West Elk Challenge

Event

The West Elk Challenge Trail Marathon takes place on October 4, 2025, in the North Fork Valley of Colorado. It is a point-to-point trail race that starts at Crawford Reservoir State Park and finishes in the town of Paonia along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The event is a fundraiser for the Nature Connection Scholarship Fund.

Distances

• 26.2 miles point-to-point trail marathon
• 30 km (18.5 miles) starts near the USFS boundary; limited to 50 participants; not eligible for prizes

Course and logistics

The course uses a mix of paved road, gravel road, and singletrack trails. Runners travel through farms and ranches at the base of Needle Rock, then enter Gunnison National Forest and climb singletrack on the slopes of Mt. Lamborn. After roughly 5 miles of climbing, the route reaches Inter-Ocean Pass at about 9,762 feet and gains over 4,000 feet in elevation overall. The descent passes Lone Cabin Reservoir and continues through spruce, aspen, and oak into Paonia. Singletrack comprises more than half of the course.

There are six aid stations at approximately miles 3 (water only), 7, 11, 15 (summit), 19, and 22, each staffed and stocked with water, snacks, and first aid supplies. A cut-off at the mile 11 aid station will be enforced to ensure participants are out of the backcountry by sunset. Free shuttles run from Paonia to the start and back from the finish; driving to the start may require a park day-use pass. West Elk Mountain Rescue supports the race and hosts the remote aid station. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.