COURSE MAP

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Course Description & Route Directions:

Marathon Description: Set a PR for your WOW factor on this course! This course is unique and wild. The canyons around Moab are unlike anywhere in the world, and this course conquers some of the most spectacular! You will travel through narrow canyons with spectacular vertical walls on both sides and along the rim-tops of deep canyons with spectacular vistas every direction. The terrain changes frequently to keep the miles clicking and includes narrow single-track, rugged jeep trails, sandy washes, ‘Moab-style slickrock’, a short section of dirt road, a few sections of no-track, a very old mining trail and a couple sections of fixed line traverse. Views will take your breath away, and include the spectacular red rocks of “Behind the Rocks Wilderness” and “Amasa Back” area, also view the sheer vertical walls of Pritchett, Hunter and Kane Creek Canyons and views into Canyonlands National Park. In the distance are the beautiful 12,000 foot La Sal Mountains. You’ll pass by several arches, lots of lizards, some really cool and funny looking rocks, possible eagles and hawks, some neat ancient pictographs, a couple small creeks and springs, and our friendly aid station volunteers who will be there to hydrate and fuel you in some of the craziest spots! The elevation gain and loss is about 3500 ft. There are two major climbs, one at the beginning which is nice and gradual, and one just after the ½ way point which is shorter and steeper. There are several other short climbs and descents throughout the course. The top runners will run all but the fixed rope section and are expected to finish in less than 4 hours. Average runners will do a combo of running with a bit of walking and are expected to finish in the 5 to 6 hr range. If you want to feel ecstatic and in awe after a race, then this one is for you!

Marathon Route Instructions: Starting at the Pritchett Canyon entrance, proceed up Pritchett Canyon Trail (5.7 miles of rugged jeep track) connecting to Hunter Canyon Rim Trail (1.8 miles), proceeding along the Hunter Canyon Rim single-track trail and down to Kane Creek Road (2.2 miles). Turn left and head south on Kane Creek Dirt Road to the Hunter Canyon singletrack trail (1.3 miles). Continue 1 mile up the canyon and turn around and come back out. Then continue south on Kane Creek Road (1 mile). Turn right and head up the “Scorched Earth Wall”. Once atop the rim, continue generally north on the faint jeep trail, which turns to singletrack, then slickrock, then off-track canyon bottom. Then turn left on the ‘Captain Ahab’ singletrack for 2.3 miles to Amasa Back jeep trail, continuing for about 1.5 miles where the jeep trail will turn into the ‘Rockstacker’ singletrack/slickrock and loop back for about a mile along the canyon rim. Rockstacker turns into the Jackson Trail singletrack, which descends down the canyon wall alongside the Colorado river and into the Kane Creek drainage (1.8 miles). Continue across Kane Creek to the finish line which is just one short steep hill, less than 1/4 mile away.

½ Marathon Description: The ½ Marathon course follows the first 9 miles of the Marathon Course. Then you’ll get a break, technically but not physically as you’ll climb up the switchbacks of Kane Creek Road, then back down where you’ll enter the depths of Kane Creek Drainage. This unique canyon is rarely travelled but absolutely beautiful. Most of the canyon is runable and along hard packed sand with a bit of water. Some sections are on single-track along the shore and other sections through deeper water (not more than knee deep, unless the Beavers go to work before the race!) You’ll travel about a mile through the canyon, and then along the dirt road for a ½ mile and a final 1/2 mile of fun single track to the finish.

½ Marathon Instructions: Start at the Pritchett Canyon entrance, proceed up Pritchett Canyon trail (5.7 miles) connecting to Hunter Canyon Rim trail (1.8 miles), proceeding along the Hunter Canyon Rim single-track and down to Kane Creek Road (2.2 miles). Turn right and continue up the infamous Kane Road switchbacks for about a mile, then back down to the Hymasa singletrack into the depths of Kane Creek drainage. Continue for 1 mile in the drainage, exiting at the Amasa Back parking lot for another ½ mile dirt road before the final ½ mile of singletrack with two crossings of Kane Creek before the finish.

10K Description and Instructions: We are excited to offer a 10K for the first time in 2023! This course starts on a dirt road for about ¾ mile with vertical walls on both sides, including the ‘Tombstone’ rock where you might see base jumpers taking the leap. It then descends into a small canyon and crawls out and up up up the Amasa Back jeep road, or “Cliffhanger” as it’s better known. You will reach the aid station at the top, about mile 3. Then you will run along the edge of a cliff looking down into the Jackson Hole with glimpses of the Colorado River. Stay away from the edge if you’re afraid of heights, it’s spooky in places. The fun starts as you descend Jackson Trail, a narrow singletrack along the edge of a beautiful canyon with views of the Colorado River and the finish line below. Be careful on this trail, it’s amazing but exposed. One last crossing of Kane Creek and a short steep hill and you’ll arrive at the finish.

Kids K Description and Instructions: Kids love it! Parents love it! This is an adventure 1k, not your ordinary dash. There’s a gradual uphill to an arch and cave that’s the kids will run through. Then a steep technical decent to a deep drainage, then a run through the drainage to a ‘tunnel’, down a ladder, across a bridge, through the ‘jungle’ and up a short steep hill to the finish. Challenging for kids, but so much fun.

Location of Feed/Aid Stations (for Marathon and Half Marathon Course):

1. Pritchett Canyon and Hunter Rim Road intersection, mile point 5.7, Full and Half Marathon Courses
2. Hunter Canyon Rim Trailhead (at campground on Kane Creek Road at Gatherer Canyon), At mile point 9.7 of Full and Half Marathon
3. Cattleguard at turn to Scorched Earth Wall: At mile point 13.3 of Marathon only.
4. “Taz’s Canyon” at bottom of slickrock scramble at mile point 17.3 of Marathon only
5. Intersection of Captain Ahab Trail and Amasa Back Road. **This is also the only aid station along the 10K. At mile point 3 of the 10k and 20.6 of the marathon.
6. Junction of Rockstacker and Jackson Trail at marathon mile 24.1: limited supply station– 8oz water and 1 Gu per person limit.
7. Amasa Back Parking lot, ***Half-Marathon Only, mile point 12.2 of Half-Marathon.

Feed/Aid Stations will be equipped with water, Tailwind, GU’s, various fruity, salty, and sweet snack options, bars, oranges, bananas, Coke, and electrolytes. Also, basic first-aid supplies, an evacuation vehicle and communication ability.

Due to the remote location and rugged terrain of the course, vehicles are not able to access the route with food and water other than at these locations. Please carry your own water/food if you think you’ll need it!