📍 Cultus Lake, BC
Trail Running
35KM
15KM
Multisport
Solo or Relay
Vedder Mountain Challenge Trail Running & Multisport Race
May 30 & 31, 2026
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SATURDAY - 15 KM
Ideal for trail runners who want a challenging but accessible mountain race.
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SATURDAY - 35 KM
For trail runners who want a demanding mountain experience. The 35km is tough, scenic, and relentless, built for athletes who love steep climbs and extended time in rugged terrain.
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SUNDAY - MULTISPORT
For adventurers who like variety. This race is for athletes who want something different, whether racing solo or as a relay, combining endurance, strategy, and pure fun across multiple disciplines.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
15 KM | 650 M+ ELEVATION
Saturday 30th 2026- Trail Running
35 KM | 1,900M+ ELEVATION
Ascent: 650m / 2130ft
Descent: 650m / 2130ft
A fantastic figure eight style run, beginning and ending on the Cultus lakefront at the Smith Falls campground. With a burly elevation profile you’ll get a full taste of Vedder Mountain’s famous trail network. Thankfully, you tackle all the climbing on the front half of your run, and then it’s all downhill to the finish on the back half… hey, that’s a first for us. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Maybe we’ll have to find one more hill for you to climb before the finish line though? Enjoy a dip in the lake post-race as the pre-summer sun shines bright and warm (at least 50% of the time ) in late May in Chilliwack.
Download the 15km run GPX file here.
Ascent: 1900m / 6225ft
Descent: 1900m / 6225ft
Tough, steep, gnarly and scenic. Need we say more? Starting at Cultus Lake in the private group campground at Smith Falls, runners will make their way up and over the very tippy top of Vedder Mountain at 924 m (3,031 ft), and there’s even a few hand-rope assisted areas to get you safely over the steepest rock faces. Of course we’ll throw in a few more ups and downs along the way, just to test your mettle out there on the singletrack. You’ll cuss us, but you’ll also thank us… eventually… we hope.
Download the 35km run GPX file here.
Sunday 31st 2026- Multisports
SUP - RIDE - RUN Relay | 53 KM
Stage 1: 6km SUP on Cultus Lake.
Heads Or Trails results are submitted to both ITRA and UTMB for performance index scoring for each runner!
Stage 2: 32km off-road ride, up and down Vedder Mountain.
Ascent: 750m / 2460ft
Descent: 750m / 2460ft
Stage 2 GPX file
Stage 3: 15km Trail run, up and down Vedder Mountain.
Ascent: 650m / 2130ft
Descent: 650m / 2130ft
Stage 3 GPX file
SUP - RIDE - RUN SOLO | 48 KM
Stage 1: 6km SUP on Cultus Lake.
Stage 2: 15km off-road bike up Vedder Mountain via a mix of rideable singletrack and service road.
Ascent: 580m / 1900ft
Descent: 157m / 515ft
GPX file | Strava route
Stage 3: 12km Trail run, up and over Vedder Mountain.
Ascent: 535m / 1755ft
Descent: 535m / 1755ft
GPX file | Strava route
Stage 4: 15km off-road bike back down Vedder Mountain to the finish line.
Ascent: 157m / 515ft
Descent: 580m / 1900ft
GPX file | Strava route
Rules and Gear
You must provide all your own gear for each stage of the multi-sport races. We do not provide paddleboards or bikes. There will be a water station set up at each discipline transition area.
Standup Paddleboarding:
Standup Paddleboards only for Sunday’s multi-sport races! No kayaks, no surf-skis, no swimming, no prone paddleboarding.
Only single blade SUP paddles allowed. No kayak paddles or double-bladed paddles allowed.
Coast Guard OR Transport Canada Approved PFD or life jacket (type III or better) OR self-inflating belt style life preserver. These must be worn at all times while on the water. You are not allowed to simply attach your life jacket or self-inflating belt to your board while paddling, it must be worn upon your body at all times while on the water.
Whistle. Must be attached to you and within easy reach.
Leash. You must be leashed to your SUP at all times while on the water.
No kites or board alterations of any type allowed. It’s your arms, your lungs, your SUP, and your single blade paddle; anything else will get you disqualified.
You are allowed to use a sit down back support for your SUP board if you like, but you are still only allowed a single blade paddle.
