Yakima Skyline 50K.
The Yakima Skyline 50K runs in and above the Yakima River Canyon outside Ellensburg, out to the Buffalo aid station and back the same way. That is where its difficulty lies: every steep descent on the way out returns as a climb on rocky, shadeless ground, so your preparation has to cover both directions.
Yakima Skyline 50K 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From private riverfront property you go almost straight into the longest climb of the day: from kilometre 1 it gains about 650 metres in three and a half kilometres. The top at kilometre 5 sits just above 1,000 metres and stays the high point of the course. The trail then falls back to around 400 metres at the Roza aid station, kilometre 13. Right after it the second big climb goes up more than 500 metres, and a rolling stretch up high leads into the long descent to the turnaround at Buffalo aid station.
The way back reverses everything. From kilometre 26 you climb out of the low point again and pass Roza a second time at kilometre 37. Then comes the decisive ascent, about 600 metres back up to the old summit, where a minimal aid station waits near kilometre 45. The last five kilometres plunge down that same height to the finish along the Yakima River.
Underfoot it is mostly single track plus rough jeep road, often rocky, through sagebrush and high desert with very little shade. Only about a tenth of the course is flat. The land is part of the ancestral home of the Yakama people and associated tribes and bands.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1 | 3.6 km | 18.3 % | 41.8 % | +654 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 14.1 | 3.6 km | 14.4 % | 30.4 % | +515 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 20.4 | 1 km | 7.7 % | 14.8 % | +73 m | — |
| km 26 | 2.9 km | 13.9 % | 24 % | +395 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 31.1 | 1 km | 12.2 % | 28.8 % | +122 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 38 | 3.6 km | 14.5 % | 35.8 % | +518 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 42.1 | 1 km | 10 % | 23.7 % | +98 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 43.5 | 1.2 km | 4.6 % | 15.2 % | +53 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 Yakima Skyline 50K.
Start under control
Plan this race from station to station, not by the kilometre. The legs to Roza, on to Buffalo and back to Roza measure twelve to thirteen kilometres each, and every one holds a long climb and a long descent. Most of the course is steep, so hike the hard ramps without negotiating and run wherever the ground lets you. Top up at every station, because in heat and wind on this open ground the next one is a long way off.
Hold your rhythm
The race is won or lost after the second pass through Roza. That final ascent arrives when your legs have already carried three big descents, and how evenly you can still climb it settles whether the final kilometres stay a run.
Spend what is left
The trap sits right at the start. The first climb is the steepest, you are fresh, and it feels like a hill race you are allowed to attack. But that same ramp is waiting at the end as the descent to the finish. Burn your quads on the early downhills and you have nothing left for the last five kilometres, which is where the rock takes the most time from a tired runner.
Training plan for Yakima Skyline 50K: 12-week build
Build the base
For a typical age-group runner seven to eleven hours is realistic, and the twelve-hour cutoff can matter for slower starters. The load is aerobic but far from steady: long hiking efforts on the climbs alternate with descents that tax the muscles more than the heart. Around 60 percent of the course is steep, so flat mileage trains past the actual race.
Train race pace
The second half decides it: a long ascent after almost 40 kilometres, followed by a 600-metre descent on tired legs. Build your long runs so the biggest climb comes late and a steep descent closes the session. Add regular downhill work on rocky ground, because how much pounding your quads can absorb matters more here than any pace figure.
Rehearse the course
Practise fast hiking on grades of 15 to 20 percent too, until it still feels fluent several hours in. Make footing on rock and narrow trail part of every week, so that on the final descent you are not deciding each stone individually.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in April, and the day can be hot and dry or cold and very windy. Test your fluid and fuelling plan on long sessions on open ground where you can, and take twelve-kilometre stretches on your own supplies seriously. Carry a wind layer on long training days as well and work out how you stow it on the move.
Courses
Download the Yakima Skyline 50K course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Yakima Skyline 50K dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Yakima Skyline 50K.
How long is Yakima Skyline 50K?
Yakima Skyline 50K is 50 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 Yakima Skyline 50K have?
Yakima Skyline 50K has around 2,740 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Yakima Skyline 50K?
Yakima Skyline 50K is classified as Mountainous, averaging 54.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 15% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 30% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Yakima Skyline 50K have?
The hardest climb of Yakima Skyline 50K starts at kilometre 1, runs for 3.6 km at an average of 18.3% and gains 654 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Yakima Skyline 50K a loop course?
Yes, Yakima Skyline 50K is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Yakima Skyline 50K course?
Yes. The Yakima Skyline 50K 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 Yakima Skyline 50K?
Preparation for Yakima Skyline 50K should account for 50 km, 2,740 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 Yakima Skyline 50K?
The pacing strategy for Yakima Skyline 50K should reflect 50 km, 2,740 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 Yakima Skyline 50K 2027 take place?
Yakima Skyline 50K 2027 takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Yakima Skyline 50K 2027 take place?
Yakima Skyline 50K 2027 takes place in Ellensburg, United States.
How do I register for Yakima Skyline 50K?
Registration runs through the organiser: rainshadowrunning.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
