Located in Denali State Park, the Kesugi Ridge Traverse point-to-point course starts at the Little Coal Creek Trailhead (Parks Highway Mile 163.9) and finishes 30 miles later at Byers Lake Campground (Mile 147). Starting at an elevation of 1,400 feet, the trail climbs steadily in the opening four miles to an alpine ridge with a high point of 3,500 feet. The trail is marked with cairns in most places.
When visibility allows, views of the Eldridge Glacier and Denali, the largest peak in North America, are prominent.
Near halfway, the Ermine Hill Trail comes in from the right (elevation 2,300 feet). The Kesugi Ridge HALF TRAVERSE course (about 14.2 miles) ends a short distance uphill from this junction at a rock formation called “The Doors.” After their race, Half Traverse participants take the Ermine Hill Trail 3.5 miles back to the Parks Highway at their leisure. The Ermine Hill Trailhead is at Mile 156.5. A shuttle will then transport runners to Byers Lake Campground (or Little Coal Creek if necessary).
Beyond “The Doors,” the FULL TRAVERSE descends to 1,500 feet before it climbs back above treeline, passes Skinny Lake and reaches almost 3,000 feet at Golog Point near Mile 20. Around Mile 25, the course begins a long, switchbacked descent to Byers Lake via the Cascade Trail. The course ends in the Byers Lake Campground (elevation 800 feet) with food, drinks and awards. The total elevation gain is 6,200 feet and elevation loss is 6,800 feet.
Be aware this is not a race for beginners. Long-distance trail running experience is a must. Scouting the course is highly recommended. Past races have featured rain, snow, cold, heat, and limited visibility. Sections of the course are extremely technical and can be swampy.
The Kesugi Ridge Traverse & Half Traverse is a USATF sanctioned event.
Qualifying trail
Entrants must have completed a technical trail race of 15+ miles since 2020 at a pace within the Kesugi race cutoff pace of 16 minutes per mile. Acceptable events include: Kesugi Ridge Traverse, Crow Pass Crossing, Resurrection Pass Trail, Lost Lake Run, Matanuska Peak Challenge, Granite Tors Trail Run, Girdwood Trail Marathon, Angel Creek 50, Juneau Ridge Run, Juneau’s Nifty 50 or a comparable race.
Those uncertain about whether they are qualified should consult with race director Matias Saari.
Mandatory Gear
Participants for both the Kesugi Ridge Traverse & Kesugi Ridge Half Traverse must wear or carry the following gear: windbreaker, long-sleeved shirt, pants or tights, winter hat, gloves, race bib, sustenance and water bottle.
Age requirement
Entrants for both the Kesugi Ridge Traverse & Kesugi Ridge Half Traverse must be at least 18 years old on race day.
Time Cutoff
The Kesugi Ridge Traverse has a time cutoff of 4 hours, 5 minutes at the Ermine Hill Checkpoint and 9 hours, 10 minutes for the finish. The Kesugi Ridge Half Traverse has a time cutoff of 4 hours, 5 minutes at the Ermine Hill finish line.
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