The Antelope Canyon Ultras is a stunningly beautiful early season race through the spectacular Arizona desert landscape. The Antelope Canyon region is one of the most photographed places in the country and a sacred region for the Navajo people. From the spectacular Horseshoe Bend to the mesmerizing Waterholes Canyon there is something uniquely breathtaking around every turn.
100 Mile Ultra
On this 100 mile course you will experience two of the most photographed land features in the country- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with 6 laps on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon, with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners start with a 5 mile desert traverse on a sandy doubletrack with a little slickrock and a slot canyon mixed in.
Near mile 4, runners will drop into the first slot canyon of the day, at the bottom of which is Antelope Aid Station.
After the aid station you’ll enter a large, very sandy open wash, which you will follow south for about 3 miles to the entrance to the incomparable Upper Antelope Canyon. (This is one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world.)
Navajo guides may be posted along the route, as travel on tribal lands typically requires their presence in order to visit the sacred sites. After passing through the slot canyon, runners will climb over a sand dune and pass through another small slot canyon on the return (since the canyon isn’t wide enough for two way traffic.) You’ll return to the Antelope Aid station for the second time, then retrace your footsteps back towards the starting line for about 3.5 miles, where you’ll split off from the way you came and head west toward the Horseshoe Bend/Waterholes Canyon leg. Slickrock Aid will be about a mile into the desert after crossing S. Coppermine Rd. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand. You can expect sand for about the first 12 miles.
From there, runners will traverse another open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River. You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into another gorgeous slot canyon. The aid station is located near the bridge).
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time.
Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim Trail that you will run 6 times, “washing machine style”(i.e., clockwise, counterclockwise, repeat). The latter 50 miles are locked in on the smooth ten-mile loops of the Page Rim Trail where you’ll have aid stations every 5 miles that you’ll make repeat visits to. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
The accessibility of this loop trail makes it logistically perfect to plan and prepare for the long night ahead with your drop bags, and for your crew and pacers to support you. And since the Page Rim trail circumnavigates the city of Page, your crew will never be more than a few minutes away from their hotel room or campsite, so you won’t have to worry about their comfort.
Course time limit: 30 hours
50 Mile Ultra
On this 50 mile course you will experience two of the most photographed land features in the country- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with a single loop on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon, with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners start with a 5 mile desert traverse on a sandy doubletrack with a little slickrock and a slot canyon mixed in.
Near mile 4, runners will drop into the first slot canyon of the day, at the bottom of which is Antelope Aid Station.
After the aid station you’ll enter a large, very sandy open wash, which you will follow south for about 3 miles to the entrance to the incomparable Upper Antelope Canyon. (This is one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world).
Navajo guides may be posted along the route, as travel on tribal lands typically requires their presence in order to visit the sacred sites. After passing through the slot canyon, runners will climb over a sand dune and pass through another small slot canyon on the return (since the canyon isn’t wide enough for two way traffic). You’ll return to the Antelope Aid station for the second time, then retrace your footsteps back towards the starting line for about 3.5 miles, where you’ll split off from the way you came and head west toward the Horseshoe Bend/Waterholes Canyon leg. Slickrock Aid will be about a mile into the desert after crossing S. Coppermine Rd. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand.
From there, runners will traverse another open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River.You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into another gorgeous slot canyon. The aid station is located near the bridge.)
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time. Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim Trail. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
Course time limit: 15 hours
55K Ultra
On this 55K course you will experience one of the most photographed land features in the country, Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. After traversing the desert sand and slickrock to reach these unbelievable features, the run finishes out with a single loop on smooth single track around the plateau that the city of Page, AZ is built upon with jaw-dropping views of Lake Powell.
Runners will head directly to Slickrock Aid station which is about 2 miles into the race. The trail to Slickrock Aid is very soft sand. From there, runners will traverse the open desert for about 3 miles before reaching the famous Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. An aid station will be set up near the parking lot of this spectacular overlook (Horseshoe Bend Aid).
