Lost Dutchman Marathon
Apache Junction, AZ
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 8K, 2 Miler
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Run where desert meets sunrise. Feel the calm of the Superstition Mountains, the energy of the crowd, and the crisp Arizona winter air. It’s more than a race. it’s a moment you’ll remember at every finish line. Run at the base of Superstition Mountain near the rumored site of the … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 17):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 75 | 62 | 65 | 57 | 69 |
| L (°F) | 46 | 49 | 43 | 49 | 48 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Amazing Arizona!
This is a really awesome race which highlights the incredible natural beauty of Arizona. It feels smaller and a little remote, but I appreciated that it was really well-organized and … MORE
This is a really awesome race which highlights the incredible natural beauty of Arizona. It feels smaller and a little remote, but I appreciated that it was really well-organized and well-supported. For being remote, it was logistically very straightforward to get to from Phoenix. Plenty of easy parking at the start. The sunrise at the start was awe-inspiring. The course is out and back with rolling hills. Plenty of aid stations with enthusiastic volunteers. Highly recommend!
Bigger Isn't Always Better
This is a really nice mid-sized race located in Apache Junction about 30 minutes outside Phoenix. It was an anniversary year, and a few friends told me this was their … MORE
This is a really nice mid-sized race located in Apache Junction about 30 minutes outside Phoenix. It was an anniversary year, and a few friends told me this was their favorite Arizona half marathon, so I decided to travel to Arizona for the 3 day weekend for this race. Overall this is a much better race than Mesa despite having a much smaller field. The half had between 600-700 runners which I think is perfect. There was pretty good pre race communication but not as much as some races. At one point I was like wait I signed up right as I hadn’t heard much from the race but they gave us updates the week of. There is the option for early packet pickup or you can get it race day. I got it on Saturday after Mesa. There was a small expo but it had a few booths and the essentials. Packet pickup was easy and included a long sleeved grey tech shirt. It is fine but has the wrong date which they wrote us about. I again stayed near the Phoenix Airport which was about 30 minutes away but there is closer lodging though I doubt anything within walking distance. Race day was easy. It starts at a park with limited option but there is a rodeo parking lot about 1.5 miles away with continuous shuttles to the park. The full marathon is point to point but the half an out and back. The shuttles were very easy and efficient. No waiting on either end. There was a nice set up a the park pre and post race with booths, food trucks, a stage and both porta potties and real bathrooms. Since it’s a small field the start corral was just one group but there were pacers. I think the slowest was 2:45. I was hoping for a 3 hour pacer as I wanted to take this race easy. At this point there is nothing I can do to work on speed or strategy and I just needed to make sure I didn’t get injured. The race started on time and we all passed the start within about a minute. As I stated I decided to take this race very easy and stopped and took pictures, chatted with other runners and just took some walk breaks whenever I felt like it. It is a gorgeous course. It is all on road. It is not the best kept road though so I’m glad I took it easy. There is beautiful desert scenery and huge cacti. It was especially beautiful with the sunrise and I have some great pictures. the course is an out and back which isn’t my favorite set up but it is a scenic course so I didn’t mind seeing everything twice. It is very back of the pack friendly with a 6 hour time limit for the half so there were a lot of participants at my pace but it was never too crowded. In terms of difficult it was pretty average. There are some hills but it isn’t too bad. It is actually rolling hills not “rolling hills.” About 300 feet of elevation gain. Weather was beautiful but it got a bit hot at the end. Production was good. The roads were closed off and there were police at any intersections directing traffic. They were much nicer than the police in Mesa and cheered me on and didn’t yell at me. There were frequent aid stations. Most had both water and electrolytes and one had Gu. The turnaround was clearly marked and splits were recorded. Along with out and back not being my favorite course format my only other slight negative is spectator support is rather sparse. There are some people there but it is so rural you go long stretches without seeing spectators but it’s such a beautiful course I didn’t mind. I was very, very, very happy with my finishing time for how easy I took it. I was shocked I finished close to 3 hours as I thought I would be more like 3:15 with all the picture and walking breaks I took. Finish line is nice and the medal was great this year. They gave us a bag of food with bagel, peanuts and chips. There were also food trucks and I got a delicious waffle. The shuttle back to the parking was extremely efficient. Overall this was an excellent and beautiful race. If you like scenic, mid sized races this is definitely the best race for Arizona. Unless you are looking for a super fast course or need a ton of spectator support this is a much better option than Mesa.
