Aspen Backcountry Marathon
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Aspen Backcountry, Aspen, Colorado
Aspen Backcountry is a trail running event at Rio Grande Park offering three distances: 50K, Marathon, and Heavy Half-Marathon on routes that run almost exclusively on dirt trails. The races take place on July 31, 2027, using local singletrack and service trails that include sustained ascents and descents and notable elevation gain.
Distances:
- 50K, 30.39 miles, 5,512 ft total elevation gain
- Marathon, 26.35 miles, 4,764 ft total elevation gain
- Heavy Half-Marathon, 14.64 miles, 3,169 ft total elevation gain
The event is a limited-support race with remote aid stations and course marking. Light aid offerings at some stations include water and an electrolyte drink (Tailwind). Portable toilets and a medical team are present at the start/finish; volunteer medical personnel are positioned on course and at aid stations, but there is no guarantee of rescue or medical attention. Participants are advised to carry the official GPX track on a personal device and to prepare for alpine conditions; the half-marathon begins near 7,900 feet and peaks above 10,100 feet. Drop bags are allowed at the start/finish. Pitkin County requires a valid CORSAR card for race day packet pickup.
The start and finish are set in Rio Grande Park, which hosts a same-day community festival that includes live music, food vendors, booths, and other family-oriented activities. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
