Built to showcase the stunning beauty of the Sawatch Range, this high alpine and vert-heavy Sawatch Ascent 50K will challenge and inspire you in equal measure! From starting under the shadow of Mount Princeton and the endless miles of buttery, aspen shaded Colorado Trail singletrack, to the awe-inspiring high point of 13,150ft and panoramic views of Colorado’s highest range, you will get to experience the wonders of the Sawatch over 33 miles and 7,000ft of vertical gain. Starting at 8am on Sunday, runners will have 10 hours to complete the course. For the added challenges, runners can attempt the Sawatch 50/50 by running the West Line Winder and the Sawatch Ascent over the same weekend. The Sawatch Ascent is put on by Freestone Endurance, the same folks who bring you the legendary High Lonesome 100.
A Tale of Two Canyons
The Sawatch Ascent 50K starts and finishes at the base of 14,197’ Mount Princeton in an broad field with sweeping views of the Arkansas River valley. Runners spend the first (and last) few miles navigating through the popular Chalk Creek Canyon before reaching the Colorado Trail. A steep headwall quickly yields to buttery singletrack through a 200+ year old ponderosa and aspen forest. Around 8 miles in, the ponderosa and aspen glades are left behind and the true climbing begins.
The heart of the course lies in two stunning canyons: one a gentle cut which widens into a broad valley, and the other a narrow gorge slicing through granite escarpments. Between these two drainages rises the massif of 13,667’ Mount White, which runners will completely circumnavigate. To the south of White lies the Browns Creek Canyon, who’s opposing flank is the imposing ridgeline of 14,155’ Tabeguache Peak. On the north side of White, Little Browns Canyon carves a narrow defile between White and one of the Sawatch’s most magnificent peaks – the 14,269’ Mount Antero. Runners will ascend the steady grade of Browns before reaching an absolutely massive, high alpine plateau between Mounts White and Antero. The stunning panorama recedes as runners drop into Little Browns and cruise the steeper descent back to the Colorado Trail, and eventually reach the finish line.
Distance: 33 miles
Elevation gain: 7,000’
High Point: 13,150’
Low Point: 8,150’
Average elevation: 9800′
Trail type: 22 miles of singletrack, 4.5 miles of pavement, 4 miles of mining roads, 2.5 miles of gravel roads
Cutoff: 10 hours
What We Are
At its core, the Sawatch Ascent is about finding community in beautiful places. As a Freestone Endurance event, this race is built by runners for runners, and you’re guaranteed to find yourself surrounded by wonderful people in wonderful places. No matter your experience level, this course is guaranteed to challenge you. You’ll find yourself at welcomed in our community no matter where you’re from. Whether you’re running, volunteering, crewing, or spectating, you’ll be inspired and energized by everyone around you.
We believe the best races are celebrations of ourselves and our connections to the land, and we back that up by building up a wonderful community and by being stewards of the land we use. The Freestone Endurance has some of the most progressive DEI policies in the sport, and prioritizes conservation and stewardship throughout the race. We hope you’ll join us!
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