The next section weaves through slickrock along the rim of the Colorado River, in an area that few humans have traveled which offers views that are beyond words. This section can be very challenging to keep a steady pace due to the constant elevation changes, slickrock, and sand that you will be running through. It does however offer some amazing vantage points of the Colorado River. You might struggle to want to put your camera away.
After crossing back over Hwy 89, runners will fuel up at the Waterholes Aid station before dropping into gorgeous Waterholes Slot Canyon, a favorite of most runners in past years.
After about a mile in the slot, runners will exit and head back towards the city of Page on a long, exposed, and sandy desert traverse which takes you through the Horseshoe Bend and Slickrock aid stations for a second time. Upon entering Page and climbing up onto the plateau which the city is built upon, the route ties into the smooth singletrack of the Page Rim trail. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
Course time limit: 12 hours
Half Marathon
The trail half marathon runs around the slickrock formation that the starting line is next to, then links up onto the Page Rim Trail which the city of Page is built upon. The runners will complete a single loop. The Page Rim Trail is smooth singletrack. This is a fast and very runnable ten mile loop with 4 road crossings and spectacular views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. It then returns to the starting line via the more direct route that the other race distances will use to get up onto the mesa.
*Note – the half marathon distance does not run through slot canyons. We recommend booking a tour before or after the race.
Course time limit: 5 hours
LESS
The Views The Sand LOL!!!!
Tough course for a first time Ultra Half!! The views were spectacular- the 2.5 miles in the sand at the end was definitely a game changer- stay hydrated and be … MORE
Tough course for a first time Ultra Half!! The views were spectacular- the 2.5 miles in the sand at the end was definitely a game changer- stay hydrated and be prepared minimal facilities for bathroom use! But as with every Vacation Race excellent staff and volunteers all was great!!
Holy Schnikeys-Tough but Beautiful
I will do this again but shorter distance. The terrain made it so tough for me. About 65 % sand, steep climbs with not much traction for balance but oooooohhhh … MORE
I will do this again but shorter distance. The terrain made it so tough for me. About 65 % sand, steep climbs with not much traction for balance but oooooohhhh SO BEAUTIFUL. I didn’t make 15 hour cutoff even though I raced my butt off. I should have known how tough it would be since it’s a UTMB qualifier. Felt like there were more course markers than 2021 Zion 100k. Great race organization! Race fee includes race photos.
The unseen of Page
How do I even begin?! Wow. If you are not one for crowds but want to experience the beauty of Page, AZ - this race provided exactly that. Not only … MORE
How do I even begin?! Wow.
If you are not one for crowds but want to experience the beauty of Page, AZ – this race provided exactly that. Not only were we in the presence of sandstone giants, we were able to glide past Lake Powell, traverse down, through, and up Slot canyon, and look down upon the beauty of Horseshoe overlook (scarily close!)
This was my first Ultra- tough in every way but the beauty of the community both running and local, the challenge that was relieved by the surrounding breathtaking of the scenery . This will be a difficult race to top for me! The 55k gave me more than I could have imagined and I’m so appreciative of the opportunity vacation races has provided to allow the world to experience these beautiful places like no other!
Most Awesome!
Lots of sand to enjoy. Lots of Ahhmazing scenery to take in. Great route. Great run. Great staff. The supporters were lively. The race was very well executed. MORE
Lots of sand to enjoy. Lots of Ahhmazing scenery to take in. Great route. Great run. Great staff. The supporters were lively. The race was very well executed.
What a race for a first ultra!
I had NO idea if I could actually finish the 55k going into it. I went with the thought of "just go with it, it's an adventure, enjoy the day". … MORE
I had NO idea if I could actually finish the 55k going into it. I went with the thought of “just go with it, it’s an adventure, enjoy the day”. The scenery was inspiring, incredible, and stimulating the entire race. Vacation Races had plenty of aid stations with good vibes, great treats, and music to sing in your head with as a distraction to keep going. I finished in a time I could not be more proud of and felt really great the whole time. Might have even been able to have gone the 50m!
