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Sierra Prieta race photo

Sierra Prieta

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USAugust 202750km
© ultrasignup.com
Race date Aug expected
August 2027
City · Distance
Prescott · 50km
Entry fee
$150From the 2026 edition
2027Date August 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Aug 15, 2026 · Entry fee $150 · Start 06:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 10, 2026
Sierra Prieta race photo
© ultrasignup.com
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Sierra Prieta — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

The race runs through the Sierra Prieta Mountains in Prescott, Arizona.

The distance is 31.7 miles with 4,500 feet of cumulative elevation gain.

It starts at the Thumb Butte trailhead and returns to the same spot, passing Thumb Butte, Quartz Mountain, and the Sierra Prieta overlook.

Aid stations are located at miles 7.9, 14.9, and 23.8, and the cutoff pace is 22 minutes 26 seconds per mile.

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.

Sierra Prieta 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.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Sierra Prieta — 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
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Sierra Prieta 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 06:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Thumb Butte Recreation Area, Prescott, AZ

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The course starts and finishes at the Island View Trailhead in a 31.7-mile (approximately 51 km) loop,

with 4,500 feet (approximately 1,370 m) of elevation gain.

The route passes Island Butte and Quartz Mountain before reaching the Sierra Prieta viewpoint.

There are three aid stations at miles 7.9, 14.9, and 23.8, and a cutoff pace of 22 minutes 26 seconds per mile applies.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Sierra Prieta 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

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo rail/bus station near the venue.
  • Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system; Prescott, AZ has a small local shuttle (Prescott Transit) but no tap card…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No rail/bus station near the venue. Prescott has no scheduled fixed-route transit reaching trailheads; downtown Prescott is roughly 2-3 miles from Thumb Butte Trailhead.

Start/finish is at Thumb Butte Trailhead, Thumb Butte Recreation Area, Prescott National Forest, reached via Thumb Butte Road (car access only). Rural national forest trailhead venue, no public transit — car access only.

Confirmed date match: Aug 15, 2026 per official listings.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start (Thumb Butte Trailhead) per most sources; note one source describes a point-to-point configuration in some editions — worth confirming on the official race page.

Course logistics (loop vs. point-to-point) appear to vary by year; check official site closer to race day.

Map

Start shuttle

No organizer shuttle mentioned in available sources.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system; Prescott, AZ has a small local shuttle (Prescott Transit) but no tap card or service oriented toward visitors. Sierra Prieta race logistics are best handled with a rental car.

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, Island Butte Trailhead, is 2~3 miles from downtown Prescott, but public transportation does not reach it, so travel by car is essential.

Set in a high-elevation pine forest above 1,700m, mornings are cool while the midday sun is intense, so runners should prepare layers and sun protection.

Registration is handled through UltraSignup.

Times are local to Prescott. 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.

2 Mi to Dtwn: Prescott Gem w/ Patio & Views!

Accommodation · 4.6km

9.7/10(12)
View on Booking.com

Prescott 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

Hike & Relax: Prescott Studio w/ Thumb Butte Views

Accommodation · 3.8km

9.0/10(19)
View on Booking.com

Prescott 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

Hotels near the Sierra Prieta start line in Prescott

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.

2 Mi to Dtwn: Prescott Gem w/ Patio & Views!

Accommodation · 4.6km

9.7/10(12)
View on Booking.com

Hike & Relax: Prescott Studio w/ Thumb Butte Views

Accommodation · 3.8km

9.0/10(19)
View on Booking.com

4 Mi to Hiking! Prescott Home w/ Furnished Patio

Accommodation · 4.6km

10.0/10(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.

Prescott 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

Prescott 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

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

$131

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Prescott

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

What to see in Prescott after the race

Seeing Prescott with the medal on

View all →

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

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

Total cost and budget for Sierra Prieta

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 Sierra Prieta

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Prescott runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Sierra Prieta

FAQ
When does Sierra Prieta 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in August 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, August 15, 2026.

How much is the Sierra Prieta 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $150.

What distances does Sierra Prieta 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Sierra Prieta 2027 start?

The race starts at 06:00. (From the 2026 edition)

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