West Elk Challenge
Crawford, United States • 4 Oct 2025
The West Elk Challenge is a point-to-point trail marathon held in the North Fork Valley of Colorado, showcasing the peak fall colors of the West Elk Mountains. The 26.2-mile course starts at Crawford Reservoir State Park, traversing gravel roads through farms near Needle Rock, then climbing singletrack trails through golden aspen on Mt. Lamborn.
Runners summit the 9,762-foot Inter-Ocean Pass before descending through spruce, aspen, and oak forests past Lone Cabin Reservoir, finishing in the town of Paonia along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Over half the course is on single-track trails. A new 30K (18.5 miles) option is available for 2025.
The event supports the Nature Connection’s Scholarship Fund to help get kids and families outdoors. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.