AZT Vail Scramble
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Vail Scramble
The Vail Scramble is a trail event on Sunday, April 4, 2027, offering a marathon, half marathon, and 10K that run along the Arizona Trail through the valley between the Santa Rita and Rincon Mountains. The marathon follows a point to point route beginning south of Vail and generally follows the AZT north to the finish at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead.
Course notes:
- Marathon : point to point, includes a short dirt road segment within the first mile.
- Half marathon : point to point, includes a short dirt road segment within the first 0.3 mile.
- 10K : starts near Sahuarita Road and Hwy 83 and follows the final 6.2 miles of the marathon course.
The marathon route contains multiple ups and downs along the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. The half marathon and 10K have mostly a gentle, winding descent through desert vegetation such as ocotillo, prickly pear cactus, creosote, and mesquite. All races finish at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead.
Logistics include school bus transportation to each start and return buses to the Vail School District parking area (13801 E. Benson Highway, Vail, AZ). The event is cupless: aid stations do not provide paper cups. Participants may buy a collapsible flexible cup at packet pick up or use a personal water bottle or hydration pack. Aid stations supply water and Skratch Labs hydration from 5 gallon containers.
Finish line offerings include fresh food, cold beverages, and live music by Mariachi Luz de Luna. A runner appreciation gathering takes place at Charron Vineyards with discounts on tastings, glasses, and bottles. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Trail Association to support maintenance and protection of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
