Lake Wilderness Triathlon (Multisport Festival)
Maple Valley (Lake Wilderness Park), United States · June · Independent (Lake Wilderness Triathlon LLC)
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 44.3 km (27.5 mi) bike, 10.2 km (6.3 mi) run. Swim 0.93 mi (1.5 km); bike 27.5 to 27.9 mi (44.3 to 44.9 km) depending on page; run 6.1 to 6.36 mi (9.8 to 10.2 km). Bike is longer than standard 40 km (24.9 mi).
Why people love it
- Calm small lake, wetsuits allowed, water about 16 to 19 °C (61 to 66 °F) in June.
- Sprint: 400 m (437 yd) swim, 22 km (13.8 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
- Run on a shaded hard-pack rail trail that is close to flat.
- Aid on the run about every 3.2 km (2 mi); packet pickup on race day with photo ID.
Watch out for
- Bike roads stay open to traffic; police and volunteers cover crossings only.
- Olympic bike is about 44 km (27.5 mi), longer than the standard 40 km (24.9 mi).
- Small venue with tight parking; some athletes park at the school and walk.
- Early cutoffs: swim 08:00, Olympic and sprint bike split 08:40.
- Narrow gravel run path leaves little room for spectators.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Locals speak well of the lake and course; only two forum threads exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
No athlete complaints about the running of the race, but tight parking and early cutoffs are mentioned. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
1.5 km (0.93 mi) lake swim and 44 km (27.5 mi) open-road bike. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
Long 44 km (27.5 mi) bike with rollers and gravel run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Race allows full or sleeveless wetsuits; June water 16 to 19 °C (61 to 66 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.1
Organiser: low to mid 60s °F, 16 to 19 °C (66 °F), in June. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Small non-motorised lake, one visitor called it very calm. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
1.5 km (0.93 mi) rectangle; harder buoy sighting. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Clean to slightly murky lake, rolling start, Mt Rainier views claimed by organiser. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.5
Rolling start with an announcer directing swimmers; support boats not described. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
Chip seal to smooth asphalt on rural roads; debris from overhanging trees. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.4
Roads stay open to traffic, with police and volunteers at crossings. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Rural Maple Valley roads; no athlete has described the views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Some wind on flat sections reported once. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.1
Rollers and manned crossings. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.0
44 km (27.5 mi) rolling, gain not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Crossings are manned by police and volunteers; rural turns. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.7
Path run with little room for spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Water and gels about every 3.2 km (2 mi) on the run, support vehicle on the bike. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
One local calls the run a dull multi-use path; another notes heavy tree cover. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.7
Gravel path, shaded. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
10 km (6.2 mi) rail trail, near flat. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
June mornings 10 to 22 °C (50 to 72 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Pacific Northwest June: mostly dry but cool and showery spells possible. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Small park lake with trees; athletes comment on the water, not the scenery. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Park venue; run path is narrow and bike is on rural roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
About 150 m (490 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.0
Limited lodging in Maple Valley; Covington and Renton nearby. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
Typical suburban Seattle pricing. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Small venue, tight parking, some park at the school and walk or ride in. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
SEA about 40 km (25 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Race-day packet pickup, one park venue, one transition; tight parking. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Suburban Maple Valley; Covington nearby. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Maple Valley (Lake Wilderness Park), Washington, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 5 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Lake Wilderness Triathlon LLC)
- Entry fee
- About $100
- First held
- 2006
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 44.3 km (27.5 mi) bike, 10.2 km (6.3 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 08:00, Bike at the Olympic/sprint split by 08:40
- Swim venue
- Lake Wilderness (lake)
- Water temperature
- 16–19 °C (61–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal (full or sleeveless allowed, not required)
- Swim start
- rolling start (announcer calls swimmers up)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Run shade
- lots of tree cover
- Air temperature
- 10–22 °C (50–72 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), 40 km (25 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Maple Valley, Covington, Renton
- Booking
- Small venue with tight parking; some park at the school and walk or ride in. Packet pickup on race day with photo ID; no pickup for others. Little lodging in Maple Valley itself.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum (70.3 Maple Valley, WA thread)Raced 2020 · forum · Positive
Local triathletes discuss the Lake Wilderness Olympic course while a 70.3 was being planned. They call the lake clean, the bike rollers with no big climbs but short steep rises, and the run a flat urban rail-trail. Parking on race morning and scarce nearby lodging come up as the main hassles.
“mostly rollers, a few flat sections, no major 'climbs'”
- Slowtwitch forum (IM 70.3 Washington Maple Valley 2021 thread)Raced 2021 · forum · Mixed
One poster swam the June Lake Wilderness race and says water temperature was a non-issue and visibility fine; others say sleeveless wetsuits suit it and the lake is clear for the area. The run is described as hard-pack gravel and paved path with heavy tree cover by one, and a dull multi-use path with few spectator spots by another.
“a non-issue”
Raced Lake Wilderness Triathlon (Multisport Festival)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Lake Wilderness Triathlon (Multisport Festival)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.