Experience the beauty of winding Sonoran Desert trails in the shadow of the Bradshaw Mountains. The Black Canyon Ultra course is point-to-point with net elevation loss, but do not be fooled: this is a tough and taxing course with the majority of elevation gain coming the 2nd half. Challenge yourself this February and join us for the Black Canyon 100K!
The course runs along the non-motorized Black Canyon Trail (a National Recreation Trail) featuring a mixture of single track trail, jeep roads, and pieces of an old stagecoach route. The Black Canyon Trail is located on Bureau of Land Management land and is overseen by the Black Canyon Trail Coalition. In addition we offer a point to point 60K starting at Mayer High School and finishing at Black Canyon City.
From the BLM who manages the trail: “This 80-mile long trail features hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. This historic trail is of national significance, following a route used since the times of pre-historic Native American travelers and traders. The Department of the Interior officially established the route as a livestock driveway in 1919, when it was used by woolgrowers from the Phoenix area to herd sheep to and from their summer ranges in the Bradshaw and Mingus Mountains. The trail north of highway 69 is still used as a cattle driveway. The trail ends at the Prescott National Forest boundary.
The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail was originally designed as a livestock driveway. Many segments of the trail roughly parallel the old Black Canyon stagecoach road between Phoenix and Prescott.”
The Black Canyon Ultras features a 55 mile stretch of this trail beginning at Arcosanti in Spring Valley and ending at the Emery Henderson Trailhead near New River. Along the way, runners will cross through Black Canyon and the Agua Fria river multiple times.
100K
Elevation Gain 5,190 Feet | 1,580 Meters
Elevation Loss 7,050 Feet | 2,150 Meters
60K
Elevation Gain 2,460 Feet | 750 Meters
Elevation Loss 4,770 Feet | 1,450 Meters
Cupless Race
We are so lucky to make the outdoors our passion and we want to continue to keep the beautiful trails we enjoy beautiful and free from trash and wrappers. In our continued effort to reduce our races footprint and preserve the trails we love, 2020 Black Canyon Ultras will be a cupless event.
What does that mean? There will be no paper cups at the aid stations at this race. Runners will be responsible for carrying their own container to refill along the way. UltrAspire reusable cups may be purchased with registration or on race day OR we encourage you to bring your own. Grab a cup, a hydration vest, pouch, or water bottle and we will fill it at each aid station along the way. We ask you to help us in our efforts by preparing for a cup-free race day and thank you in advance for being good stewards of the trail. Also new to this year, we have paired with a Terracycle company to help collect and recycle gu packets, energy bar wrappers, and other generally non-recyclable materials that we find every day in the running community. Look for our TerraCycle containers at each aid station.
Western States 100 Qualifier
Black Canyon 100K is a Western States 100 qualifier. You must complete the entire 100K distance under 17 hours in order to be eligible for the lottery.
UTMB Points
Black Canyon 100K will have 3 qualifying points for Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc race series
Black Canyon 60K will have 2 qualifying points for Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc race series
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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.