Waldo 100K Ultramarathon

Overall score 3.6Very good
Moderate evidence6 sources#18 of 61 ultras · Top 29%

Willamette Pass, Oregon · Held since 2002 · 101 km (62.5 mi) · 3,353 m (11,000 ft) gain

Race day Sat 7 Aug 2027

Website (opens in a new tab)

Is it right for you?

Footing
Mostly smooth3.6
Climbing
Hilly2.3
Overall cutoff
Normal3.2
Intermediate cutoffs
Reasonable3.2
Crew access
Some points3.2
First timer friendly
Doable2.6

Footing and climbing are course traits: 5 is the smoother, flatter end, not a better race.

Watch out: Three intermediate cutoffs apply before the eighteen-hour finish limit. All 4

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Top 29%. Better than 71% of the 61 races.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

moderate6 sources behind this score: runner reviews and race reports. Moderate evidence is 5 to 9 separate sources.

Why runners love it

  • Forest singletrack, lakes and mountain summits.
  • Experienced volunteers and a close trail-running community.
  • Free camping at the start and finish.
  • Pacers may join at Charlton Lake.

Watch out for

  • Three intermediate cutoffs apply before the eighteen-hour finish limit.
  • The late mountain section has no road crossings.
  • Wildfire smoke can affect views and race plans.
  • A lottery and prior trail-ultra finish are required.

Latest or next race

Sat 7 Aug 2027

Official race site(waldo100k.org, opens in a new tab)
Climbing
3,353 m (11,000 ft)
Cutoff
18 hours
Pace needed
17:18 per mi (10:45 per km)

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What runners say

Overall score 3.6 out of 5

6 reviews and race reports

Tone of the reviews and race reports

  • Positive4
  • Mixed2
  • Negative0

6 reviews

  • Deanna Doane

    Raced 2026 · Wandering Runner: Waldo highs and lows

    Tone: Mixed

    The runner leads early but slows badly later, describing a difficult final mountain climb, limited water-carrying capacity and a lonely finish stretch. A volunteer pacer helps her finish; the account emphasizes pacing and self-sufficiency rather than a failure of race organization.

    Covers Support, Course, Cutoffs

    Read on wanderingrunner.com (Wandering Runner: Waldo highs and lows, opens in a new tab)
Ran Waldo 100K Ultramarathon? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next runner about the footing, cutoffs and aid stations.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Very good. How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.

Toughness for its distance: Very tough

  • Runner satisfactionLoved4.3

    Several finishers praise the trail and community despite very demanding race days. · Medium confidence

  • OrganizationWell run4.3

    Reports describe experienced volunteers and organized support. · Medium confidence

  • Community and vibeLegendary4.5

    Themed aid stations, supportive volunteers and shared camping create a close community. · Medium confidence

Very good. Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.

  • Aid stationsGood4.2

    Experienced crews staff remote stations, but runners must carry supplies between them. · Medium confidence

  • Crew accessSome points3.2

    Several crew points require rough roads or substantial hiking. · Medium confidence

  • Drop bagsMany stations3.8

    Four named locations accept bags; the later mountain section has no bag access. · Medium confidence

  • PacersMuch of the race3.8

    Pacers may join at Charlton Lake and continue to the finish. · Medium confidence

Very good. Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Course markingClear4.0

    Runners praise staffed junctions; the organizer warns against expecting continuous assurance ribbons. · Medium confidence

  • ScenerySpectacular4.6

    Forest singletrack, mountain summits and lakes earn repeated praise when smoke permits views. · Medium confidence

  • Trail experienceGreat4.4

    Runners enjoy long forest descents and varied mountain terrain. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • FootingMostly smooth3.6

    Much of the trail is soft and runnable, but summits include rocks and uneven footing. · Medium confidence

  • RunnabilityMixed3.4

    Long runnable sections alternate with sustained uphill hiking. · Medium confidence

  • ClimbingHilly2.3

    Long climbs accumulate throughout the route, including a difficult late summit. · Low confidence

Good. Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.

  • Race-day temperatureWarm or cold3.4

    Reports range from cool, pleasant running to hot and smoky conditions. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.6

    Wildfire smoke and mountain weather recur across editions. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • AltitudeModerate2.7

    The official high point is 2,383 m (7,818 ft). · Medium confidence

Good. How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

  • Overall cutoffNormal3.2

    The eighteen-hour limit still requires sustained progress over long mountain climbs. · Medium confidence

  • Intermediate cutoffsReasonable3.2

    Three compulsory departures apply before the finish limit; check each against your pace. · Medium confidence

Not part of the score

  • First timer friendlyDoable2.6

    A prior trail-ultra finish is required, and the remote late section demands self-sufficiency. · Medium confidence

  • Getting inSells out2.8

    A lottery and recent trail-ultra qualification restrict entry. · Medium confidence

Very good. Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.

  • Travel easeFair2.8

    The ski-area start requires a substantial road transfer. · Low confidence

  • Places to stayGood3.7

    On-site camping helps; nearby cabins and summer campsites need advance planning. · Medium confidence

  • LogisticsSimple3.6

    One start and finish simplify logistics, but crews must plan remote access carefully. · Medium confidence

  • ValueGood value3.7

    Runners appreciate camping and volunteer support; the next entry fee is still unannounced. · Low confidence

Course

Route, 101 km (62.5 mi)

One big loop

Surface
Trail
Climbing
3,353 m (11,000 ft)
Climb rate
Hilly, 33 m per km (176 ft per mi)
High point
2,383 m (7,820 ft)
Night
Some
Start
04:00

Cutoffs and aid

Overall cutoff
18 hours
Pace needed
17:18 per mi (10:45 per km)
Aid stations
9
Longest gap
12 km (7.5 mi)
Drop bags
Some stations
Crew access
Some points
Pacers
Allowed after Charlton Lake

Getting in

Entry
Lottery + qualifier
Qualifier
At least one trail race of 50 km (31.1 mi) or longer completed within the previous two years.

Checkpoint cutoffs

Leave aid stations before their cutoff. Finisher-hat cutoff is 22:00, eighteen hours after the current start. Older reports describe different limits.

CheckpointCutoff
Charlton Lake, 32 mi (51.5 km)52 km (32 mi)14:00 clock, 10:00 elapsed
Rd. 4290, 37.2 mi (59.9 km)60 km (37 mi)15:15 clock, 11:15 elapsed
The Twins, 44.7 mi (71.9 km)72 km (45 mi)17:30 clock, 13:30 elapsed

Footing, aid and entry notes in full

Getting there and staying

Where to stay
Free vehicle camping is allowed at the ski area; nearby campgrounds and cabins can fill in summer.

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Key facts

Checked against the 2026 course and aid rules; 2027 registration edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter.

Location
Willamette Pass, Oregon Cascades, United States
Region
West Coast
Typical month
August
First held
2002
Surface
Mostly singletrack with a ski-area access road at the start.
Footing
Official description gives more than 3,353 m (11,000 ft) of climbing, so the stored gain is a lower bound. Rocky summit sections and a remote second half require care.
Water
Crossing conditions were not verified.
Aid and crew
The official page advertises nine aid stations, including repeated locations. The longest listed gap is 12.1 km (7.5 mi). Drop bags: Fuji Mountain, Mt. Ray, Charlton Lake and Rd. 4290. Later stations require hiking access.
Weather
Official guidance warns of heat, cold, storms, mosquitoes and wildfire-related disruptions.

Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate ultras.

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