If it were easy, it wouldn’t be Snow Peaks 50.
The Snow Peaks 50 Mile Trail Run is held in Utah on the second saturday in June. It is a very challenging, brutal and scenic loop through the Wasatch Mountains above Provo that will test your legs, lungs, and spirit. The course features approximately 10,000+ ft of elevation gain and loss, including five major climbs ranging from 1,100 ft to nearly 3,000 ft. You will encounter technical terrain, big climbs, smooth and rocky descents, amazing views of the canyons and sprawling valleys below that stop you in your tracks. Runners will experience a mix of single track, dirt roads and some pavement. The first 2.1 miles from Vivian Park, following the Provo River Trail past Bridal Veil Falls to the turn onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, then at mile 22.7, a 3.7-mile stretch along Hobble Creek Road and then the final 3.7 miles through South Fork Provo Canyon to the finish back at Vivian Park.
Course Overview
The race begins at 5:00 AM, tracing the Provo River Trail past the roar of Bridal Veil Falls before the sun breaks the canyon walls. A gentle, runnable opening quickly gives way to a long, honest climb, transitioning from pavement to dirt as you ascend the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and historic canyon roads toward sweeping views of Kyhv Peak and Rock Canyon.
From there, the course winds through old logging roads, alpine meadows, and high ridgelines, climbing steadily to overlooks of Utah Valley, Squaw Peak, and distant Mount Nebo. Expect a mix of smooth dirt road, rugged singletrack, and snow-patched high country as conditions dictate. Aid stations are thoughtfully placed, though locations may shift slightly depending on snowpack—this is a true mountain race.
Around mile 17, the course drops into Pole Heaven Canyon, followed by rolling terrain and long runnable stretches through Hobble Creek before turning north into the remote beauty of Sheep Canyon—one of the most scenic and peaceful sections of the race. Here, quiet trails, stream crossings, and steady climbs carry you over Wallsburg Ridge and onto the Great Western Trail.
The final major test is the climb to Windy Pass, the highest point of the course at approximately 9,300 feet. It’s steep, wild, and unforgettable. From the pass, runners are rewarded with a nearly 4,000-foot descent, dropping through aspen groves, pine forests, snowfields, and technical traverses before returning to runnable canyon roads.
The final miles descend steadily toward Vivian Park, where the course finishes alongside the river—tired legs, full heart, and a deep sense of accomplishment.
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