Detailed Route Description

Section 1- Ballpark to Aid Station 2 (Two-Track Nirvana and Slickrock): Begin out of the Ball Park running southeast on Highway 141 for .8 miles and begin the first climb by turning right up County Road (C.R.) W19. Continue on C.R. W19 for 1.5 miles and then turn left at the signage onto the first (of many) engaging sections of old mining roads on BLM land. Follow this road and stick to the flagging for another ~1.5 miles until you reach the first aid station at mile 3.8. Be sure to fuel up at this aid station, as the next section of the course offers some of the most challenging climbing of the day. From Aid Station 1 continue on the flagged BLM road, contouring the hillside for roughly 3 miles. This section offers a great view of the San Juan Mountains on a clear day). Arrive at a Y in the road at mile 6.8 and take a right, following the signage as you climb up a an old mining road. At mile 8.1 take another right onto an even more technical mining road (which is occasionally single-track) and continue up it until you reach a more established road at mile 8.7. Take a left on this road and continue climbing, following the signage and switchbacking one more time. Continue following the flagging up this road as the gradient mellows but the trail begins to transition into exposed sandstone. On this sandstone section, be sure to follow the signage (fluorescent chalk or flagging tape), as there will not be an evident trail. Once you have finished the section of sandstone, continue to follow the signage and stay left on the brief descent down to C.R. Aa18. Run on this county road for ~.5 miles until you arrive at Aid Station 2. Eat some snacks and drink up, you deserve it. The next aid station is under 4 miles down the road.

Section 2- Aid Station 2 to Aid Station 4 (County Road Grind and Out and Back): Leave Aid Station 2 and log some fast dirt road running on C.R. Ee22 for 3.7 miles until you arrive at Aid Station 3. From Aid Station 3 continue 1.7 miles more on C.R. Ee22 until you arrive at the left turn for the Lookout Point out and back (there will be signage here). Continue up this technical old mining road for just over .5 miles and take a left at the signage on another mining road that winds through junipers. Continue for ~.2 miles and turn right at the clearly marked intersection for the final and mining road climb of the out and back (this road is old and undeveloped and is at times single-track). At the top of the out and back be sure to grab a slap-on bracelet from the volunteer to prove you made it up there (we will require to see this bracelet at the finish line). While you’re up there you may want to take a second to peek into Paradox Valley and out towards the La Sal Moutains (this is the highest point of the race). Continue back down the way you came until you reach C.R. Ee22 again. Go straight and descend C.R. Ee22 for ~1 mile and then take a left on C.R. W15 (there will be clear signage here). Continue descending C.R. W15 through a couple switchbacks until you arrive at Aid Station 4

Section 3- Aid Station 4 to Aid Station 5 (single-track heaven!): From Aid Station 4 continue on C.R. W15 for around a quarter mile and take a left at the signage onto some old mining two-track. Continue on this two-track ~1.75 miles, first descending down into saucer basin on the rough mining road, then wrapping around the sandstone butte on your left, eventually turning right to cross a small wash. At this point the two-track will hold more of the appearance of single-track, and at mile 22.25 you will trend right (following the signage) to begin the major single-track section of the race. Once on this section, run .25 miles and cross a large wash with exposed rock on your left, trending left and weaving through juniper forest. At mile 23 you will reach a steep single-track descent. Descend this trail down towards the Dolores River for .4 miles and take a right at the Y in the trail, following the signage up the last major climb of the race. Ascend for ~.7 miles, wrapping around the basin until the trail mellows out to a slight downhill grade at mile 24.1. Enjoy this wonderful section of single-track as you run on a sandstone bench above the confluence of the San Miguel and Dolores rivers. Use extreme caution between miles 24.5 and 26.2 as there are brief sections where a careless fall could result in extreme injury or death. This risk is manageable and the exposure is relatively minimal, but please be careful nonetheless. Beginning around mile 25 you will be able to see the historic hanging flume running along the cliff on the other side of the canyon. At mile 27 turn left at the signage, run down the short hill and turn right on C.R. Y11, running down to Aid Station 5.

Section 4- Aid Station 5 to Ballpark (The Home Stretch!): From Aid Station 5 continue along C.R. Y11 (eventually turning left and crossing the San Miguel River) for ~1.4 miles until you arrive at CO Hwy 141. Turn right on the highway and run on the shoulder for just over 1 mile. We will have volunteers notifying traffic of runners on the road, but please use caution on this section and stay as far onto the shoulder as possible. After the mile of running on the highway turn right on C.R. Ee22, cross the river and immediately turn left onto another part of C.R. Y11. Run this final section of dirt road and see the finish across the river on your left. Turn left back onto Hwy 141 and run the last little section of pavement, watching for vehicles when crossing the bridge and finishing at the Ball Park on your left. Congratulations, you made it!