Zion Ultras & Trail Half Marathon

This course starts out running east along SR-9 to Camino Del Rio. At Camino Del Rio we will turn south and head toward Gooseberry Mesa. About 4 miles in you will hit the first big climb of the race. The Climb up to Goosebump Aid is a scramble up a 1,500 ft ascent on steep and rocky terrain. After reaching the top of the hill, you will come to your first Aid Station (mile 5.2). You will then continue on to the Grafton Aid Station. This section is a double track dirt road, and a good opportunity to pick up the pace after climbing up onto the mesa.

After coming to Grafton Aid Station (mile 11.4) you will continue on double track to Wire Mesa Aid Station (mile 13.3). This is a fun, technical singletrack loop which runs counterclockwise around the mesa offering amazing vistas of Zion National Park. The loop is roughly 7 miles before returning to Wire Mesa Aid Station (mile 20.8).

Runners will head back to Grafton Aid Station (mile 22.7). You will then run counter-clockwise along Grafton Mesa. This loop has some nice non-official single track. There are a lot of intersecting trails along this section. The course will be marked heavily with pink ribbons to make sure the course is clear. After running about 5 miles on Grafton Mesa, you will come back to the Grafton Aid Station (mile 28.2).

Runners will head back along the double track to Goosebump Aid Station (mile 34.4). You will then run counter-clockwise along the Gooseberry Mesa Trail. Gooseberry Mesa is a world class trail. It’s one of the best technical trails anywhere with rolling slickrock, twisty single track, and vistas to die for. The trail will be marked with pink ribbons. Note that sections of this trail may also have markings of white dots painted on the slickrock. These white dots are markings for mountain bikers. Even though some of our course coincides with the mountain biking trails DO NOT FOLLOW THE WHITE DOTS. Our course will veer on and off the mountain biking trails- just make sure to follow the pink ribbons. There will be an aid station set up around 8 miles into the Gooseberry loop (mile 42). From this aid station back to Goosebump Aid (mile 45.7) you will experience mostly slickrock.

From Goosebump Aid you will drop down off the mesa. This is the same steep/rocky trail you used to climb up on the mesa. You will follow some double track out to the Virgin Desert Aid Station (mile 53.8). You will then run a clockwise loop through the desert. This is a great trail when you just want to go fast and easy. It has it all; great views, easy climbing, and a fast flowy downhill.

The next aid station overlooks the Virgin Dam (mile 62.5). From here you will continue on the single track to Sheep Bridge Rd. We will have a water station set up there before heading up toward Smith Mesa Aid Station.

Runners will cross under the highway through a drainage culvert. Next is a steep climb up Mesa Road onto Smith Mesa and the aid station (mile 70.7). Runners will do a loop at the top and descend from Smith Mesa via the Flying Monkey Trail before heading east towards the Virgin BMX Aid Station (mile 79.9). After this aid station, runners will encounter a small stream crossing. If you cross it in the right place, your feet should stay dry...or you might welcome the water relief at this point. You will climb one more hill on single track until you hit the dirt road.

Runners will head up the dirt road 4 miles to the top of another mesa where the Guacamole Trail begins. Guacamole Aid (mile 85.7) is near the beginning of the 7.5 mile loop that you’ll pass through on your way out and back before heading back down the road. You will then climb back up the steep single track back towards the Virgin BMX Aid Station (mile 98.3).

From this aid station, the course heads west on dirt single track until connecting onto some paved roads. You will only be on this section of pavement before jumping off onto another single track trail that will take you west tying into the last section of pavement that will bring you back down to SR-9. Please cross the highway with extreme caution. The finish line is at the Virgin City Park about a block south of the highway crossing.

Price: $350.00 Race Fee
Registration: Registration ends April 9, 2021 at 6:00pm MDT

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This course starts out running east along SR-9 to Camino Del Rio. At Camino Del Rio we will turn south and head toward Gooseberry Mesa. About 4 miles in you will hit the first big climb of the race. The Climb up to Goosebump Aid is a scramble up a 1,500 ft ascent on steep and rocky terrain. After reaching the top of the hill, you will come to your first Aid Station (mile 5.2). You will then continue on to the Grafton Aid Station. This section is a double track dirt road, and a good opportunity to pick up the pace after climbing up onto the mesa.

