Adventure Fest at 18 Road
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Spring Desert Ultra & Half
Spring Desert Ultra & Half takes place at the North Fruita Desert Event Lot in Fruita, CO on May 8-9, 2027. The weekend includes a backcountry 55K ultramarathon and a 13.8 mile trail half marathon on the North Fruita Desert and 18 Road trail systems.
- 55K Spring Desert Ultra (approx. 34.8 miles, 4,100 ft gain)
- Half Marathon Fruita Trail Half (13.8 miles, ~1,000 ft climbing, three aid stations)
The 55K is a loop that links The Edge, Sarlacc, and Cicada trails. The course is listed as 100% dirt, with a maximum elevation near 7,298 ft and a 12 hour cut-off. Aid stations for the ultramarathon include Coal Gulch (7.3 miles), Sarlacc (17.3 miles), Mesa (23.8 miles), and a South aid station (29.6 miles). Terrain descriptions note fast gravel sections, flowing singletrack, rocky technical stretches, sustained climbs, and a long descent back toward the finish.
The Fruita Trail Half follows mostly flowing singletrack with short steep climbs, rocky passages, and sweeping views of buttes and mesas. The half uses a counterclockwise loop and is served by three aid stations: Chutes and Ladders (3.5 miles), Frontside (7.5 miles), and Western (11.4 miles). Finish location is the same as the start.
Event facilities include reserved campsites with a fire ring, concrete picnic table, 12' x 12' tent pad, and graveled parking. Campsites have vault toilets nearby but no water, electricity, or garbage collection; each site is limited to ten people and two vehicles. Awards include finisher mementos and age group placings with customized cowbell awards for top finishers in each age group. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