Incredibly scenic and friendly miles!
This was a great small(ish) race. From the shirts on people at packet pickup and in the race itself, it seems like many people repeat this one. I love that … MORE
This was a great small(ish) race. From the shirts on people at packet pickup and in the race itself, it seems like many people repeat this one. I love that it supports the local community. We did packet pickup the day before at a local multigenerational center. Parking was easy and a few local vendors. It was a quick in and out for us. I wasn’t a fan of the shirt design / color but it was average quality. I saw someone wearing a hoodie from a past year and wish I could have purchased that. I did end up buying a cotton volunteer shirt from the previous year for 5 bucks and will wear that more than the race shirt. Just my preference!
Race day was a cold start but thankfully dry. There were several actual bathrooms in the start area in addition to porta potties. Small race field meant we were off within a minute of the field start. The first mile, with the sun coming up over the mountains, is breathtaking. We slowed down to take many photos. The half marathon course is an out-and-back, long straightaways on two lane streets…there are houses but sort of main thoroughfares in this smaller town. Roads were closed and police were completely controlling all cross streets. I felt very safe. There is one section that has the two directions separated with a middle lane for patrol vehicles and bikes to canvas the field. Most of the roads are smooth and clear except for the section heading up to the turnaround which had a few potholes. The bit of a hill up to the turn around was more than I expected but not too too long or tough. I’d say rolling hills.
Field was friendly. Water stations at pretty much every mile were always full. Lots of local young people who were really encouraging. Most (if not all) also had gatorade and a couple had Gu products. This was great because it was dry and by the end the direct sun had us quite warm. There were a handful of spectators / dogs (mostly marathoner friends and family I think) and no one giving anything away. (Having done races like Little Rock and OKC Memorial where streets were lined with people and unofficial aid stations, just letting you know this is not like that!)
The rider with the lead marathoners was pretty rude to us as he passed. But honestly that was the only negative person we encountered. Medal is beautiful and substantial. The medal design for the full moves down to the half the following year so you can get a sense of what it is like.
Finishing bag was a bagel, a bar of some kind, water, a banana, and chips. Kind of sparse compared to some other races but there were many food trucks with some good choices for purchase and a couple of beverage give aways. I tried to buy the volunteer shirt that they wore this year but was told they won’t be sold until next year. While I enjoyed this race, I wouldn’t go out of my way to do it again. If I happened to be in Phoenix at this time, I might give it another go, or try Mesa which was Saturday of this same weekend. Finally, reserve your hotel early. The front desk attendant said that this was high season and from the rates, I believe it! We did have a great weekend but ended up staying about a half hour away.
Excellent communication from the race directors with extremely detailed directions for parking and traffic. If you read it all, you’ll be all set.
Great February Race!
Coming from Chicago winters this was exactly what I was looking for. Overall race was well done, it was a simple out and back, well supported, about 700 half marathoners. … MORE
Coming from Chicago winters this was exactly what I was looking for. Overall race was well done, it was a simple out and back, well supported, about 700 half marathoners. Swag was a long sleeve (appreciated!) and the medal was nice!
Beautiful
This is a great early season February race that attracts Arizona locals and out-of-state visitors alike. It's a small race-- limited to 400-- and sells out quickly. Participants are bussed … MORE
This is a great early season February race that attracts Arizona locals and out-of-state visitors alike. It’s a small race– limited to 400– and sells out quickly. Participants are bussed to the start line at the base of Superstition Mountains very early in the morning (4:30-6am) and the race starts at 7am. There are little fire pits set up and a warming bus so you can keep somewhat warm before the race begins. Gear bags will be bussed back to the finish line. This is a SCENIC COURSE with the first 6 miles taking place during sunrise on a compact dirt road amongst saguaro cactus! The next 20 miles are on road through Apache Junction. You’ll head down a main highway, and through residential areas. Don’t get caught speeding too much in the downhill sections, as that mistake might kick you in the butt later like it did me! Plenty of water stations. Also be prepared for the beating sun to bring down some warmth by 9am. Overall a great race and would definitely recommend!
The views!
Picture this: Under a pitch black desert sky, you’re gathered in the dark early morning with 400 other runners at the foot of towering dacite cliffs in the Superstition Mountains. … MORE
Picture this: Under a pitch black desert sky, you’re gathered in the dark early morning with 400 other runners at the foot of towering dacite cliffs in the Superstition Mountains. Campfires cast your fellow marathoners in silhouette as you await the sunrise and the start of your race. Soon, the Eastern sky will warm to a golden hue and paint the cliffs in light. The diffuse light reveals a landscape dotted with aaguaro cacti and prickly pears, agave and yuccas. This is the mural that awaits you when you take the field in the Lost Dutchman Marathon.
