Cirque Series - Mt Baldy
San Gabriel Mountains, United States • 3 Oct 2026
Cirque Series - Mt Baldy
The Cirque Series at Mt Baldy consists of a 9.1-mile route featuring 3,926 feet of vertical gain. Located in the Angeles National Forest, the course starts at an elevation of 6,400 feet in the ski area parking lot. Runners ascend toward the summit of Mt. San Antonio, also known as Mt Baldy, which reaches 10,064 feet.
The course follows ski area service roads to the Notch before transitioning to the Devil's Backbone Trail, a ridgeline traverse. After reaching the summit, the route descends through the Baldy Bowl via the Ski Hut Trail and continues along forested single track and Falls Road. A final climb at Manker Cutoff leads to a downhill finishing run back to the starting point. The event is limited to 700 participants and uses electronic chip timing.
The race features three registration categories:
- Sport Division: For participants with limited mountain experience.
- Expert Division: For experienced mountain runners and hikers.
- Pro Division: For professional and sponsored athletes.
Hydration is provided at two aid stations, a summit station, and the finish line. A strict 90-minute cutoff time is enforced at the first aid station. Prizes are awarded for top finishers in each division, along with special recognitions such as the Grom Award for the youngest competitor and the Middle of the Pack Award. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.