Paradise Valley Alternative Route
Here's the alternative route used for 2019 through Paradise Valley because the Skagit Valley was not ready by August. All of the routes are in Manning Park. Views and climbs!| Event | Legs |
| 120 Mile | Legs 1-9 with an out and back on Whitecloud Trail in Leg 4 Paradise Valley. Starts at Bonnevier. |
| Relay | Legs 1-9 with an interchange at Blackwall Peak for Legs 1 and 2, plus an out and back on Whitecloud Trail in Leg 4 Paradise Valley. Starts at Bonnevier. |
| 70 Mile | Legs 3-8 with an additional 4 km loop at the base of Skyline. Starts at Cayuse Flats. |
| 50 Mile | Legs 4-7. Starts at Cascade Aid Station. |
| 40 Mile | Starts at Cascade Aid Station, then does Leg 3 to Cayuse Flats, Leg 2 Hope Pass to Grainger Creek to Nicomen, along Heather to Blackwall Peak. Next follow Leg 7 and then to the finish. See full route description and profiles attached here. |
Map and Overall Profile
Here is the updated map created by mapmaker Bob Plummer, in PDF format. It is 11x17 inches. The profile is shown here. |
Nine Legs
| Leg 1 Bonnevier |
120 Mile = 19 km/12 mi. Relay = 25.5 km/16 mi. |
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Bonnevier follows the Eastgate road for 3.8 km then starts on Bonnevier Trail. Gradual climb with some valley dips on single track trail. Meadows appear at the top. Two km after Heather Aid Station, you reach the junction of Heather Trail. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
| Leg 2 Heather |
120 Mile = 31 km/19 mi. Relay = 38 km/23 mi. |
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Heather Trail is open and single track, a feast of wildflowers, amazing 360 degree views, meadows, steep descent on rocky ridge to Nicomen Lake. Grainger Creek Trail and Hope Pass Trail have long downhill switchbacks. Trail description and profile for printing.    |
| Leg 3 Skagit Bluffs |
All events = 7 km/4 mi. |
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Skagit Bluffs Trail is undulating single track parallel to Hwy 3. There are some stream crossings and peekaboo views and occasional wild rhododendrons blooming. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
| Leg 4 Paradise Valley |
120 Mile and Relay =23 km/14 mi. 50 and 70 Mile = 16 km/10 mi. | |
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After a short distance along Dewdney Trail, this leg branches off to Whatcom, one of the first trails created in Manning Park. It climbs toward Snass Mountain and descends to the Whitecloud Trail junction. (Out and back for 120 Mile and Relay on Whitecloud.) Paradise! Views, lakes, single track. Trail description and profile for printing.   |
| Leg 5 Dewdney to Dick's Cabin |
120 Mile and Relay = 24 km/15 mi. 50 and 70 Mile = 17 km/10.5 mi. | |
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This leg travels along Dewdney Trail to Tulameen Camp and continues along Dewdney to Whipsaw Jeep Road and Dick’s Cabin. (120 mile and Relay first travel back to Dewdney along Whitecloud.) Views, stream crossings, subalpine. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
| Leg 6 Nicomen Trail to Heather |
120, 70, 50 Mile and Relay = 30.5 km/19 mi. | |
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From Dick’s Cabin Aid Station, this leg follows Nicomen Lake Trail down to Nicomen Lake Aid Station, up Nicomen Ridge and continues on Heather Trail to Blackwall Peak. Views, lakes, wildflowers. Trail description and profile for printing.   |
| Leg 7 Blackwall Peak |
All events = 14.5 km/9 mi. |
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This leg travels from the Blackwall Aid Station down Dry Ridge Trail and the Blackwall Road, crosses Hwy #3 and goes 1.5 km along the road that leads to Lightning Lake to the Frosty Aid Station. Views, long descent on road. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
| Leg 8 Frosty |
120, Relay and 70 Mile = 24 km/15 mi |
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This leg travels from the Frosty Aid Station, up and over Frosty Mountain and descends at Lightning Lake at Tom’s Bench Aid Station. Views, elevation is a factor, scrambling over scree field, white forest, long descent. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
| Leg 9 Skyline |
120 Mile and Relay = 21 km/13 mi. 70 Mile do 4 km loop. |
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This leg travels along Lightning Lake Trail over Rainbow Bridge, past Spruce Bay Beach, along South Gibson Trail to Strawberry Flats. From there, it travels up Strawberry Flats Trail to Sky Junction. The last section on Skyline l travels on a wonderful flowy descent to Rainbow Bridge and then 1.5 km to the finish. Trail description and profile for printing.  |
Elevation Gain and Loss
120 Mile and Relay = 8190 metres/8492 metres.70 Mile = 4752 metres/4281 metres.
50 Mile = 3267 metres/2863 metres.
40 mile = 2398 metres/2002 metres.
Links
Race Guide for Paradise Valley route.Crew and Relay Driving Instructions for Paradise Valley route.
Volunteer Page.