For nearly six miles, you descend into the Peralta Canyon down a dusty dirt road. The ground is soft beneath your feet as the you level out and the desert spreads out before you. Enjoy these downhill miles; the gentle descent and cool morning temps offer a tranquil moment to reflect on the beauty around you.
After transitioning to asphalt around mile 6, you shortly turn for a brief westward stretch down Highway 60.l with the sun at your back. Traffic control is well taken care of, but don’t worry: You’ll soon turn back north for a 6-ish mile horseshoe loop through Gold Canyon. Here the Superstition Mountains rise up before you, offering a beautiful backdrop as you stride through resort communities and luxury homes. You’ll face your biggest climb of the race from mile 11 to mile 13. It’s not a brutal hill, but certainly the most challenging ascent you’ll face all day. Snag a donut and a slice of bacon after you complete your climb, then savor the gentle downhill as you work back south, completing your Gold Canyon loop with a return to Highway 60.
After another brief run down the desert highway (a mile and change), you’ll head north again for the homebound stretch. By now, the sun is well overhead and temps may be warming. For my race, temps were mid-40s to start (glorious!) and remained comfortable right up to the end (and this from a guy who hates hear!).
Around mile 18.5, you’ll tackle your second (and final) noteworthy hill…again, nothing heartbreaking, just a quick up-and-back segment that takes you past the half-marathon turn-around point. You’ll climb a gentle slope for less than a mile, then reward yourself by cruising back downhill as you pass mile 20. From here you’ve got six miles of mostly flat/lightly rolling terrain as you head west again, passing the Rodeo Grounds before making the final turn for the last mile jog to the finish at Prospector Park.
If it wasn’t obvious by now, the scenery is what makes this race. Everything else from an event perspective is a “meets expectations” — nothing will blow you away, but nothing falls way short either.
Porta potties on the course seemed sufficient. Aid stations were every two miles and seemed well prepared. Volunteers were supportive. Crowd was modest, but enthusiastic. Post-race was a little lackluster — food was hard to find and bare minimum, and a beer tent would have been nice. Still, after running in such beautiful country, I was in great spirits after the run.
My pro tip: Have your support crew drop you at Peralta Trail Elementary to catch a shuttle instead of the Rodeo Grounds if you want a few minutes of extra sleep. How we, be aware the campfire spots will be taken by the time your shuttle arrives atop the mountain. Honestly, I didn’t care: They had a warming bus…and I was happy to stroll among the fires and just enjoy the night.
If you need an Arizona race and don’t need the big city hype and pampering, the Lost Dutchman Marathon is a picture-perfect choice.
Running in the Wild Wild West
Anyone who wants to run through the heart of the Arizona desert and feel like you're running through the wild west amongst the cowboys, needs to sign up! You start … MORE
Anyone who wants to run through the heart of the Arizona desert and feel like you’re running through the wild west amongst the cowboys, needs to sign up! You start out in a remote part of the Lost Dutchman State Park. You get bussed to the starting point where you’re surrounded by towering rocks in the darkness of the early morning. The pre-race area had a bunch of mini bonfires for the runners to warm up and stretch around. The first 6 miles is a dirt road of rolling hills, but the majority of the race is on a road/ sidewalk. At one point you can see the beautiful Lost Dutchman mountains in the distance. It is a small, local race that deserves a lot of credit for the beauty of the desert scenery and the team of local volunteers that make this race happen every year.
Great marathon for a trail runner
Start with a campfire, can you imagine that? The start line is in a trail. You will see the sunrise. Excellent view with the cactus, mountain, and sunrise. The course … MORE
Start with a campfire, can you imagine that? The start line is in a trail. You will see the sunrise. Excellent view with the cactus, mountain, and sunrise. The course is not easy for the full marathon. Up and down, so don’t expect to get your PB in here. The race is well organized. Great volunteers. Water station at every 2 mils.
Beautiful Race
This race had a few rolling hills, but was not too difficult. It was a beautiful course with breathtaking views. It’s a little difficult to get to and park, but … MORE
This race had a few rolling hills, but was not too difficult. It was a beautiful course with breathtaking views. It’s a little difficult to get to and park, but it was not too crowded but had enough people for a fun atmosphere. They had enough port-o-potties for runners, never had to wait more than a minute or two.
