Rock Howard Mastiff Traverse: This is a popular ski traverse, but I bet it could also work on foot.This area south of Glacier Peak on the PCT has a great network of trails and is wildflower heaven in mid summer. Dishpan Gap to Cady Pass Loops: You can do this loop either from the west or east side of the crest, with longer loops from the west side.Melts out early, has larches in the fall. Miscellaneous Teanaway Loops: You can make these as long as you want, lots of options between Ingalls and Iron Bear.

Ida Pass Loop: Run up to Goat Lake, ascend snowfields up to Ida Pass, then descend to Monte Cristo and run out.Squire Creek Loop: Fair bit of road running here, but this loop starts in Darrington and takes you up Squire Creek beneath the incredible east face of Three Fingers before descending down Clear Creek.Lennox – Canoe – Morpheus – Dog Traverse: I honestly have not verified this one, but it makes for a nice loop from the west side, circumnavigating the headwaters of the North Fork Snoqualmie.Snoqualmie Mt Circumnavigation: Run to Snow Lake, down into Middle Fork, jump in Goldmeyer Hot Springs.Big Snow Loop: Up Dingford Creek, climb the north side of Big Snow, down the south side and out.Tag on Maude for the easiest 9k peak in WA. Abundant larches but also wonderful scenery any time of year. Carne High Route: If you go late summer there’s basically a trail all the way.Larches and lakes on the Golden Lakes Loop. The descent down the Tubal Cain trail from Buckhorn deserves an entry in “50 classic running descents of North America”. Townsend Buckhorn Ridge Run: This variation has miles of delicious class 3 and 4 ridge scrambling, with great views out to Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.What makes this run? The fact you can find an old wrecked bomber along the way. Northern Buckhorn Loop: Start up Deception Creek to Marmot Pass, tag Buckhorn, then out Copper Creek.Tyler Baldy Sky Run: great views overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, short approach, epic ridge line.These routes, in no particular order, are at the lowest tier, but that does not mean they are not worthy of running. Sam once again mapped at all these routes on caltopo. A monstrous day, a lifetime achievement, something that deserves a true round of applause.

Accomplishable in under 24 hours with no running, just fast hiking. Generally under 50 hours and reasonable in a single push for mortals like us.

A big day (8-16 hours) for most runners.

Should be completable for an experienced ultra runner in just part of a day (< 10 hrs), so usually under marathon distance.

I have broken the list down into three “levels” of routes: I will include TRs (trip reports) for certain routes where I think a TR is helpful (or simply for self-promotion). I have given a strong preference to loops and point-to-point runs instead of out-and-backs. Instead, I am trying to highlight some of the more interesting or aesthetic routes with a keen eye to the truly adventurous ones. This list is not intended to be comprehensive I am not listing out every trail run in the state. Oh yeah, it should be doable in running shoes – but isn’t everything? (for more about shoes, see my footwear post) A run should also not require technical gear like ropes. As a rule of thumb, if a route is less than 50% runnable, it does not count as an “adventure run”. There might be some overlap between the two lists, but this list is intended to be far more running oriented and less technical. Previously, I wrote a pretty thick list of Washington High Routes and Traverses.

Mountain magic trail run