The Squamish 50 – 50 km is a very challenging course as evidenced by the 11.5-hour cut off time. There’s not a lot of flat in this course BUT we have at least put those flatter sections at the very beginning and the very end, so you’ll be properly warmed up before you get into the guts of the course. This is a point-to-point race with no loops.

Ascent: 2500 m / 8500 ft
Descent: 2750 m / 9000 ft

Race Equipment

Aid Stations

Km 8 / 18 / 23 / 32 / 40
Mile 5 / 11.2 / 14.3 / 20 / 25

Aid stations will have a selection of standard ultra running foods, such as:

• Näak gel and energy drink mix
• water and Coke
• fruit such as oranges, bananas, watermelon
• potato chips (usually gluten-free)
• snacks such as salted pretzels, gummies, m&m’s, cookies, etc.
• salted potatoes
• other gluten-free options

Course Map

Download GPX File

Course Description

The Squamish50 50 km course is a very challenging route as evidenced by the 11.5-hour cut off time. There’s not a lot of flat in this course BUT we have at least put those flatter sections at the very beginning and the very end, so you’ll be properly warmed up before you get into the guts of the course. This is a point to point race with no loops.

Our race start is a destination all by itself. Alice Lake Provincial Park offers on-site camping, bathroom facilities and swimming in Alice Lake, which is flanked by mountains on all sides. A clear sight line back across the lake shows off Mount Garibaldi, the dominant peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Our start line is just outside of Alice Lake Provincial Park, near the highway turn off to Alice Lake itself, but 400 metres further along in the clearing at the end of the pavement. The race will begin by running briefly up the road, continuing past Alice Lake camping area proper, keeping it on your right, (do not turn into Alice Lake itself) until hooking a left onto the Four Lakes Trail system. You will first run past Stump Lake and then Fawn Lake before popping out onto the Bob McIntosh Trail. Turning left we head towards Dead End Loop, stay left on Dead End Loop to tackle your first sizeable climb up Made In The Shade to gain Ed’s Bypass. Drop back down to Rob’s Corners and enjoy the winding flowy slight downhill grade.

Your first aid station will be located in between Rob’s and Cliff’s Corners. As a 50 km runner you’ll be turning left out of the aid station, onto the Northside Connector. About 1 km further along, stay right in the FSR split and continue on a few more kilometres until until you can pick up a trail on your left named Plastic Scheisse. This trail is located just a few hundred meters after you cross over a prominent water flow / bridge in the FSR.

Welcome to your favourite part of the day! Plastic Scheisse climbs to Galactic Scheisse and tops out at over 1000 metres /  3300 feet. Given that your starting line is approximately 180 metres / 600 feet and you’ve only gained a minimal total amount up until this point in time you should ensure you’ve grabbed ample supplies from your last aid station. The trail climbs at a steady grade that is indeed runnable by those challenging near the front. The total gain is over 750 metres /  2500 feet and it plays out over approximately 4 km of continued ascent. The great part about this climb, besides the challenge, is that it presents the most stunning views of the entire course, so it’s well worth your efforts! Multiple clear views are presented to break up your slog.

As you approach the top of your climb you’ll cross over a few small bridges across streams, feel free to filter some water if there is water flowing on the day. There is a slight reprieve once you top out but shortly thereafter you are thrust into an equivalent descent. Trails you’ll run include Upper Powersmart, IMBA Smart, Fred, and Word Of Mouth. The trails will start off as average technical and proceed into greater technicality as your legs fight through the impending fatigue. You’re welcome!

As you exit Fred you’re just 250 metres shy of your next aid station at the entrance to Word of Mouth.

Once you exit Word Of Mouth you’re just around the corner from the approximate half way point of the course, at Quest University. Awaiting you is a full aid station, full facilities and your drop bag.

Once you depart Quest it’s back to the climbing again. This time via Garibaldi, to The Climb Trail. Early in The Climb Trail you’ll pass a nice little waterfall and about a mile further along you’ll start to get some more open views back down valley towards Quest and across to The Tantalus Mountain Range. You are climbing on singletrack until crossing over The Northside Connector before linking up with the Upper Climb Trail. Climbing, climbing, climbing you’ll top out as you find A.M. or the non politically correct name of Angry Midget. A.M. is a wonderful fall line running trail and though your legs might be screaming you’ll likely be doing the same out loud as you enjoy every step!

At the bottom of A.M. cut left onto Ring Creek and follow it for a few hundred meters until you can cross over the Garibaldi Road FSR. You will access your fourth aid station, and from here to the finish you’ll be following the same course as every other distance.

Once across the gravel road you’ll drop back onto singletrack. This will wind you down to a river crossing while using a bridge called “Darwin’s”, watch your step. A short but steep climb awaits you on the other side and you’ll be taking your first right onto STP. 

You get to drop down STP, climb back up on Bonsai, drop back down on Somewhere Over There, and then hit your final aid station of the day at the entrance to The Far Side. 

Departing your aid station you head into Fartherside and then S&M Connector. Enjoy this open slightly graded descent but don’t worry, you’re not done with your climbing just yet!

Crossing under the powerlines you take a right onto the boardwalk, followed by a quick left onto Endo but only briefly before you turn right onto Seven Stitches as you slowly climb up to Pipe Trail. From Pipe Trail you are closing in on your final climb of the day, up Mountain Of Phlegm. Don’t fuss over the name though, we’ve saved the best views for last! From the top of Mountain Of Phlegm, which is a short but steep climb, it’s ‘almost’ all downhill to your finish line.

Take Summer’s Eve into The Smoke Bluffs, blaze past the rock climbers and boulderers until you end up in the parking lot down below. It’s time to get those legs to turn over on some flat stuff finally, and you’re only a few kilometres from celebrating your achievement in our beer gardens!

Along the water, through Rose Park, under the highway and down to Junction Park at the O’Siyam Pavilion, where you can finally lay down and call it a day!

In case you’ve made it this far and haven’t deduced this just yet… it’s NOT an easy course, but if you train hard you’ll be one of those receiving a finisher’s medal at Junction Park, in downtown Squamish, on Sunday afternoon.