Great Race in Arizona!
This was a fantastic race in Arizona. 1st- Really the only negative. Race Pickup and Swag was not the best. The shirt they gave us was really nice. However, their … MORE
This was a fantastic race in Arizona.
1st- Really the only negative. Race Pickup and Swag was not the best. The shirt they gave us was really nice. However, their was nothing outside the bib and shirt. No vendors. Nothing extra. No extra clothing to buy. For example I always buy a hat at each race I run. Nothing to buy here. So even though the shirt was good. Very disappointed in the swag.
2nd) Start: The race starts Peralta Trailhead near Lost Dutchman start park. All marathon runners require a shuttle to get to start. So you have to get into a bus between 4:15 to 5:45 (depending if you have someone drooping you off or not). Near the start line while you wait for the race to start at 7am. You have a bunch of fires to stay around that will warm you up. Plenty of Toilets, and food and drinks. It was a very unique and cool atmosphere to start the race.
3) Course description. First 6 miles of the race are the best. You running on a dirt road. (its kept in pretty good shape) through the desert at sunrise. I had to stop a lot to take pictures. It was beautiful to see the sunrise on the mountains and the dessert vistas. All the cacti and saguaro were beautiful at this time of day (especially if your not from the southwest like myself). The next two miles or so your on a busy highway. Then from about 8 to 15 you do this big loop around some nice houses with the mountains in the background that is very pretty. Then 15-17 is back on the busy highway. Then 17 you will merge with the half marathoners though most of them will probably be done by the time you get their. Even if your fast. 17-23 back in the neighborhoods with great views of the mountains this does include the only loop of the marathon as well. Then 23-26.2 your back on main roads to you finish in a big sports park. Overall i enjoyed the course. The first 6 miles are absolutely amazing and outside the 4-6 miles on the highway you running through some nicer neighborhood with great views of the mountains and desert foliage.
3) Aid stations: They were great. Volunteers were amazing. Aid station every 2 miles or so. All had toilets’. All had water. Half had Gatorade. And a couple had bananas or gels.
4) Difficulty: A couple hills on this course but overall pretty flat. Nothing to difficult on that end. Weather will be cool in the mourning but warm up. It was 50 when i started and upper 60s when i finished. Don’t believe their should be to much variance. Only thing that would suck would be if it rained (witch could happen, but not likely). The rain would defiantly impact the first 6 miles witch could get very muddy. Luckily for myself it was dry.
5) Finish line was nice. Medal was good. Had the Lost Dutchman state park logo in a gold color and on the back saying “run for the gold”, but like the racepick up very little post race stuff. Some water and Gatorade only in cups. With just chips, fruit, and bagels.
Overall I enjoyed the race greatly and would recommend it to anyone wanting to cross off Arizona. The scenery and start seem to make it better then some of the other Phoenix area marathons. It was a decently easy course with great volunteers. The medal and T-shirt were both nice. Just be aware that their is little Swag outside of that as of 2024.
NIce run but to flat
The organizers did a good job, lots of police, everyone had a good attitude. Aid stations is just water and Gatorade. Finish had no cold drinks, we finished at 77%. … MORE
The organizers did a good job, lots of police, everyone had a good attitude. Aid stations is just water and Gatorade. Finish had no cold drinks, we finished at 77%. The mountains are very nice, but the flat land was boring. Your results are instant. All results posted in less than one hour of finish.
Beautiful Course
Expo was small but was sufficient. Parking and buses were great! Very well organized! It was such an awesome race start with camp fires and sunrise, gravel/dirt roads for the … MORE
Expo was small but was sufficient. Parking and buses were great! Very well organized! It was such an awesome race start with camp fires and sunrise, gravel/dirt roads for the first six miles. Many rolling hills throughout the course, but no major inclines. Volunteers did a great job! Long sleeve wicking shirts and medal was perfect! I think they were even very informative with the information that they supplied on their website.
