Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon
Snoqualmie Pass (Hyak) to North Bend, United States · July · Independent
Why people love it
- Mountain forest, bridges and waterfalls; three bloggers call it the most beautiful course they have run.
- Net drop of about 305 to 610 m (1,000 to 2,000 ft); Boston qualifying with no downhill penalty.
- The 3.7 km (2.3 mi) Snoqualmie Tunnel comes in the first miles.
- A gentle 1.5 percent grade makes the pace feel easy, and many runners set PRs.
- Shirt, medal and buff for every runner, with aid every 3 km (2 mi).
Watch out for
- Loose, rocky gravel causes rolled ankles; wear broken-in, grippy shoes and train on trails.
- The tunnel is pitch black and water-filled; GPS fails and a headlamp is required.
- Shuttle times are assigned at registration; some runners board buses at 4:00 a.m. for a 06:00 start.
- Cyclists share the trail and spectators cannot reach the course; the post-race shuttle needs a 1.6 km (1 mi) walk.
- Aid is sparse in heat; the last station ran out of water in 2024.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves 3.8 from 41 ratings, FindMyMarathon 4.4 from 11, MarathonGuide 3.2 from 4. Scenery draws near-universal praise; gravel, the tunnel and logistics split opinion. · High confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.2
RaceRaves production 3.3. In 2023 the start ran 25 minutes late with bad parking directions and broken tracking; shuttle waits reached 90 minutes. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Trail footing, a dark tunnel, a 06:00 start with 4:00 to 4:30 shuttles for some, no spectators and a 6.5-hour limit. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Net drop of about 305 m (1,000 ft) or more makes it a fast Boston-qualifying course, though loose gravel and the tunnel slow runners. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.7
RaceRaves scenery 4.7. Forest, bridges, rock walls and waterfalls; three separate bloggers call it the most beautiful course they have run. · High confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.7
Single-lane trail where passing is hard, especially in the tunnel. Start waves are used to ease crowding. · Medium confidence
- Road surfacePatchy1.9
Loose, rocky crushed gravel; reviewers rolled ankles in 2016, 2023 and 2026, and the dark tunnel has water-filled potholes. · High confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
No cars on the rail trail, but bicycles are allowed and a 2023 reviewer says cyclists repeatedly blocked runners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.5
The classic route had about 5 m (15 ft) of gain; the 2026 route's gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillBig drop4.6
Net drop of 305 to 610 m (1,000 to 2,000 ft). The organiser says Boston qualifying carries no downhill penalty. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.5
Shuttle times are assigned at registration, some at 4:05 to 4:30 a.m. for a 06:00 start. Buses ran 30 minutes late in 2016. · High confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.2
Pacers run, with a 2024 pacer finishing 5:14:00. GPS loses signal in the tunnel and mile markers were inaccurate for some. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.9
Spectating on the trail is essentially not allowed. Crowds appear only at the finish. · High confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
Stations every 3 km (2 mi) with one or two volunteers; gels late or not at all. The final station ran out in 2024. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm4.0
The forested trail and tunnel are sheltered, and no wind complaints were found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Start 9 to 14 °C (48 to 58 °F), finish 16 to 27 °C (61 to 81 °F), mostly shaded. Heat noted in 2019, 2022. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Mist in 2019, warm in 2022, ideal in 2024 and 2025. Moderate July variability. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky1.6
No vehicle access at the finish; spectators walk about 1.6 km (1 mi) uphill, and mid-race spectating is essentially not allowed. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.2
Start area about 777 m (2,550 ft), finishing near North Bend at about 130 m (430 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early2.3
The only hotel near the start sold out in 2023. Lodging at the start and finish is limited. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
No rate data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.0
A shuttle at the start and a 1.6 km (1 mi) walk from the finish to the return shuttle. No ride from finish to start. · High confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Fly to Seattle, rent a car and drive about 45 to 60 minutes to North Bend or the start. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.4
Assigned shuttle times, a car at both ends, packet pickup lines in 2019 and 2025, and paid parking. · High confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
North Bend and Snoqualmie are small mountain towns. Limited detail from runners. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.7
Saturday sold out in 2021 and a waitlist existed in 2016. Sunday has more room. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.2
The $152 fee includes a shirt, buff and medal, but the finish is low-key and race-day packet pickup costs $25 extra. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Snoqualmie Pass (Hyak) to North Bend, King County, United States
- Typical month
- July
- Latest or next date
- 24 July 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 800 athletes
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Descent
- 396 m (1,300 ft)
- Start time
- 06:00
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Crushed gravel rail trail, hard-packed dirt, a 3.7 to 3.9 km (2.3 to 2.4 mi) dark tunnel
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $152
- Air temperature
- 9–24 °C (48–75 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to low, mountain valley
- Altitude
- 777 m (2,550 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
- Where to stay
- North Bend, Snoqualmie, Issaquah
- Booking
- The only hotel near the start sold out in 2023; stay in North Bend or Snoqualmie and book early. Rent a car (a 2021 runner advises it). Bib pickup in North Bend (long lines in 2025); race-day pickup $25 extra.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
41 ratings, 3.8 overall; scenery 4.7, difficulty 2.6, production 3.3, swag 3.2. Runners agree on mountain views and fast mostly-downhill running; they also agree on loose gravel footing, a divisive tunnel, bus and walking logistics and thin aid and expo.
