Big Hurt - Port Angeles, Washington - Mountain Biking

The Big Hurt is a Mountain Biking race in Port Angeles, Washington consisting of a 14 Miles, and Triathlon race consisting of a Kayak 3 Miles

Founded in 1997, The Big Hurt is the premier mutli-sport race on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The four-leg event starts with mountain bike, followed by kayak, road bike, and a 10K run.

Big Hurt Mountain Bike

The Big Hurt MTB leg is going to be quite a bit different. The Washington DNR has built a myriad of new trails in the Foothills Trail System, some of which were made with mountain bikes specifically in mind.

Race day morning racers will navigate their way to the new trailhead for the Foothills Trail System (see Getting to the Start Line section below). The start will be in the same place as prior years.

From the start, racers will be greeted with a steep road climb, now with beautiful views to the North to distract you from the pain. Shortly after the road alevels offa, you will turn right onto a trail section called Freefall. In just 150ft or so, you'll turn left onto Firnobyl. Follow Firnobyl up and across a road, then down the flowy goodness into the tree line. At the aTa, go right up to a 3-way intersection where you will stay right onto Freefall again. Just before the tree line, there is another intersection, stay left and follow back out to the road where you started on Freefall. Cross the road and enter Phantom Bear. Follow the main loop past the Trials area, into a clear-cut and up a techy little climb. Not long after that you'll come out onto a gravel aroada where you will go right and immediately left onto a road. Follow down to the amandatory viewpointa where you will promenade, and maybe drink some water while you soak in the 360 view. OH WAITa¦THIS IS A RACE!! Go back to the road and go right down a pretty loose section of road and then onto a trail to the right onto I-5. Have fun on a sweet little downhill, then a little climb to another intersection where you will go down to the right, then a short while later, another right. You'll climb up to a road crossing where you will do just that, and continue down Sunnyside. After A¾ mile of so, you will veer onto another loose gravel road and then stay right up a loose gravel road. Just as the road levels out, take a trail that goes hard left and down. Follow this super fun trail down, down, down until you come to a VERY hard left and go down the way you came up, back to the parking lot.

Whew. Now for a road ride. You'll go right out of the parking lot and down CAUTIOSLY down to a stop sign where you will STOP. (BEWARE: the road is pretty smooth except for 1 terrible bump that will throw you from your bike if you aren't paying attention). After stopping, turn right onto Black Diamond Road and go until you hit another stop sign where you will STOP. Then go forward down the road (now Pine St.) until you come to about 9th street where you will take a right on an overgrown little trail that will take you down to Valley street and sea level. Turn left and follow instructions from there.

Big Hurt Kayak/Paddleboard

The route for the boat race will head East from Pebble Beach to the jetty at the old Rayonier Mill site. It will be an out and back and the distance will be between 2.6 miles long. Paddlers will need to split the race markers, yellow on right side of boat and orange on left going out, circle red marker on left side of boat at turn around and then going back split markers with orange on right side and yellow on left, heading West on same course to the finish / start. Depending on the time of day the Coast Guard may stop you at the Black Ball ferry crossing at which point the time will stop and the total amount you are stopped will be deducted from your total time.

Big Hurt Road Bike

The course is 30 miles with a cumulative elevation gain of 2,100 feet. The ride visits some of the scenic landscapes of Clallam County, including the Elwha River, Freshwater Bay, and the rural roads of Eden Valley and Dan Kelly.

Big Hurt Run

The run is the final leg of the Big Hurt, after the Road Bike Leg. The 10K course starts and finishes at West End Park (also known as Oak Street Park), and is out and back along the Olympic Discovery Trail. The course is flat and on a paved surface. During the race, the trail will remain open to the public, so please be aware of other walkers and bikers along the course.