Please print out this course description (scroll down for a printer-friendly version) and bring it with you in a plastic baggie to the start.
|
|
25km Course |
Distance in KM's | |
| 1 | Start at Buntzen Lake BC Hydro beach park. Park in far left lot, walk towards the beach, stay left. Gazebo on left side as you aproach the water. Elevation 420 feet/128 meters. | 0.0 | |
| 2 | Start route from Gazebo. Head down paved road towards the lake and boat launching area. | ||
| 3 | Turn left onto Energy Trail just before the lake, near boat dock area. | 0.1 | |
| 4 | Turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail (first right) follow sign to "Floating Bridge" | 0.6 | |
| 5 | Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail | 1.0 | |
| 6 | Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" | 1.1 | |
| 7 | Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" | 1.5 | |
| 8 | Cross new bridge at South end of Buntzen Lake | ||
| 9 | Turn right onto gravel access road when exiting bridge | 1.7 | |
| 10 | Past "Saddle Ridge Trail" sign, stay on gravel road. (stay right close to lake). | 3.0 | |
| 11 | Past "Buntzen Lake Trail, and Lake View Trail", again stay right on gravel road. Slight right curve down towards pump house. | 3.2 | |
| 12 | Reference Point (RP) #1. Turn left onto Buntzen Lake Trail. Note: There is 2 trail entrances here, take the right hand (closest to the lake). | 3.3 | |
| 13 | Stay right at trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail. | 6.6 | |
| 14 | Stay right and cross suspension bridge. | 6.7 | |
| 15 | On event day aid station #1 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. | 6.8 | |
| 16 | After crossing bridge you will pass a wooden structure with maps of Buntzen Lake, turn left out onto gravel road, past a hanging wire gate then left again onto gravel road | 6.8 | |
| 17 | Major creek crossing, small house on the right hand side. | 7.0 | |
| 18 | You will pass Halvor Linden trail/Swan Falls sign on your right. Note: Ignore spurs and signs off to the right (uphill side). Stay on gravel road with Lesser Buntzen Lake off to your left. | 7.2 | |
| 19 | Gravel road turns into paved road. | 7.8 | |
| 20 | Straight through yellow gate. | 7.9 | |
| 21 | Swing left and cross overtop of the pipeline. Sign on this bridge, Max 61,000 GVW. | 8.0 | |
| 22 | Proceed over one lane bridge. Note, there will be a small rock quarry on your right here. | 8.1 | |
| 23 | After passing over one lane bridge, go past a small rock quarry on your left. You will be looking for a wooden power pole that has the #3 mark on it. | 8.2 | |
| 24 | Reference Point (RP) #2. Note: This is the lowest you will get on the Run to the Clouds route today. Elevation aprox 330 feet/100 meters. Turn left immediately after the wood power pole, up what looks like a creek bed. This changes into a trail within 15 meters. | 8.3 | |
| 25 | After climbing up a nasty creekbed the trail swings left and starts downhill. At next junction turn right staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail. Spur down to left goes down to a dead end viewpoint. | 8.4 | |
| 26 | Go straight through junction, staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail . Note, there will be an older pumphouse down on your left hand side here. | 8.5 | |
| 27 | Turn left onto Lake View Trail. | 9.3 | |
| 28 | Stay left at this trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail. Yes, you have been here before. Follow this trail down to the suspension bridge again. | 9.4 | |
| 29 | Cross suspension bridge again. On event day an aid station #2 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. | 9.6 | |
| 30 | After crossing bridge go out to the gravel road again, but this time turn right on the road and head up hill. | 9.6 | |
| 31 | After climbing slight hill on gravel road, turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail, just past fence on right. Note: This area overlooks the inflow pipes coming down from Coquitlam Lake. | 9.8 | |
| 32 | Cross Poplar Creek | 10.7 | |
| 33 | Trail junction, marked "Powerhouse Road", stay straight on Buntzen Lake Trail (do not turn up). | 11.1 | |
| 34 | Turn right, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail. Do not take Powerhouse Road exit. Trail starts down switchbacks. | 12.0 | |
