West Elk Challenge

West Elk Challenge Trail Marathon

The West Elk Challenge is a point-to-point trail event through Western Colorado’s North Fork Valley held in early October during peak fall color. Two course options share much of the route and both finish in the Town of Paonia.

• Marathon (26.2 miles) starts at Crawford State Park.
• 30K (about 18 miles) starts near Needle Rock at the county road.

The full marathon climbs over 4,000 feet on the slopes of Mt. Lamborn to Inter-Ocean Pass (9,762 ft) in the Gunnison National Forest, then descends through spruce, aspen, and oak forests past Lone Cabin Reservoir into Paonia. Except for a few paved miles at the beginning and end, the route runs on gravel roads and singletrack forest trails. Aid stations are located at roughly miles 7, 11, 15, 19, and 22 and provide water, snacks, first aid supplies, and volunteers. West Elk Mountain Rescue supports the event.

Organizers implement a cut off at the mile 11 aid station to ensure participants are out of the backcountry by sunset; participants who expect a pace of roughly 20 minutes per mile or slower are advised to select the 30K. All participants are responsible for carrying appropriate gear and preparing for variable mountain weather.

One hundred percent of net proceeds fund scholarships for Nature Connection summer camps, with a fundraising goal of $25,000 for camp scholarships. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.