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Groovin in the Aspens race photo

Groovin in the Aspens

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSeptember 202750km
When reusing, please credit me as author: Adam Kliczek, http://memoriesstay.com · CC BY-SA 3.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Flagstaff · 50km
Entry fee
$145From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 13, 2026 · Entry fee $75 · Start 07:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 13, 2026
Groovin in the Aspens race photo
When reusing, please credit me as author: Adam Kliczek, http://memoriesstay.com · CC BY-SA 3.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Groovin in the Aspens — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

It was formerly known as Gaspin' in the Aspens.

The name changed when the race was revived at participants' request.

It runs through Flagstaff's signature trail network among pine forests.

The events are 6K, 10K, 20K, 30K, and 50K.

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.

Groovin in the Aspens runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

Behind the Bib: Groovin in the Aspens

UltraSignup

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 Groovin in the Aspens — 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.

From the 2026 edition
About 20K
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Groovin in the Aspens course map and elevation

Your 50km

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
START

Flagstaff, AZ

Start · Google Maps

The event includes 50K, 30K, 20K, 10K, and 6K distances.

Start line is located in Flagstaff, AZ, and the race starts at 7 a.m. local time.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Groovin in the Aspens race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

You can pick it up in advance at a downtown café on Friday or on race day at the Fort Valley trailhead, the start location.
Friday, 9/11: early pickup · Sunday, 9/13: on-site on race day

Early pickup: Kickstand Kafe, 719 N. Humphreys, Flagstaff, AZ / Race day: Fort Valley Trailhead

Google MapsDirections

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNone confirmed — Mountain Line (Flagstaff city bus) does not appear to reach Fort Valley Trailhead directly
  • Getting to the finishSame — Fort Valley Trailhead (loop course)
  • Transit cardFlagstaff's Mountain Line bus system uses cash, the Transit app, or a reloadable FlagPass card, with fares…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None confirmed — Mountain Line (Flagstaff city bus) does not appear to reach Fort Valley Trailhead directly

Start/finish is at the Fort Valley Trailhead on the northwest edge of Flagstaff, AZ, off US-180. This is at the edge of the fixed-route Mountain Line bus network; the nearest in-town stop would be a few miles away, best covered by taxi/rideshare. Flagstaff itself has an Amtrak station and city bus system.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same — Fort Valley Trailhead (loop course)

All distances (6K-50K) return to the same trailhead.

Map

Transit card

Flagstaff's Mountain Line bus system uses cash, the Transit app, or a reloadable FlagPass card, with fares capped once a rider hits the monthly pass cost ($34); no contactless bank-card tap-to-pay yet. For a race-day visit a rental car is more practical than relying on the limited bus routes to reach trailheads.

Source · checked Aug 24, 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 at Fort Valley Trailhead in Flagstaff.

The 6K is a gentle course around the venue;

the 10K mixes singletrack and jeep road with about 208 meters (682 feet) of elevation gain,

and the 20K has the same terrain mix with about 274 meters (900 feet) of elevation gain.

Times are local to Flagstaff. 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.

‘Vistas Bonitas’ Home w/ Patio: 7 Mi to Snowbowl!

Accommodation · 4.5km

9.8/10(5)
View on Booking.com

Flagstaff car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Flagstaff Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

6 Mi to Arizona Snowbowl: Forest-View Sanctuary!

Accommodation · 4.6km

8.3/10(3)
View on Booking.com

Hotels near the Groovin in the Aspens start line in Flagstaff

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

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

‘Vistas Bonitas’ Home w/ Patio: 7 Mi to Snowbowl!

Accommodation · 4.5km

9.8/10(5)
View on Booking.com

6 Mi to Arizona Snowbowl: Forest-View Sanctuary!

Accommodation · 4.6km

8.3/10(3)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

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

Flagstaff car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Flagstaff Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Fossil Falls National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour

$17

View on Klook

Think Like a Mountain — Intermediate to Advanced Hike

$168

View on Klook

What to see in Flagstaff after the race

Seeing Flagstaff with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Flagstaff.

Total cost and budget for Groovin in the Aspens

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

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

Runner stories and questions about Groovin in the Aspens

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Flagstaff runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Groovin in the Aspens

FAQ
When does Groovin in the Aspens 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sun, September 13, 2026.

How much is the Groovin in the Aspens 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $75.

What distances does Groovin in the Aspens 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Groovin in the Aspens 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Groovin in the Aspens 2027 start?

Flagstaff, AZ. (From the 2026 edition)

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