Black Canyon Ultras
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Event overview
Black Canyon Ultras is a point-to-point trail race held February 14-15, 2026 on the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. The event offers two distances:
- 100K
- 50K
The entry is limited to 1,200 runners per distance. The 100K is a Western States 100 qualifier; completing the full distance in under 17 hours is required for lottery eligibility. The top three men and top three women in the 100K receive automatic Western States entries. The race is cupless - aid stations will not provide paper cups for cold drinks.
Course, logistics and services
Both courses are point-to-point singletrack and jeep-road mixtures that start near Mayer High School and finish at separate locations - the 100K at Emery Henderson Trailhead and the 50K at Deep Canyon Ranch. Key statistics: the 100K covers 62.2 miles with +5,219 feet gain and -7,337 feet loss; the 50K covers 32.2 miles with +2,004 feet gain and -4,005 feet loss. Aid stations: nine for the 100K (4.5-9 miles apart) and six for the 50K (4.5-8 miles apart); GU Roctane, gels, Gatorade, salt tabs, and a range of food options will be available. Pacers are permitted on the 100K from Deep Canyon Ranch; crewing and drop-bag rules apply at specified aid stations. No parking is allowed at the start; shuttles run between the finish area and the Anthem Outlets for runners and crews. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
