Sangre de Cristo Trail Festival
Westcliffe, United States • 26-27 Sep 2026
Event Details
The Sangre de Cristo Trail Festival is an annual trail and ultramarathon running event on the Rainbow Trail in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado. The start and finish location is at Greenhorn/Music Meadows Ranch near Westcliffe, adjacent to the USFS Grape Creek Trailhead. The event takes place over two days with different distances starting on September 26 and 27, 2026. The combined runner capacity is 350.
Distances
The event features several distances:
- 100-Mile
- 100K
- 50-Mile
- 50K
- 27K
- 8-Mile
The 100-mile time limit is 38 hours. The 150-mile and official 200-mile distances have been terminated, though a 200-mile finisher's buckle option exists for those who complete a specific, self-supported 100-mile challenge prior to the official 100-mile race.
Course and Rules
The course is described as a scenic and challenging trail run along the Rainbow Trail, within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. All finishers receive a medal. The event allows mid-race drop-downs to shorter distances at designated points, with official finishing credit for the completed distance.
Participant check-in is held at the start/finish area on Friday evening and Saturday morning. A pre-event briefing is recorded and uploaded online. The event is held under permits from the U.S. Forest Service and private landowners.
Support and Logistics
All distances have a drop bag location at the Music Meadows aid station. Crew and spectator access is generally limited to the start/finish area. Specific, limited crew access to other aid stations is provided for the 100-mile race only. Pacers are allowed for the 50-mile, 100k, and 100-mile distances from designated points; they are not permitted for the 8-mile, 27K, or 50K.
Tent camping, camper vans, and sleeping in vehicles is permitted on-site, with a reservation required for tent camping. Nearby towns for lodging include Westcliffe, Silvercliff, Walsenburg, Salida, Cañon City, and Pueblo. Weather in the Colorado mountains during the event period is noted as unpredictable, with average highs around 70°F and lows around 35°F.
Participants in the 100-mile race must complete eight hours of volunteer trail work or race volunteering between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, or pay a buy-out option. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.