08/10/2024
The 5k is a fun, runnable course, that will give you a little taste of everything the park has to offer. It is a beginner friendly trail race, but can also test the most hardcore, with about 500 feet of climbing overall, some fast descents, technical single track sections, and some super fast wider trails.
After about a tenth of a mile, you will turn right up your first climb on the Hemlock Trail, merge onto Woodland, ascending about 160 feet in just a quarter mile. After cresting the top, you will wind down to connect with Overlook and head out to the Overlook Trail lot, where you will turn right for a brief run on Buckley Road. You then turn left into the Bunny Trail lot, rip off a short section of the Bunny Trail, pop back out into Buckley, then an immediate left onto the Wetlands Trail, clocking 1 mile just after entering that trail head. Now is your chance to open it up and enjoy a half mile of flat and fast, before coming off Wetlands and a quick left/right onto the Spruce Trail.
The Spruce Trail is your second and last major climb, at about 200 feet of vertical ascent, over a half mile.
When you reach the top of the Spruce Trail Climb, you will have about 1.25 miles to the finish, enjoying mostly flat and down the rest of the way, connecting with the Border Trail, then finishing on the beautiful Silver Creek Trail, before popping out into the main park area and your final sprint to the finish line.
We think this is a great 5k trail course and hope you love it too! What's your favorite part of the 5k?
