Trail Running in the Mt. Rainier Area

© Craig Romano

Located just south of Eatonville in the Nisqually River Valley is the University of Washington's 4,300 acre Pack Forest. The Pack is packed with trails! And they're open to the public. Trail runners will especially be pleased with the trail network. For one thing, nearly all of the Pack's trails and forest roads (which are closed to vehicles), and there are miles of these, are suitable for trail running...

© Glenn Tachiyama

One of the most challenging Ultra runs in the country, the White River 50 Mile is also one of the most scenic. Staged in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, the course includes deep old growth forest, resplendent alpine meadows, wild river banks, gut wrenching cliff sides, and plenty of stunning views of 14,411-foot glacier covered Mount Rainier.

© Byron Vasecka

It was ten years ago, avid runner and Foothills Rails-to-Trail Coalition board member John S. Selby came up with the idea of the Rainer to Ruston (R2R) Relay. And since its humble origin in 2003 when just a few of Selby's hardy friends attended, R2R has gained some serious steam attracting almost 750 participants in 2011, its 9th year.