Nifty Fifty

Each Nifty Fifty race is run mostly on stunningly beautiful trails with a significant amount of climbing (more than 5,000 feet elevation gain for the 50K). The 25K course is on Basin Road, Perseverance Trail, Red Mill Trail, the Glory Hole overlook, Granite Creek Trail, and Mt. Roberts Trail. The 50K is essentially the 25K course, and adds the Flume and Salmon Creek Trail. The 10K is on Basin Road, Perseverance Trail, Red Mill Trail, and the Glory Hole overlook. All three races start and finish at the end of Basin Road.

Because we have volunteers out on the trails in sometimes marginal weather, we cannot accommodate an early start and must impose a time limit of 7.5 hours for the 50K. If you cannot finish the 50K in 7.5 hours, please sign up for the 25K. It is still a beautiful and challenging course.

10K Course – From the start run towards town on Basin Road, turn right up Perseverance Trail, turn right on Red Mill Trail, turn right on the Glory Hole spur, go to the end, then turn around around and return to Basin Road the way you came.

25K Course – Run toward town from the far end of Basin Road, then go right up the Perseverance Trail, right on the Red Mill Trail, up to the Glory Hole overlook, back down to Red Mill Trail. Go right on Red Mill, then right on Perseverance to the end of Perseverance Trail. Then come back on Perseverance to the intersection with Granite Creek Trail. Go out and back on Granite Creek Trail, then continue down Perseverance back to the start on Basin Road. Then go out Basin Road to the Mt. Roberts Trail. Climb Mt. Roberts to Father Brown’s cross, turn around, and return to Basin Road. The finish is at the end of Basin Road, where you started.

50K Course – 50K runners will do the 25K course, then head back out Basin Road to the Flume, through the highlands, and out Glacier Avenue to the Salmon Creek trail. Then go out and back on Salmon Creek Trail and return the way you came to the end of Basin Road for the final time.

There will be water, Gatorade, and snacks at the start/finish area. 25K and 50K runners will pass through here at mile 11. 50K runners will pass through again at mile 16.5. In addition, there will be water only, to top off water bottles, at about miles 6 and 9 of the 25K/50K course and also at about miles 20 and 26 of the 50K. 50K and 25K runners should carry enough fluids and snacks to get them between aid stations. There will be no cups at the water stations on the course. All runners may leave drop bags at the start/finish area.