Absolutely incredible!
I could not have picked a better first ultra marathon! The course was absolutely beautiful, and the trail was both really fun (bouldering down into the slot canyon!) and really … MORE
I could not have picked a better first ultra marathon! The course was absolutely beautiful, and the trail was both really fun (bouldering down into the slot canyon!) and really hard (sand!). This made it feel like more than a race but a crazy adventure. Course support was awesome, medals/swag totally excellent. I can’t wait for my next ultra (eyeing Bryce Canyon next year!)
Difficult course but beautiful
They did an outstanding job on this race: Course marking: outstanding Volunteers: outstanding Water stops: outstanding Bib pickup: outstanding This was a difficult race, the course is challenging, a lot … MORE
They did an outstanding job on this race:
Course marking: outstanding
Volunteers: outstanding
Water stops: outstanding
Bib pickup: outstanding
This was a difficult race, the course is challenging, a lot of sand and rocks, a couple of challenging climbs and declines, but totally worth it. The views were breathtaking and the challenge of the course made it that much more fun. I was amazed at how well the course was marked, the volunteers were extremely energetic, the race village was set up great, plenty of support after the finish. We are looking forward to doing another Vacation Race run.
Epic Day
This is an incredibly beautiful and incredibly challenging course. I am usually a road marathoner, this was my first ultra and trail race. It was run flawlessly. The course organization … MORE
This is an incredibly beautiful and incredibly challenging course. I am usually a road marathoner, this was my first ultra and trail race. It was run flawlessly. The course organization was great, everything was very clearly marked. The aid stations were very well stocked. My crew member had no issues navigating the course. The course was very challenging with sand and slick rock but with epic views the entire way which made it more than worth it!!! Will definitely do another vacation race event.
Great First Ultra
If you run this planning on setting a PR, you are missing the best parts of this race. The scenery is worth every cent of the registration. Stop, take pictures … MORE
If you run this planning on setting a PR, you are missing the best parts of this race. The scenery is worth every cent of the registration. Stop, take pictures soak in the views. Enjoy running (or walking) in a place that most people will never see.
I “dug” the sand!
Attended as a father/son team traveling 2,600 miles to attend. My son dnf’d at mile 27 so I went with him. Even with a short race it was the most … MORE
Attended as a father/son team traveling 2,600 miles to attend. My son dnf’d at mile 27 so I went with him. Even with a short race it was the most spectacular race I’ve ever been in!! Scenery, participants and race workers
were so incredible. Even getting extracted was fun! The 2 gentlemen who got us were wonderful and made us feel better despite our bad spot we were in. DEFINITELY coming back in 2023!!
Great race, beautiful views!
Beautiful views! Nice 10 mile loop around the rim, but beware at mile 11, you’re in sand until the end! Save up your energy for the final push. MORE
Beautiful views! Nice 10 mile loop around the rim, but beware at mile 11, you’re in sand until the end! Save up your energy for the final push.
Worth every painful step
This race is absolutely worth it. It’s worth the training, it’s worth the travel, it’s worth the money. This was my first 50 mile attempt, my first DNF, and I’d … MORE
This race is absolutely worth it. It’s worth the training, it’s worth the travel, it’s worth the money. This was my first 50 mile attempt, my first DNF, and I’d do it again. Lots of slick rock and sand. The race is organized well. The volunteers and aid stations are fabulous. Should be on every trail runners bucket list.
Stunningly Beautiful
This was my first 50 mile race and a chose it because of the beautiful course and I was not disappointed. The course runs through 4 slot canyons, horseshoe bend … MORE
This was my first 50 mile race and a chose it because of the beautiful course and I was not disappointed. The course runs through 4 slot canyons, horseshoe bend and Page rim trail. The views are stunning. There is lots of sand, and some scrambling up and down rocks. There were big puddles in Waterholes Canyon that were too big to jump over and got our feet wet, but it was all part of the experience. This is a very scenic race that will challenge you!
