Bryce Canyon Ultras

The Bryce Canyon Ultras feature scenic, mountain courses running along the western edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, offering spectacular views above and below the hoodoos. The race is run at high elevation, with most of the miles on this rugged course between 8,000 – 9,000 ft.

The 50 miler starts at the Lucky 7 Ranch pond and climbs 700 ft. over 2 ½ miles on doubletrack up to Proctor Canyon aid station (mile 2.5).

From there the route follows the Grandview trail south for 3 miles on singletrack, climbing an additional 1,000 ft. to an unmanned water station (mile 5.5), where the route then breaks off the Grandview trail and doubles back, heading north to the Blue Fly aid station (mile 8.5) up onto the rim of the plateau. There is approximately 800 ft. of vertical gain and loss over this section through a gorgeous hoodoo amphitheater (a new addition to the 50 mile route.)

After Blue Fly aid, the route heads inland on a doubletrack that heads northeast on a gradual downhill slope to an aid station near the East Fork of the Sevier River in the center of the plateau.

From East Fork aid (mile 16.5), you’ll continue northwest on doubletrack that takes you back towards the edge of the plateau.

After the aid station at Coyote Hollow trailhead (mile 24.5), runners hop on the famous Thunder Mountain trail. The first 4 miles of this trail climbs up and down a series of about a dozen small ridges, each with about a hundred feet of climb and descent. It then steeply drops through a series of hoodoos on what is likely the most photographed section of the course. This section of trail can also be a bit slippery on the steeper sections, as there is often a tiny gravel layer that sits on top of the hard pack trail and can cause runners to lose their footing.

When the Thunder Mountain trail T’s into the Grandview trail (approximately mile 30.5), take a right and head north to the Red Canyon aid station (mile 32). From here runners will head out for a 5 mile loop on the spectacular Golden Wall trail, also a new addition to the 50 mile route. There is about 1,400 ft. of climbing and descent on this section.

After passing through Red Canyon aid station a second time (mile 37), the route heads south along the Grandview trail 5 miles to an aid station in Hilsdale Canyon (mile 42). Although this appears to be a comparatively mild section along the bottom of the plateau, this terrain is relentless with constant ups and downs- there is still over 800 ft. of climbing!

The next section is similar, climbing over a series of small ridges in the foothills that ends up being more than a thousand feet of climbing over 7 miles to Proctor Canyon aid station (mile 49).

From here, it is all downhill on the finish line at the pond at the bottom of the canyon.

The 50K starts at the Lucky 7 Ranch pond and climbs 700 ft. over 2 ½ miles on doubletrack up to Proctor Canyon aid station (mile 2.5).

From there the route follows the Grandview trail south for 3 miles on singletrack to an unmanned water station and then continues on for nearly 7 miles and over 3,000 ft. of climbing through one of the most remote and rugged sections of the course to Blubber Creek aid station (mile 12), offering runners their first views from the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

The route then continues south along the Grandview trail, staying above the rim to the turnaround point 3.5 miles out from Blubber Creek aid station.

After passing through Blubber Creek aid a second time (mile 19), the route runs in reverse direction past the water station and Proctor Canyon aid (mile 28.5) on the way back down to the finish at Lucky 7 Ranch pond.

The 30K starts at the mouth of Proctor Canyon and climbs 700 ft. over 2 miles on doubletrack up to Proctor Canyon Aid Station (mile 2.1).

From there, the route heads southeast for 1.6 miles toward Blue Fly Aid Station (mile 3.7). After Blue Fly Aid, the course will head west on a rugged double track road. This will be mostly downhill for a little over 4 miles before coming to the next aid station called 30k Aid Station (mile 8.2).

From there you will take a right running along FS road 109. This will be a nice double track road for the next 4 miles. It will be a nice steady climb with about 1500 feet of elevation gain. You will peak out around mile 12 where it will begin the nice steady downhill for the remainder of the course. We will have a water only station set up at the (601 junction) at about mile 13.2.

You will jump onto a nice downhill single track section for the next 3 miles bringing you into the Proctor Canyon Aid Station one last time (mile 16.2). From there you will have a nice 2.1 miles of double track remaining down Proctor Canyon to the Finish Line.