Buckin' Hell.
The 35K at Buckin' Hell starts and finishes at Enquist Lodge in Mount Seymour Resort, North Vancouver, and the lodge sits some 900 metres above the lowest point of the course. Nearly all of that height comes back in the last eleven kilometres, which is what your preparation has to be built around.
Buckin' Hell 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The day opens uphill: barely half a kilometre in, the first climb takes 383 metres of ascent out of you in 2.6 kilometres. Then the course tips over and loses height until about kilometre 17, in waves at first, then in one continuous steep run through the second half. At the bottom you are at around 100 metres.
The way back comes in two parts. A climb from kilometre 18 gains 337 metres, but the descent after it hands nearly all of that back. From kilometre 23.6 comes the heart of this race, a single ascent of 716 metres. It lasts almost six kilometres, and two shorter ramps then carry you back to the lodge.
This is rough North Shore trail; Mystery Lake, Severed, Brockton Lookout and the Old Buck Trail all belong to the race's terrain. There are hardly any flat kilometres, and the technical ground often sets your speed more than the gradient does. Aid stations and drop-bag locations are marked on the course map, so it belongs in your planning before the start.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.6 | 2.6 km | 14.6 % | 43.7 % | +383 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 4.2 | 0.3 km | 8.2 % | 11.8 % | +25 m | — |
| km 16.7 | 0.6 km | 5.3 % | 8.4 % | +33 m | — |
| km 18 | 2.7 km | 12.5 % | 33.9 % | +337 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 23.6 | 5.6 km | 12.8 % | 29 % | +716 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 30.6 | 1.8 km | 11.4 % | 24.3 % | +203 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 32.9 | 0.9 km | 7 % | 9.5 % | +59 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Buckin' Hell.
Start under control
What decides this course is not the total ascent but where it sits: close to 1,000 metres of it fall in the last eleven kilometres. Plan the day by effort rather than by kilometre splits, because a pace figure means little on this ground. Walk the steep parts of the first climb even though your legs are fresh.
Hold your rhythm
The race turns on the long ascent from kilometre 23.6. At nearly 13 percent on average it becomes a brisk hike for most people, and anyone who keeps that going without stopping passes others here.
Spend what is left
The trap comes earlier, in the descent to kilometre 17. It looks like free time, but every hard step downhill spends the quads you need in the final third. Run it under control with short strides, even if others go past you there. The same applies to the climb from kilometre 18: it is the warm-up act, not the finale.
Training plan for Buckin' Hell: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect roughly 5:30 to 8 hours. This is no steady run: long uphill hiking alternates with braking on the way down, and the effort stays aerobic for hours with short spikes on the steepest pitches.
Train race pace
The final third makes the difference, meaning one long ascent on tired legs. Build your long runs so the biggest climb comes last, ideally after a sustained downhill stretch. A good key session is 600 to 700 metres of continuous ascent at an even hiking pace, started after you have already been out for a good hour. If you have no long hill nearby, stairs or a steeply set treadmill can cover part of it.
Rehearse the course
The steep descent needs training of its own. Downhill repeats and strength work for quads and calves make the muscles more resistant to the braking the race demands all the way to kilometre 17. Do it on the roughest ground you can find so your footing holds up when you are tired, since North Shore terrain forgives little.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in July, which puts the decisive long sessions in spring and early summer. Settle your fuelling in that phase too: the course map tells you where aid and drop bags are, so you can rehearse exactly those gaps on your long runs.
Courses
Download the Buckin' Hell course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Buckin' Hell dynamically
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Everything about Buckin' Hell.
How long is Buckin' Hell?
Buckin' Hell is 35 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Buckin' Hell have?
Buckin' Hell has around 1,817 m of elevation gain over 35 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Buckin' Hell?
Buckin' Hell is classified as Mountainous, averaging 53 vertical metres per kilometre. 5% of the route is flat, 15% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 31% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Buckin' Hell have?
The hardest climb of Buckin' Hell starts at kilometre 23.6, runs for 5.6 km at an average of 12.8% and gains 716 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 7 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Buckin' Hell a loop course?
Yes, Buckin' Hell is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Buckin' Hell course?
Yes. The Buckin' Hell course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Buckin' Hell?
Preparation for Buckin' Hell should account for 35 km, 1,817 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Buckin' Hell?
The pacing strategy for Buckin' Hell should reflect 35 km, 1,817 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Buckin' Hell take place?
Buckin' Hell takes place on July 24, 2027.
Where does Buckin' Hell take place?
Buckin' Hell takes place in North Vancouver, Canada.
Which distances does Buckin' Hell offer?
Buckin' Hell offers 3 distances — 35K: 35 km; 50K: 50 km; 50K Two-Person Relay: 50 km.
How do I register for Buckin' Hell?
Registration runs through the organiser: trailrunning.ca. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
