Cirque Series - Crystal Mountain
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Event details
The race takes place on September 19, 2026, at Crystal Mountain, Washington. The course is 7.9 miles long with 2,614 ft of elevation gain. The field is capped at 500 runners. The race course is on the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Early bib pickup is listed as TBD. Race morning bib pickup is available; bib pickup closes 15 minutes before the race start. Registration breakdown by category is given as Sport 58%, Expert 36%, and Pro 6%.
Each competitor receives a snapback, a giveaway ticket, a logoed bib and medal, a sponsor swag bag, and free professional race photos. Cirque Series hats are available at the event merch booth.
Course and safety
The route starts at the Crystal Mountain base area and follows Kelly’s Gap service road for about 1.7 miles to the Green Valley trail. Runners ascend Grubstake, the course high point at 6,861 ft, then continue along the summit ridgeline with views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Range. The course passes the gondola and Summit House, drops onto a steep technical trail to the Crystal Mountain Trail, then goes through Powder Bowl, Bear Pits, under the Forest Queen chairlift, past Elizabeth Lake, into forest to Henskin Lake, along the Silver Creek Trail, across alpine creeks and old mining camps, and up to Gold Hill before returning on service road to the base area finish.
The course is marked with orange flagging. Competitors must follow the flagged route; if flagging is absent they should return to the last flagged location. Report injured competitors to the nearest course marshal, EMT, or Crystal Mountain Patrol. There is a strict 1.5-hour cut-off at the Crystal Mountain summit; the course may be adjusted as necessary. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.