Very well organized race.
For this race, lots of sand. The views are amazing. Be prepared to climb and do some ninja moves to get through the course. Well worth the experience. MORE
For this race, lots of sand. The views are amazing. Be prepared to climb and do some ninja moves to get through the course. Well worth the experience.
Very Challenging Course
It was great scenery and a good production. Course issues caused a couple of women to get lost due to markings, but we were told that would be fixed. First … MORE
It was great scenery and a good production. Course issues caused a couple of women to get lost due to markings, but we were told that would be fixed. First and last 2 miles are sand and poor footing. Making it tough. Course was actually 13.6 miles.
Finish is great. Medals were well designed. Would’ve loved to received something for getting 2nd in my AG.
Beautiful but very challenging!
This course was much harder than I anticipated. There were hills to climb up and down, rocks to climb over and around, ramps to run down and ladders to climb … MORE
This course was much harder than I anticipated. There were hills to climb up and down, rocks to climb over and around, ramps to run down and ladders to climb up, ledges to run along, and so much sand to run through. There were also some of the most incredible views I have ever seen!! It was an amazing journey and I was lucky enough to be able to participate in this race when so many others were canceled.
Spectacular race!
Vacation races is already amazing. So this was not surprising. Great aids. Good variety of hot and cold food. Great course markings. Amazing views. Tough challenging course and well put … MORE
Vacation races is already amazing. So this was not surprising. Great aids. Good variety of hot and cold food. Great course markings. Amazing views. Tough challenging course and well put together race. Can’t wait to go back.
Epic
This was my fourth ultra and by far the most difficult! The front half is deep sand and lots of scrambling up and down rocks. Running through the slot canyon … MORE
This was my fourth ultra and by far the most difficult! The front half is deep sand and lots of scrambling up and down rocks. Running through the slot canyon and views of Horseshoe Bend were spectacular, though. And support on the course simply amazing.
Sand kicked my butt
Amazing run. The first couple of miles are deep sand and uphill. I was not prepared for the that at all. The rest was single track, not too steep and … MORE
Amazing run. The first couple of miles are deep sand and uphill. I was not prepared for the that at all. The rest was single track, not too steep and just beautiful.
Runcation#6 AZ - Sandman VS Desert/Cliff
Antelope Canyon 100 is one fun race to remember. I had a lot of fun running it. It's very scenic. There wasn't a whole lot of elevation gain, which is … MORE
Antelope Canyon 100 is one fun race to remember. I had a lot of fun running it. It’s very scenic. There wasn’t a whole lot of elevation gain, which is undoubtedly why I got my new 100 mile PR here.
The race first brings you through Antelope Canyon, which is usually limited to tour access only. Then you travel through Navajo reservation to overlook the Horseshoe Bend, a route claimed by the Native Americans, i.e. no crazy tourism interruption. Finally, for the 100 milers, we get to run around the Page Rim Trail 6 times, viewing the gorgeous landscape surrounding the town of Page, and overlooking Lake Powell.
The course is relative easy due to the only 6400 ft elevation gain. While the sandy terrain can be quite exhausting to maneuver, the sandstone can give you quite a painful pounding.
As the usual me, I am always running a little late even though I am sleeping at the start line. I swear the race started 2min earlier than the official 6am.
The race came into a bottleneck fairly quickly after a 1000ft of jogging. Warning: This course requires cliffhanger and rock climbing to complete successfully! Ok, maybe not that extreme… but you will need to have the gut to run up a slick sandstone with a 45% grade and add a little class 2 technical trail with a slight scrambling using your hands. Personally, I think this just boosted my morale about this race from a boring flat race to a little bit of adventure.
Comparing to my previous 100 mile races, I believe I ran the most during this race. My feet and knees didn’t give up on me, though my ankles were getting sore from stabilizing each step in the sand. No altitude sickness because I am used to 4000s from my work in SoCal. However, I have yet to learn how to combat stomach problem and sleeplessness.
