Manastash Ridge 5k | 7 Mi | Half Marathon

Manastash Ridge is on the eastern cusp of the forests that blanket the Cascade Mountains, so it is covered by a mix of open land with grass and sagebrush and stands of pine forest. This area is well-loved by runners, hikers, and mountain bikers, and there is an extensive network of trails with a variety of surfaces, from smooth and flowy mountain bike trails to old jeep roads that are being reclaimed by plants. The terrain is mostly moderately sloping ridges and valleys rising to the ridge from the run start and finish point on the south side, but the Half Marathon and 50k runners will get to climb the steeper northern slope of the ridge, with breathtaking views of Ellensburg and the Kittitas Valley.

This event is part of NW Trail Runs’ Half Marathon Trail Series. Runners in the Half Marathon distance earn points toward their series standing.

Course Description

Single track trail on the south side of Manastash Ridge

The courses are moderately hilly to hilly, with different elevation gain profiles for the different distances. The 5k and 7-mile routes are entirely on the relatively gently sloping south side of the ridge, and they generally climb—mostly gently—and then drop—again, mostly gently. The Half Marathon and 50k loops descend the steeper north side of the ridge into the Kittitas Valley, and the Half Marathon climbs back up to the ridgetop via a steep and long climb: 1255 feet of gain in 1.4 miles. The 50k route departs from the Half Marathon course shortly after the second aid station, near the northern trailhead, and it climbs the ridge via a meandering and runnable biking trail that spreads 1460 feet of gain over five miles to reach the starting point of the final long downhill.

Schedule

8:00am – Check-in opens
9:00am – Half Marathon start
9:30am – 7-mile start
10:00am – 5k start
1:00pm – Course closing

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