Once off the water, you must transport your SUP gear to the approved holding area, as directed by our course marshals. Any boards strewn about and not following the course marshals’ directions shall see the person and/or team disqualified.
Off-Road Biking:
Gravel bike, cyclocross bike, or mountain bike, in good working order.
NO e-bikes allowed. No motors or assistance of any type allowed. It’s your legs and the pedals; anything more will get you disqualified.
Bike helmet (certified CSA or equivalent).
Solo racers must transport their running shoes throughout the course. The run stage is in the middle of the bike stage. We recommend a backpack or attaching the shoes to your handlebars with ski straps. Practice before race weekend.
Solo racers can leave all bike supplies with their bike while out on the run stage. Once you depart the bike stage for the finish line, you must carry everything back. Leaving gear out on course will result in a disqualification.
Trail Run:
No course cutting, no switchback cutting. Follow the flagging exactly as it is laid out. Course cutting and/or switchback cutting will get you, you guessed it, disqualified!
Multi-sport solo competitors can leave all their bike supplies with their bikes while they are out on the trail running stage.
More Info
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Saturday, May 30, 2026 —> Running Races, choose from 15km or 35km distances
Sunday, May 31, 2026 —> Multisport races, choose from solo or relay teams of 3 (one person per discipline) SUP-Ride-Run -
Saturday —> 15km or 35km
Sunday —> Solo multi-sport (SUP / Off-road Biking / Trail Running): 48km total
—> Multi-sport relay (Teams of 3) -
Smith Falls (Westside) Campground, Cultus Lake, BC
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Saturday
8:00am: 35km run
9:00am: 15km run
Sunday
8:00am: multi-sport both races, solo and relay
Pre-Race Briefing:Mandatory each day: 15 minutes before start -
Hiking / trekking / running poles are NOT ALLOWED in any disciplines.
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Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) / Gravel OR Mountain Bike / Trail Running
SUP only on Sunday’s multisport day. No kayaks, canoes, surf-skis allowed or other watercraft allowed.
Mountain bikes are allowed, but gravel bikes are more efficient for the experienced rider over these courses. The course is steep at the beginning and end, while fast and flat’ish in the middle. An inexperienced rider may prefer a mountain bike, which has a friendlier gearing ratio for the steep climbs, and a less aggressive seating position for the downhills as well, especially if there’s a dropper post. Using a mountain bike will place most experienced riders at a time disadvantage, however, the bike course has a few steep uphill sections off the start (you can expect a few short hike-a-bikes if you’re not super experienced), and a few steep downhill sections into the finish (nothing crazy, we promise). A gravel bike IS faster, but some people may be more comfortable on a mountain bike. Any non-motorized off-road pedal bike is allowed.
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Solo Multi-sport: 7.5 hours
Relay Multi-sport: 7.5 hours
15km Run: 5 hours
35km RunAS# Aid Station Distance Time Taken Arrival Time
AS2 Zest (1st time) 8.5km 2h30m 10:30am
AS3 Prisonerland 18km 4h30m 12:30pm
AS4 Zest (2nd time) 29.5km 7h30m 3:30pm
AS5 Dilema (2nd time) 32.7km 8h15m 4:15pm
Finish line 36km 9 hours 5pm -
Friday: 4:00pm – 7:00pm (run only) @ Garrison Run Co
Saturday: 7:00am – 8:45am (run only) at race start at Smith Falls Campground
Saturday: 3:00pm – 6:00pm (multi-sport only) at race start at Smith Falls Campground
Sunday: 6:00am – 7:00am (multi-sport only) at race start at Smith Falls CampgroundID MUST BE SHOWN TO PICKUP YOUR RACER PACKAGE. BIBS CANNOT BE PICKED UP BY ANYONE BUT THE REGISTERED RACER. NO EXCEPTIONS.
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Yes, you can sign up with only 2 persons in your team (just add the person info twice when you register).
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To help you stay fueled from start to finish, we’ve partnered with Näak and GroundSpeed to provide reliable, endurance-focused nutrition on course.
Aid stations will be stocked with Näak drink mix, gels, and waffles designed to deliver steady energy and electrolytes during long efforts. You’ll also find GroundSpeed gels, offering a smooth and efficient energy boost when you need it most.
Whether you’re pushing the pace or settling into a steady rhythm, these nutrition options are here to help keep you moving strong through the course.