Route 3 Niseko Trail Loop Length: 27km Vertical: Approx. 2,100m Start and Finish: Goshiki Onsen Type: 95% trails Required: Good trail running shoes, waterproof jacket, water bottles and fuel. You’ll have the chance to refuel about two thirds of the way around, but apart from that you need to carry everything. This is the big one! You will be out for around 5-6 hours minimum and you are heading up into the mountains. In fact, you’ll be hitting the peaks so it is really important to carry gear that is appropriate for the changeable weather and temperature difference between the valleys and the summits. But the views on a clear day will blow your mind. Do not forget your phone or camera for this one! You’ll take in the marshlands of Shinsennuma, the lake at Naganuma and the peaks of Chisenupuri, Nitonupuri and finally Niseko-Annupuri. This route is the brainchild of Sprout Coffee owner Yoshitaka Toge. A local trail running inspiration as well as a legend for delicious coffee, hitting the trails with him
is always a treat. It’s worth doing this route with a few people and running together. There are some tough climbs and descents and as it is all off-road it’s good to keep people nearby in case of injury as well as to share memories with. The car park just past Goshiki Onsen is where you want to start and this will be a spot you come back through after about 15 km, so leave some drinks and fuel in the car. This also allows you to call it a day if the weather turns or if someone gets injured. Head up the steps past the onsen and follow the route which takes you past the lake at Iwaonupuri and up into Shinsennuma where the views across the marshes of Mt Yotei are amazing. The route then winds around past another lake called Naganuma, literally “long lake”, before your first big climb up Mt Chisenupuri. On a clear day you can enjoy views down to the sea and of the whole Niseko-Annupuri range and it’s a good place to stop for a snack. The route then takes you down Chisenuppuri and up along Iwaonupuri before the descent down to the car park. Take your time to refuel here because next up is Mt Annupuri.
There is a climbers’ log book at the entrance to the climb and it’s always worth jotting your name down in case something goes wrong–the climb up to the summit is about 2 km and it is runnable though a tough section! Again, you will be afforded great views from the ridgelines and once you get to the summit, you’ll see the iconic hut at the top of the mountain which features in lots of winter photos as the start point for people’s powder adventures. In summer your view will be dominated by the imposing and perfectly shaped Ezo-Fuji—our own Mt Yotei. From the peak you descend rapidly down towards Annupuri ski resort, a fun and fast descent if you still have something in the legs! Before you reach the bottom lifts, you take a right and find yourself faced with one final cheeky ascent back up towards Goshiki. The feeling of completing this run with a group of friends is right up there with taking on a race or tearing around the mountain on skis or a snowboard in winter. If running is your thing, this is the one I would recommend wholeheartedly as a day you will never forget!
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