Collegiate Peaks Trail Runs

Take the Challenge and conquer the course while you experience the spectacular views of our mountains, the Arkansas River, and visit with our friendly locals.

The Collegiate Peaks Trail Run takes place in Buena Vista, Colorado and offers two race distance options – 25 miles and 50 miles. However, in 2016, the Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management officials re-routed a portion of Trail 1450 (Midland Trail). The course is now a 25.7 mile loop. Because of this change, runners who signup for 25 miles will actually run 25.7 miles and runners who signup for 50 miles will actually run 51.4 miles.

The race was established in 1991 and provides a significant challenge of not only time but also physical and mental stamina. Beginning and ending near the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, the course primarily follows single-track and jeep trails along part of the old historic Midland Railroad as well as through other scenic areas north and east of town. Encompassing great scenery and spectacular views, much of the course runs through lands managed by the National Forest Service and/or Bureau of Land Management. 25-milers do the loop once (clockwise) and the 50-milers do it twice (the second time around, counterclockwise). The course starts at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level and is an up-and-down course with over 3,500 feet in elevation gain/drop on each loop!