Faithful Challenges of Ultrarunning and Lesson Learned:
1) Bib belt sucks in a 100-mile race. Couldn’t find my safety pins last minute in the dark before 6am start time, I put on my bib belt. 20 miles in the race, i can feel the constriction of the belt bruising yup my abdomen. At that point, I knew it could be a problem later on. My concern was chaffing around my waist. However, that seems not the case. As it continued to be a bothersome in the race, i was able to receive some safety pins from a fellow runners to pin the bib to my shorts at around mile 48. However, the damage has been done. By mile 64, I began to have the ultra runner stomach issue. Ingesting food without getting nausea was almost impossible. Thankfully, Coke and pineapple were still on my menu. Too bad pineapple soon became a scarcity. Though I have tried ginger chew, which was supposed to work wonders to stomach problem, it didn’t work this time. By mile 74, I could no longer jog. Power hike or walking was my only option, since any fast pace movement would induce puking sensation. I tried to throw up, however, nothing would come out. I thought I was overnutrition, yet I couldn’t make a dump to yield more room inside my body. At mile 99, my hypothesis was confirmed when I finally able to relief in the compost toilet. What came out of the body is pure blackness of unwanted byproducts. Surely, the race has done a good deal of damage inside out. Never again would I use a bib belt in an ultra race.
2) I have yet to figure out how to deal with this dilemma. The only logical conclusion to the little crazy old me is run faster next time. You wonder what I am talking about? It’s sleep depravity. The lack of sleep in a race going over 24 hours is always a challenge. The hardest hours fall between 3am and 4:30am. This is against your circadian rhythm to be awake at this ungodly late hours. So what my body decided to do? Sleep walking! This is a particularly hard race to do that. With cliff and desert constantly accompanying you along the night trail, I can only wander so far before I must safe myself from some sort of death or stray away from the course. The last 20 miles of my race were surely slow and dreamy. XD
3) If we need to talk about one thing all ultrarunners hate the most, it has to be chaffing. Blisters, we will just deal with it. Sore muscles and painful feet, we will suck it up. Stomach issue? Well, let’s just stop and try to rest up and eat something a little bit at a time. But oh man, I think I have heard more people DNF because of chaffing than anything else. It’s the one thing you can prevent yet cannot control once it occurs. It can happen in many locations, and if you have been running long enough, you know where to apply the anti-chaffing creams on. And surely like a “seasoned” runner, I would have done the same thing. But I left out one spot, which I thought of at mile 8, but it becomes an additional nightmare at mile 80. The unwanted ungodly location decided to have chaffing. And surely enough, my night through the Page Rim Trail had been eventful, and hopefully I would learn my lesson to wake up earlier to be more prepared for my race start.
Finally, to conclude, I actually did pretty good at the race overall. Though i am still beating up myself (figuratively) for not being in the top 10, I ended up with a #18 out of 115 participants and first in my age group. 47 people finished within the 32-hour cutoff. It’s not an easy race for many. But I wish I could have done better. In fact, I knew I could have ran better if I for once can have a perfect race. It was closed. I was aiming for sub-24hr, but when the stomach and chaffing called me off guard… Maybe next one?! Honestly, considering my “exceptional” training regime, I should be happy that I even finish the race. For most people, they wouldn’t have lasted the race as long as I did if they train like me. That’s something I should at least be thankful for.
*****
Personal Course Difficulty Rating 7/15
Altitude 2/5 – 4000+ft above sea level
Elevation Gain 2/5 – 6400+ft
Terrain 3/5 – Sandy desert mix with hard sandstone outcrop with occasional class 2 technical trail scrambling (may require assistance of hands)
Race Swag 4/5 – Though the buckle is nice and made individually and each unique on its own. Man, I would love to get those pretty 50-miler finisher medal, which looks way cooler. I guess I am pickier on the design than many others.