Route description for FA 50k and 30k runners: This is a route description with approximate mileages for both the 29 and 21 mile runs. For everyones information, sunrise is at 7:50 and sunset is 5:00. You have about 9 hours of daylight. For those running the 29 miler a reasonable cut-off time is 2:00 pm at mile 19.4 where you can elect to run the 21 miler. Otherwise, you might find yourself in the dark for the last few miles. The course starts at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center parking lot where it costs a five dollars to park. The mileages listed below are cumulative. (A disclaimer--these distances are from data recorded by my GPS watch which is likely not 100% accurate). Starting from the Visitor Center parking lot, the course goes up the Cook Ridge trail. After .3 miles or so, there will be a choice to go either left or right on a short loop trail. You should stay left and at the other end of the loop trail (.6 m), stay left again. At 2.2 miles, the Gwynn Creek trail will go off to the right. Continue straight on the Cooks Ridge trial. At 3.3 miles, the Cummins Creek trail will go to the right. Once again stay left until you reach Forest Service road 55 at 3.5 miles where you will turn right. This road is mostly paved but has softer (pine needle covered) areas on the sides. After a quarter mile or so on this road, you will enter a clear-cut area which has one the nicest views on the course. It overlooks the Yachats River valley. At mile 5.8, there will be another paved road going off to the left with a sign Yachats 13 Miles (FR5590) -- keep going straight on FR55. At mile 8.5 a dirt road will go off to the right. This is FR 5694 and should have a sign indicating that. Follow this road which starts going downhill but then is mostly uphill until just past the crest at 9.7 miles where a seldom used dirt road goes off to the right. There is a yellow steel gate here. This short road leads to the top of Cummins Peak--elevation about 2475 ft where there are some antennas located. This is a short out and back of about 1/2 mile total. After coming back down the out and back (mile 10.2) turn right and continue on FR 5694 another .1 mile (mile 10.3) until the road makes a hairpin turn to the left. There is a road leading off the apex which you will take (go right in the middle of the turn). There is a sign with a hiking logo. Follow this road another .1mile until you reach the trail head ( mile 10.4) This is the start of the Cummins Ridge trail which is about 6 miles long. The first three miles of this is a narrow single track which has several areas of overgrowth on the trail. The first one through gets to clear all the spider webs. After three miles on this trail (13.6), it bears to the left and widens into what looks like an old logging road . There is a rock cairn located here. After another 3 miles(16.5), this trail will end and you will continue on another dirt road (FR 1051) until you reach the Coast Highway (mile 18.6). Carefully cross the highway and turn right. Stay as far left (facing traffic) as is reasonably possible. Running on the right is not recommended as the shoulder is very narrow and is blind to northbound drivers. Continue on the Coast Highway for .7 miles (mile 19.3) Once again carefully cross the highway and proceed up the dirt Cummins Creek access road (FR 1050). About 50 yards up this road is the point where you can decide to run either the 21 or 29 mile course. This is the only point with a cut off time for the 29 miler (2:00pm). If you are doing the 21 miler, turn left and follow the Coast Trail back to the Visitor Center where its about 1.3 miles to the finish ( after about .3 miles you will come to a small meadow where you will bear right and then cross a wooden bridge and shortly after that you will meet the Gwynn Creek trail where you then stay left on the Coast Trail). If you are running the 29 mile coarse, continue up the dirt road and onto the trail which is towards the left at the trail head. After a mile or so up this trail, you will see the Cummins Loop trail leading off to the left (for those of you who ran the Rainshadow Yachats 50k, this was the course) . Dont take the loop trail. Continue straight up the Cummins Creek trail. At approximately 23 miles, the trail will leave the old logging road and bear left up a steep single track. Once again, continue straight past the Cummins Loop trail (which goes off to the left). Shortly after this, you will see the Cummins Basin viewpoint trail leading off to the right. Continue past this and you will reach the crest of about 1450 ft. This will be about a three quarter mile climb. Continue on the Cummins Creek trail until you come to the Cooks Ridge trail (mile 24.4). Turn left here. (If you miss this turn, you will end up back at FR55) . This will be the only part of the course you will run twice. Continue down this 1.1 mile stretch until you find the Gwynn Creek trail on the left (Mile 25.5). Go down the Gwynn Creek trail for three miles until it reaches the Coast Trail (mile 28.5). Turn right onto the coast trail for one last mile to the Visitor Center. For those of you who wish to add another 2.5 miles onto your run, theres an out and back route that will take you to the top of Cape Perpetua , elevation about 800 ft. To get there, take the trail that begins between the Visitor Center and the bathrooms. Take the first left turn after which you will cross a creek on a wood bridge. Continue on through the campground area (closed at this time of year) and bear left at the bathroom. Follow the road for about 30 yards and then take the short trail off to the right which then ends at FR 55. You will then see a signs directing you to the St. Perpetua trail. Some notes: Some of the trail and road marking signs are occasionally damaged and or disappear. There is typically little or no traffic on FR55 but it would still be prudent to stay to the left. When Ive taken this course, Ive carried a Camelback with a 70 oz bladder and a hand carried 20 oz bottle along with a few Gus and energy bars. As the first 20 miles of this course is run on or near ridge lines, there are no springs or other natural water sources available. There are several springs and streams at spots on the last 8 miles but you might water to use a filter.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 01:00:27 +0000
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