Come run through Arizona’s scenic Sonoran Desert on the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail. These point-to-point ultras promise an unforgettable adventure. The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail is approximately 80 miles and offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. With roots tracing back to prehistoric Native American travelers …
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Come run through Arizona’s scenic Sonoran Desert on the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail. These point-to-point ultras promise an unforgettable adventure.
The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail is approximately 80 miles and offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. With roots tracing back to prehistoric Native American travelers and traders, this historic trail holds national significance. Established by the Department of the Interior in 1919 as a livestock driveway, it served woolgrowers herding sheep between Phoenix and the Bradshaw and Mingus Mountains. Still utilized as a cattle driveway north of highway 69, the trail concludes at the Prescott National Forest boundary. Originally a livestock pathway, the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail also parallels segments of the old Black Canyon stagecoach road between Phoenix and Prescott.
As part of the Black Canyon Ultras, runners will tackle a 55-mile section of this trail, commencing at Mayer High School in Spring Valley and finishing at the Emery Henderson Trailhead near New River. Along the route, participants will traverse Black Canyon and the Agua Fria river multiple times.
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Popular Western States Qualifier Race
Well organized, good aid stations and course markings, Aravaipa race crew very approachable and nice, helped with last minute distance switch. Nice way to spend day in Sonoran desert. Second … MORE
Well organized, good aid stations and course markings, Aravaipa race crew very approachable and nice, helped with last minute distance switch. Nice way to spend day in Sonoran desert. Second half of 100K race much harder after Black Canyon aid station. Trail more technical than I thought. Shoe/sock change at Black Canyon key. Parking at finish was crowded-get there early for your runner.