our usual policies, you cannot transfer your entry from Mad Meadows to any other Evergreen Trail Runs events or vice versa. Also, as usual refunds are not issued in any circumstance.
Course Nutrition
All aid stations will be stocked with the usual ultra fare: PB&J, gummies, gels, electrolyte drinks, water, and other goodies. Basalt and Chikamin Aid stations will also have hearty, hot food options to keep you going and your stomach happy.
Please note that Mad Meadows aid station is a hike-in aid station. So expect only simple foods like gels, blocks, water, and electrolytes at this aid station.
We try to accommodate common dietary restrictions at our aid stations including gluten free, vegan, and veggie. But of you have other allergies or food sensitivities, please plan accordingly and carry your own food or include options for yourself in your drop bags.
Photo Gallery
Sponsored by:
Evergreen Trails is proud to have Tailwind as our official hydration sponsor.
Running Evolution is the training community for people who might not want to win the races, but have a darn good time out there.
Washington Trails Association
PDF Course Map
Below is a high quality downloadable race map. If you’d like to open an online interactive course map, scroll just a little further down.
Please note that distances and elevations noted below and on maps below are approximate and are derived from online mapping programs. Your recorded distance and elevation gain on race day may vary.
Elevation Profiles
50K
50 Miles
Course
Kid’s Race Course Map
Coming Soon!
50K: 6000ft
50 Miler: 11,000′
Aid Station Locations
50-Mile
7 miles
13 miles
22 miles (water only)
26 miles
35 miles
44 miles
50k
4 miles
9 miles
17 miles
27 miles
Race Location
Grouse Creek Group Campground