Enjoyable experience, small-town feel
I went for the scenery and because I love Arizona. The course was fairly flat, overall downhill but some minor ups and downs to stretch the legs. Well-organized start, shuttles … MORE
I went for the scenery and because I love Arizona. The course was fairly flat, overall downhill but some minor ups and downs to stretch the legs. Well-organized start, shuttles were very convenient with no waiting. Fun campfires in the staging area! Plenty of port-a-potties with little to no waiting. Great scenery running down gravel road for first 6 miles. Did not enjoy parts of the course that were on busy roads with lots of traffic, but that was fairly short-lived. The weather warmed up quickly into the 70s which took a toll on this New England runner! Struggled through the last six miles, but the cold towel around mile 22 saved me! Great swag and photo op with the Lost Dutchman and his mule Mary!
my overall race expeirence
The medal is super cool and amazing. The on course support and crowd support was so amazing. I will definitely be making a return trip for the full marathon. Got … MORE
The medal is super cool and amazing. The on course support and crowd support was so amazing. I will definitely be making a return trip for the full marathon. Got to see some spectaular views during the race
Run for the Gold
The course was fairly flat throughout. There were a few small hills, but not too difficult. Good organization with many vendors at the race site. The course was well marked … MORE
The course was fairly flat throughout. There were a few small hills, but not too difficult. Good organization with many vendors at the race site. The course was well marked and the support from the aid tables was excellent. Having the packet pick up spread over multiple days, with one closer in town made it a breeze to complete. I was very impressed by the shuttle – I highly recommend parking in the lot and taking the shuttle. The driver got us there and back quickly. I ran this race years ago once time as an 8K. This was the first time I ran the half. Nice photo op with the miner and donkey after the race. Good views of the superstition mountains
Well run race & great volunteers!
Did someone say bacon!? Yes! One of the aid stations actually gave out bacon & avocados! This is a very well organized race with plenty of scenery and just the … MORE
Did someone say bacon!? Yes! One of the aid stations actually gave out bacon & avocados! This is a very well organized race with plenty of scenery and just the right amount of difficulty.
Get Lost in this Scenic Run
The first time I ran the Lost Dutchman, I knew I would be back for another. Seeing the firing glow of the sun peaking behind the mountains that early in … MORE
The first time I ran the Lost Dutchman, I knew I would be back for another. Seeing the firing glow of the sun peaking behind the mountains that early in the morning was enough reason. Despite the running crowd, you can feel “lost” from just the great view alone. It’s one of those races that have found a permanent place on my running list year after year. It’s made up of all the best race ingredients: great weather, flat course, fun-filled and well-managed.
Should do it once!
Very, very small expo--but easy to get to and pick up bibs! Shuttles were great and parking was easy. Amazing morning scenery of the Superstition Mountains. Course was flat, mostly … MORE
Very, very small expo–but easy to get to and pick up bibs! Shuttles were great and parking was easy. Amazing morning scenery of the Superstition Mountains. Course was flat, mostly with some gentle rollers. Great aid stations/volunteers. Looong stretch of road to the turn around that had my mind wondering–so I just focused on the amazing cacti and coyotes running amok. Overall, Id say everyone should do this race once–then after you relax for a bit—go visit the Hole in the Rock and maybe hike the trail not far from the turnaround! Its beautiful!!
Beautiful course w/ nice weather
Lost Dutchman offers beautiful course with great running conditions from start to finish. Race starts near to Superstition Mountain with camp fires going on before the start to keep the … MORE
Lost Dutchman offers beautiful course with great running conditions from start to finish. Race starts near to Superstition Mountain with camp fires going on before the start to keep the runners warm and cozy. It looks amazing in the dark. They also provided a bus for runners to stay warm inside instead of being outside in cold. I chose the option to stay inside the bus as didn’t wanted to inhale the smoke due to my allergies. There were some snacks, coffee, hot water and enough porta potties.
Race started on time as soon as sunrise started happening and initial 6 miles are on the dirt road with beautiful views. After that the remaining 20 Miles course is on the road going through residential areas and freeways. One of the aid station around Mile 14 (if I remember correctly) had bacon and donuts. Aid station at Mile 16.5 had the best volunteer cheers giving high fives to all the runners! Loved crossing the Wall at Mile 24!
Overall it’s a small size race event and managed very efficiently with lot of great volunteers. If one is looking for scenic course and don’t care about spectators cheering for them then it’s a must do race. This race comes 2nd best in Race Raves for state AZ and the 1st one is Rock n Roll. I did Rock n Roll Half Marathon in 2017 but if I compare my personal experiences then Lost Dutchman would be my 1st in AZ!
Unique race
This race is run in a combination of dirt roads, country roads and city streets. Each has its own unique scenery. It is cool in the early morning but warms … MORE
This race is run in a combination of dirt roads, country roads and city streets. Each has its own unique scenery. It is cool in the early morning but warms up quickly.