The Blanchard Beast Trail Race 2026

The Blanchard Beast is a GBRC trail race of approximately 10 miles, held in Blanchard State Forest, south of Bellingham, Washington. Runners begin and end at the Blanchard Mountain Lower Trailhead. The distance falls between a 10K and a half marathon, featuring more climbing and uneven terrain than a road race of comparable length. The course includes over 2,000 feet of elevation gain across technical forest trails, making it suitable for runners preparing for longer trail events or larger mountain races. A notable feature is the vista from Samish Overlook. Registration often sells out, and parking at the trailhead is limited, making carpooling highly recommended. Alternatively, participants can utilize transport from the Alger Park and Ride, which accommodates around 45 vehicles.