Cirque Series - Arapahoe Basin
Keystone, United States • 5 Sep 2026
Event details
The Cirque Series race at Arapahoe Basin takes place on September 5, 2026 in Keystone, Colorado. The course distance is 9.4 miles with 2,211 ft of elevation gain. The field is capped at 700 runners. Race divisions listed are Sport, Expert, and Pro; Sport registrations make up about 67% of entries, Expert 28%, and Pro 5%. A National Forest fee of $2.00 applies.
Course and safety
The course starts at Mountain Goat Plaza (10,780 ft) and follows established trails in the White River National Forest. The route goes via High Noon parking lot, Last Chance, crosses US-6 onto the A-Basin summer road, up to Black Mountain Lodge, out toward Zuma Cornice, across the saddle to the top of the Montezuma Lift, and along the Lenawee trail to the summit of Little Lenawee peak. The return includes Half Moon Vista singletrack, the Argentine North Fork singletrack, and finishes back at Mountain Goat Plaza. There are two aid stations on course plus hydration at the finish. The course is subject to change and every runner is subject to a strict cutoff at Black Mountain Lodge (Aid Station #1) of 30 minutes. Competitors should expect steep and technical sections; the race organizer requires following flagged route and using rock-call procedures in loose terrain.
Logistics and prizes
Early bib pickup is scheduled for September 4 at the La Sportiva retail store in Boulder; race-day packet pickup is available at the venue. Timing uses a disposable chip on the back of the bib. Per-race prizes are listed for Pro, Expert, and Sport categories, including cash for top Pro finishers and gear awards for Expert and Sport placings. Each competitor receives a snapback, bib, medal, swag bag, and race photos. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.