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Black Canyon Ultras race photo

Black Canyon Ultras

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Black Canyon Ultras race photo
Black Canyon Ultras race photo
Mayer
US
Ansel Adams · Public domainAnsel Adams · Public domainAnsel Adams · Public domain
Race date in 130 days
Feb 13, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Mayer · 100km
Entry fee
$365Varies by event and entry period
Status
SoonTBD ~ Sat, February 6, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗
InstagramYouTube
D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Black Canyon Ultras race photo
Ansel Adams · Public domain
Black Canyon Ultras race photo
Ansel Adams · Public domain
Black Canyon Ultras race photo
Ansel Adams · Public domain
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Black Canyon Ultras — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A point-to-point race along the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail.

Events are 100K and 50K.

Crosses the Sonoran Desert on fast, open desert singletrack with expansive vistas.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Black Canyon Ultras runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 4
Nikki BuurmaRan in 2020 · Finish time 5:36
“In 5:36, 4th Female, 19th OA.”

Nicky finished the 2020 Black Canyon Ultra 60K in 5 hours 36 minutes, placing 4th among the women. She dealt with cold, rain, mud, a river detour course and technical trails, and described the race as an enjoyable adventure and a long run for her next training cycle.

Read the original on Bellingham Distance Project
Confessions of an Amateur AthleteRan in 2018 · Finish time just over 8 hours
“I finished just a little over 8 hours.”

The runner completed their first ultra at the 2018 Black Canyon Ultra 60K. They experienced the early downhill sections, the later climbs, the hot desert sections and aid stations, and after finishing, said that they wanted to continue taking on ultras.

Read the original on Confessions of an Amateur Athlete
Lisa PozzoniRan in 2018 · Finish time 19:46:01
“I finished in 19:46:01 with 14 minutes to spare on the cutoff!”

After training for around 900 miles, Lisa endured rocky trails and sore feet at the Black Canyon 100K and finished 14 minutes before the cutoff with help from her crew and pacer.

Read the original on The Running University
Chris PriceRan in 2015 · Finish time 9:37
“I had a great time at Black Canyon Ultras.”

Chris finished 7th at the 2015 Black Canyon Ultra 100K. He started with a fast course and then faced heat and technical trails in the second half. Even after finishing, he rated the race and the beauty of the course positively.

Read the original on PRIZZLE

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

THE DESERT DECIDES - The 2025 Black Canyon 100K - Golden Ticket Race

Aravaipa Running

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Black Canyon Ultras — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Black Canyon Ultras course map and elevation

The 100km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
Time limit20 hours
Show more

20 hours (100K) / 11 hours (50K, per wave)

START

Mayer High School, Spring Valley, AZ

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

100K: Emery Henderson Trailhead(Phoenix) / 50K: Deep Canyon Ranch

Black Canyon City

Show more

Held on 13 February 2027, the 100K is 62.2 miles course.

It starts at Mayer High School and heads south along the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail.

After entering the singletrack at Antelope Creek Road, the course alternates between jeep roads and an old stagecoach route,

passing Bumble Bee Ranch and Deep Canyon Ranch before finishing at the Emery Henderson Trailhead.

The course crosses Black Canyon and the Agua Fria River several times,

and runners must also complete the out-and-back section from the Black Canyon City Trailhead to the aid station.

The course has approximately 5,219 feet of elevation gain and 7,337 feet of elevation loss.

Its highest point is 4,199 feet and its lowest point is 1,737 feet.

The first 20 miles are a fast descent, making it easy to run too quickly, but the main climbs and steep, rocky descents come in the second half.

In particular, the major canyon crossing at mile 34 may contain water depending on rainfall.

The 100K time limit cut-off is 20 hours, and finishing within 17 hours qualifies you for the Western States 100 lottery.

The trail containing this course also has a history as a designated livestock route from 1919.

Organizer
Aravaipa Running
Typical race-season temperature: around 0°C (32°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Format
100K/50K on different days wave start

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Pacers

Medical support

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Bag drop

Where and when to collect your Black Canyon Ultras race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

For the 2026 edition — advance pickup was available Thursday at Aravaipa HQ (12:00–17:00) and Friday at Chilleen's on 17 (10:00–18:00); 50K bib pickup was available Saturday at Deep Canyon Ranch (12:00–18:00).
Check the official website for the 2027 schedule.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No public transit near Mayer High School, 17300 E Mule Deer Dr, Mayer/Spring Valley, AZ (start)

Rural high-desert area;

car required.

Point-to-point trail ultra on the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail;

no public transit exists in this area, only the organizer's own runner shuttle.

Getting to the finish

No public transit at either finish point: Emery Henderson Trailhead (100K, 43376 N New River Rd, Phoenix, AZ) or Deep Canyon Ranch (50K, 18181 E Deep Canyon Rd, Black Canyon City, AZ)

Car required.

Road closures

Anthem Outlets→Free shuttle to departure point (Wave 1 departs at 05:45), finish→Return shuttle starts at 13:00

More details

Yes —

organizer shuttle bus for the 50K: runners park at the finish (Deep Canyon Ranch) in the morning and take an Aravaipa Running shuttle bus to the start at Mayer High School,

so they end the race back at their car.

Point-to-point 100K race arrangements are similar but 50K is the confirmed shuttle route.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The start is divided into three waves at Mayer High School: 7:00 am, 7:30 am, and 8:00 am.

Because this is a point-to-point race, plan separately for Mayer, the start location, and the Emery Henderson Trailhead, the finish location north of Phoenix.

Decide whether to prioritise access to the start or travel from the finish when choosing your accommodation.

Bib is not available on race day.

Collect it at the Aravaipa headquarters from noon to 5:00 pm on 11 February, or at the pre Expo held at Chilson's on 17 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on 12 February.

Course has 9 aid stations spaced 4.5~9 miles apart, with drop bags available at Bumble Bee Ranch, Deep Canyon Ranch, and Table Mesa.

Do not overpace the early descent;

save supplies for the climbs and technical descents later in the course.

The canyon may be dry, but a rock-crossing detour may be marked to avoid wet shoes,

so choose your race-day clothing and shoes with both desert trails and crossings in mind.

Times are local to Mayer. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Black Canyon Ultras start line in Mayer

Hotels that make race morning easy

1 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

11 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Phoenix｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport

$131

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Mayer with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Mayer.

Total cost and budget for Black Canyon Ultras

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Black Canyon Ultras

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Mayer runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Black Canyon Ultras

FAQ
When does Black Canyon Ultras 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, February 13, 2027 in Mayer, AZ, United States.

How much is the Black Canyon Ultras 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $365.

What is the time limit for Black Canyon Ultras 2027?

20 hours (100K) / 11 hours (50K, per wave).

What distances does Black Canyon Ultras 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Black Canyon Ultras 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00.

Where does Black Canyon Ultras 2027 start?

Mayer High School, Spring Valley, AZ.

Where does Black Canyon Ultras 2027 finish?

100K: Emery Henderson Trailhead(Phoenix) / 50K: Deep Canyon Ranch(Black Canyon City).

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