Niwot's Challenge

Event overview

Niwot’s Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Sedalia, Colorado, with a runner capacity of 40. The event is described as not a race and is invitation and acceptance only. The initial application period is January 19-21, 2026; entry is free with an encouraged donation. Field selection follows a stated order of priority and a waitlist is used if needed. Official updates and participant communications are handled through an online group hub and accepted applicants receive digital dispatches with course maps, crew and aid details, and additional rules.

Course, rules and requirements

The course is unpublished and features long stretches of off-trail navigation, occasional dirt roads, and sparsely used trails. Aid is minimal and autonomy is expected; participants must retrieve unique codes at designated waypoints to complete the route. For the Traditional format, navigation is by map and compass only; GPS is not allowed on course and phones are for emergency use only. Mandatory items listed for each participant include a course map, whistle, emergency blanket or bivy, headlamp or flashlight, at least 2 L of liquids, a light jacket, and enough calories for 12 hours.

Distances and time limits

• ~24 miles - Burn loop; +10,000' / -10,000'; 16-hour limit.
• ~50 miles - Burn + Chief loops; +20,400' / -20,400'; 30-hour limit.
• ~100 miles - Deity status; +40,800' / -40,800'; 60-hour limit.

Completing a full loop within 30 hours earns Chief status; completing both loops and repeating them in reverse aims for Deity status. A $1,000 prize is offered for the first individual to achieve Deity status. Historical totals show 194 attempts, 30 individuals recorded as Chiefs (42 Chief finishes), and no Deity finishers to date. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.