Cave Creek Thriller
Cave Creek, United States • 11 Oct 2025
Event overview
The Cave Creek Thriller is a trail running event held at Cave Creek Regional Park in Cave Creek, AZ on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The event offers four distances:
- 50K
- 24K
- 11K
- 5K
The race is the first event in the Aravaipa Running Desert Runner Trail Series and has an entrant limit of 500 runners. Registration closes on Mon, Oct 6. Race services include chip timing, gender-specific cut race shirts, live split tracking, a charity beer garden, and post-race food. Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers at each distance; all finishers receive a finisher award.
Course and logistics
The 50K and 24K are point-to-point segments on the Maricopa Trail that finish inside Cave Creek Regional Park. The 11K and 5K remain entirely within Cave Creek Regional Park on hilly mountain trails. Trails include steep, rocky, and sun-exposed sections with views of the Sonoran Desert. The event is cupless; runners must bring a reusable cup or purchase one on site.
Aid stations are placed along courses (for example, every 3.0 to 9.25 miles on the 50K). Drop bags are allowed at specified aid stations for the 50K and at the start/finish area for other distances. Crews may access the finish and specific aid stations; pacers are not permitted. Parking and shuttle arrangements are centered on Cave Creek Regional Park; the park charges a $7 entry fee per vehicle. Course junctions will be marked with ribbons, reflective medallions, and laminated signs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.