It's an incredible but super tough trail run straight up Vail mountain! Starts on the east side of Vail at the base of the mountain (8,250' elevation) and heads straight … MORE
It’s an incredible but super tough trail run straight up Vail mountain! Starts on the east side of Vail at the base of the mountain (8,250′ elevation) and heads straight up the mtn for 4.7 miles to around 10,000′ elevation when you “get” a break to run a circular mid-level mountain bike trail for 1.7 miles. Then the real fun starts, you get back to work running uphill, another 2.4 miles of climbing at steeper grades than earlier to where you peak out at around 11,230′. Then you traverse the unbelievable back bowl of Vail Mtn, finishing at the top of the gondola.
Pros: amazing views, stunning wildflowers, a true work out for the quads, great volunteers, 5 great aid stations, well kept trails (forest service road at start to let runners space out, then single track bike trails), cool back bowl traverse across the black diamond Vail ski runs, minimal downhill running – you get to ride the gondola back down to Vail instead and enjoy more views!
Cons: the course changes subtly every year, this year the run was actually 14 miles. A bit painful to almost reach the finish line at the gondola then turn right to add in one extra mile loop. Back in the day, the run was up to Piney Lake on the north side of Vail, then it went to Vail Mtn where it traversed the top of the mtn, then it traversed lower down along the back bowl instead and this year it added in one extra mile. So expect something but no matter what all routes are unbelievable scenery. Oh, and while oxygen is overrated, there’s none on this run anyway.
Please login to reply to this review.
Run Vail Mtn: beautiful views, no oxygen
It's an incredible but super tough trail run straight up Vail mountain! Starts on the east side of Vail at the base of the mountain (8,250' elevation) and heads straight … MORE
It’s an incredible but super tough trail run straight up Vail mountain! Starts on the east side of Vail at the base of the mountain (8,250′ elevation) and heads straight up the mtn for 4.7 miles to around 10,000′ elevation when you “get” a break to run a circular mid-level mountain bike trail for 1.7 miles. Then the real fun starts, you get back to work running uphill, another 2.4 miles of climbing at steeper grades than earlier to where you peak out at around 11,230′. Then you traverse the unbelievable back bowl of Vail Mtn, finishing at the top of the gondola.
Pros: amazing views, stunning wildflowers, a true work out for the quads, great volunteers, 5 great aid stations, well kept trails (forest service road at start to let runners space out, then single track bike trails), cool back bowl traverse across the black diamond Vail ski runs, minimal downhill running – you get to ride the gondola back down to Vail instead and enjoy more views!
Cons: the course changes subtly every year, this year the run was actually 14 miles. A bit painful to almost reach the finish line at the gondola then turn right to add in one extra mile loop. Back in the day, the run was up to Piney Lake on the north side of Vail, then it went to Vail Mtn where it traversed the top of the mtn, then it traversed lower down along the back bowl instead and this year it added in one extra mile. So expect something but no matter what all routes are unbelievable scenery. Oh, and while oxygen is overrated, there’s none on this run anyway.