“Basically all downhill so easy going!”
- FindMyMarathonRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
11 reviews, 4.4 average. Gentle downhill for speed (one runner BQ'd by 15 minutes), good swag and pacers, but loose rock, hazardous tunnel, a long post-race bus wait, heat in some years and a 2026 reviewer who found the changed course hard.
- MarathonGuideRaced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
3.2 average from 4 reviews: awesome route and challenging, painful rocks; a 2023 reviewer turned an ankle, said cyclists freely block runners and criticised communications and refunds.
“So much potential, but...”
- Team RunRun (Derek Siebert)Raced 2021 · blog · Positive
Flat 5 km (3 mi), then a gentle descent; GPS fails in the tunnel and passing is hard. Aid every 3 km (2 mi) but no gels; late registrants got early buses and a 90-minute wait; about $150 plus $25 race-day pickup.
“The course is beautiful and fast.”
- Team RunRun (Matt Hall)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
3:11:24, an 8:45 PR: 1.5 percent downhill on compact gravel, road shoes fine, 3 km (2 mi) dark tunnel with water-filled potholes, more portable toilets than expected, results posted a day late and only hotel near start sold out.
“probably the most beautiful course you'll ever do.”
Show 6 more
- Team RunRun (Vivian V)Raced 2019 · blog · Positive
3:42:27 in mist: hill-free and mostly shaded, with the first 3 km (2 mi) in a pitch-dark tunnel, water or Gatorade every 3 km (2 mi), severe bib-pickup traffic, a 4:05 a.m. shuttle for a 06:30 start, and no spectators or return shuttle.
“the most beautiful course I’ve ever run”
- Devon RunningRaced 2019 · blog · Positive
3:54:16, a 5-minute PR in light rain: forests, bridges and waterfalls, gravel, puddles and mud, 3.7 km (2.3 mi) of total darkness where GPS fails, waves to ease tunnel crowding; relied on her own fuel.
“It felt like nothing could ruin this race for me!”
- AthlettuceRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Barely noticeable 610 m (2,000 ft) descent on non-technical gravel, quick packet pickup and toilets, aid every 3 km (2 mi) with gels, the last station briefly out of water, a shirt, buff and medal, a low-key finish and a 9 °C (48 °F) start.
“bring a headlamp and watch your footing!”
- PinarosanaRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
3:38:51 PR and a Boston qualifier with a large buffer on a packed gravel trail; the 3 km (2 mi) muddy dark tunnel was spooky but fun; a minor ankle roll; near-perfect weather.
“It's a packed gravel trail.”
- RunFasterSarahRaced 2016 · blog · Mixed
3:32:03: gentle downhill, rocky narrow gravel making passing hard, a 3.7 km (2.3 mi) pitch-black tunnel where she tripped twice, a 5:45 shuttle that ran 30 minutes late, aid with a gel at the half, and sparse spectators.
“It was pitch black inside”
- Maniac Fanatic MadnessRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Paced the 5:15 group on day 2 and finished 5:14:00; great weather again and the pacers helped many runners over the last 8 km (5 mi).
“I just love this marathon!”
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Sources
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