| 35 | Stay left, do not take spur out to viewpoint (unless you want to go have a look). Continue down switchbacks and across creek-bridge at bottom. | 12.1 | |
| 36 | You will see "Dog Park" fenced area on your right. Continue straight up trail. | 13.1 | |
| 37 | Note: For people doing the short route, cut through the dog park here to the right and head back to the gazebo for check in. For those wanting more fun, continue straight ahead. | 13.3 | |
| 38 | Run to the Clouds main route, stay left, do not enter doggie park. Head up towards the gravel road | ||
| 39 | Trail joins Powerhouse Road, continue straight ahead towards the gate on this road. | 13.4 | |
| 40 | Turn left onto the Halvor Lunden Trail at signpost. This will be located just before the main gate on the Powerhouse Road. | 13.9 | |
| 41 | Cross bridge and take immediate right fork onto "bike route". | 14.7 | |
| 42 | Stay right at trail junction, along beside creek, do not turn uphill here. | 14.8 | |
| 43 | Stay on trail past equestrian overflow parking lot. Note: there is an outhouse on your left hand side at this point. | 15.0 | |
| 44 | Turn left onto Eagle Trail (note: this trail used to be known as Academy Trail). | 15.9 | |
| 45 | Past a sign post that says Eagle Trail. Trail will swing left and head uphill here. Enjoy :) | 16.1 | |
| 46 | Trail junction. Stay straight ahead on Eagle Trail and go over wood bridge. Left trail is marked Eagle Trail North. | 16.6 | |
| 47 | Past Eagle Trail sign. Continue left, slightly uphill. | 17.0 | |
| 48 | Exit Eagle Trail onto gravel road. Turn RIGHT for final climb to the highest point. "Run to the Clouds my friends" | 17.6 | |
| 49 | Note: At the top of this climb, the road will level out and there is a large powerline pole on your right. You WILL KNOW you are at the highest part as the road levels out and then starts downhill again. You can see straight out to Mt Baker from this point and you are the highest elevation you will get today. Elevation 1450 feet/441 meters. | 18.7 | |
| 50 | KEY POINT HERE… At this top point, do a U-Turn and head back downhill towards Buntzen Lake. Give props to the ones behind you still coming up hill to this point. | ||
| 51 | Go past the top of Eagle Trail exit, stay on the gravel road, stay right. Follow road towards Buntzen Lake lookout up ahead at the end of the road | 19.8 | |
| 52 | Follow road and enjoy the short steep climb to a cool lookout down at Buntzen Lake. You will be back down there in a few minutes… Do another U-Turn and head back downhill. Again, key trail entrance here. Pay attention! | 20.8 | |
| 53 | After heading down from the look-out STAY RIGHT past the first powerline tower and into a small trail through the bushes here onto Eagle Trail. | 20.9 | |
| 54 | Turn right at trail junction (there is a creek and bridge on your left) stay right, | 21.4 | |
| 55 | Past Eagle Trail sign again, at bottom of switchbacks. | 22.0 | |
| 56 | Turn right at the bottom of this trail (do NOT go towards park entrance again - if you get to the small stop sign again, you are going the wrong way). | 22.3 | |
| 57 | Stay straight on main trail. Do not turn right uphill | 23.0 | |
| 58 | Key turn… This time when you get back to the equestrian parking lot turn left and go through the parking lot. Note: Outhouse will be on your right if you need it | 23.3 | |
| 59 | Cross road (watch for traffic). Stay on main trail back towards main lake parking lots | 23.4 | |
| 60 | Past "Buntzen Lake" trail junction sign on your left. Stay straight on main trail | 23.6 | |
| 61 | Stay right on Buntzen Lake Trail heading back towards the lake. | 24.0 | |
| 62 | Stay left at fork in trail, Note: Where you just came from is signed "equestrian overflow parking lot". | 24.1 | |
| 63 | Turn left onto Energy Trail a the top of a steep short climb. | 24.2 | |
| 64 | Follow Energy Trail with the lake on your left - last leg around to finish area. | 24.4 | |
| 65 | Past boat dock on your left, head up to the right and towards the gazebo where you started this morning. | 24.9 | |
| 66 | Finish at Buntzen Lake Beach gazebo. Congratulations, you have just completed the “Run to the Clouds | 25.0 |