Kennedy Creek Chum Run

08/06/2022

5k, 10k, Half Marathon

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail, Olympia, WA

The Kennedy Creek area is home to a recovering Chum Salmon run, fed by the captured rainfall from thousands of acres of lush wetland valleys, divided by hills that rise to rocky ridgetops with views north toward Oyster Bay and South Puget Sound. The area is a working forest, crisscrossed not only by forestry roads, but also by miles and miles of recreational trails, most built and maintained by the Mason County chapter of Back Country Horsemen.

With the great variety of trail sizes and profiles, from flat and wide forest roads through a tunnel of tall trees, to narrow single track that twists and turns its way up steep slopes through dense young forest, this venue provides a fun adventure, with food and refreshments waiting at the finish to fuel you back up.

View of Puget Sound from the Kennedy Creek Chum Run course

This event is a fundraiser for the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail (KCST) educational programs offered by South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group. A portion of your entry fees goes to support Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail, and we welcome any additional donations along with your entry fee. Additional donations are tax deductible and 100% of them will go to SPSSEG, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail’s founder, Jeff Cederholm, recognized the importance of students of all ages getting outside to see wild salmon spawn in their natural environment, rather than visiting hatcheries, to witness the miracle of this iconic species’ life history. At KCST, 4th graders from Olympia, North Thurston, Tumwater and Shelton school districts get that opportunity. They are lead on the field trip by Docents. Their volunteers are trained, each year, to teach the importance of riparian ecosystems, salmon spawning behaviors, and the cultural and economic importance of salmon to the residents of the Pacific Northwest.

This event is part of the Half Marathon Trail Series, and runners in the Half Marathon distance will earn points toward their series standing. You can read more below or on the Half Marathon Trail Series page.