After coming to Grafton Aid Station (mile 11.4) you will continue on double track to Wire Mesa Aid Station (mile 13.3). This is a fun, technical singletrack loop which runs counterclockwise around the mesa offering amazing vistas of Zion National Park. The loop is roughly 7 miles before returning to Wire Mesa Aid Station (mile 20.8).

Runners will head back to Grafton Aid Station (mile 22.7). You will then run counter-clockwise along Grafton Mesa. This loop has some nice non-official single track. There are a lot of intersecting trails along this section. The course will be marked heavily with pink ribbons to make sure the course is clear. After running about 5 miles on Grafton Mesa, you will come back to the Grafton Aid Station (mile 28.2).

Runners will head back along the double track to Goosebump Aid Station (mile 34.4). You will then run counter-clockwise along the Gooseberry Mesa Trail. Gooseberry Mesa is a world class trail. It’s one of the best technical trails anywhere with rolling slickrock, twisty single track, and vistas to die for. The trail will be marked with pink ribbons. Note that sections of this trail may also have markings of white dots painted on the slickrock. These white dots are markings for mountain bikers. Even though some of our course coincides with the mountain biking trails DO NOT FOLLOW THE WHITE DOTS. Our course will veer on and off the mountain biking trails- just make sure to follow the pink ribbons. There will be an aid station set up around 8 miles into the Gooseberry loop (mile 42). From this aid station back to Goosebump Aid (mile 45.7) you will experience mostly slickrock.

From Goosebump Aid you will drop down off the mesa. This is the same steep/rocky trail you used to climb up on the mesa. You will follow some double track out to the Virgin Desert Aid Station (mile 53.8). From here you will head north to the Virgin Dam Aid Station (mile 55.7). This single track section follows the same curves of the Virgin River (in the canyon below) until Sheep Bridge Rd. You will then run east, parallel to SR-9 on a 4 wheeler trail for the next 1.5 miles along a busy highway. There is a large shoulder next to road. Please stay as far away from the highway as possible until finishing at Virgin City Park.

Price: $250.00 Race Fee
Registration: Registration ends April 9, 2021 at 6:00pm MDT

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This course starts out running east along SR-9 to Camino Del Rio. At Camino Del Rio we will turn south and head toward Gooseberry Mesa. About 4 miles in you will hit the first big climb of the race. The Climb up to Goosebump Aid is a scramble up a 1,500 ft ascent on steep and rocky terrain. After reaching the top of the hill, you will come to your first Aid Station (mile 5.2).

Runners will go counter-clockwise along the Gooseberry Mesa Trail. Gooseberry Mesa is a world class trail. It’s one of the best technical trails anywhere with rolling slickrock, twisty single track, and vistas to die for. The trail will be marked with pink ribbons. Note that sections of this trail may also have markings of white dots painted on the slickrock. These white dots are markings for mountain bikers. Even though some of our course coincides with the mountain biking trails DO NOT FOLLOW THE WHITE DOTS. Our course will veer on and off the mountain biking trails- just make sure to follow the pink ribbons.There will be an Aid Station set up around 8 miles into the Gooseberry loop (mile 12.5). From this aid station back to Goosebump Aid (mile 16.5) you will experience mostly slickrock.

From Goosebump Aid you will drop down off the mesa. This is the same steep/rocky trail you used to climb up on the mesa. You will follow some double track out to the Virgin Desert Aid Station (mile 24.6).

From here you will continue on the single track toward Sheep Bridge Rd. You will then run east, parallel to SR-9 on a 4 wheeler trail for the next 1.5 miles along a busy highway. There is a large shoulder next to road. Please stay as far away from the highway as possible until finishing at Virgin City Park.

Price: $200.00 Race Fee
Registration: Registration ends April 9, 2021 at 6:00pm MDT

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This scenic and very runnable route runs the first mile through the town of Virgin before getting on a double track that runs through the desert along the rim of the Virgin River. The first aid station is at mile 3.7 and the second is at mile 8.8 at the busy Virgin Desert Aid Station. The route then follows the single track of the JEM Trail for the next 3 miles, then onto Sheep Bridge Rd. for a half mile. You will then run east, parallel to SR-9 on a 4 wheeler trail for the next 1.5 miles along a busy highway. There is a large shoulder next to road. Please stay as far away from the highway as possible until finishing at Virgin City Park. Although this is a fast course, be aware that it is over a mile longer than half marathon.

Price: $150.00 Race Fee
Registration: Registration ends April 9, 2021 at 6:00pm MDT

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