Blue Sky Trail Marathon
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Blue Sky Marathon & Half : overview
The Blue Sky Trail Marathon & Half takes place in Fort Collins, Colorado on October 17-18, 2026, using trails between Horsetooth Mountain Park and the Devil’s Backbone Open Space. Distances and elevation gain are:
- 26.7 miles - 3,500 ft total gain/loss
- 13.4 miles - 1,800 ft total gain/loss
Course elevations range roughly from 5,300 ft to 6,500 ft. Registration caps are set at 400 entries for each distance. The marathon has a 9-hour overall time allowance; the half marathon has a 6-hour allowance and no on-course cut-offs.
Course, aid and logistics
The courses are 100% dirt and about 90% singletrack, with terrain from smooth dirt trail to technical rock gardens and sections of dirt road and gravel path. Specific breakdowns list the marathon as 22 mi dirt singletrack, 3 mi rocky singletrack, 2 mi dirt road; the half as 13.0 mi dirt singletrack and 0.5 mi dirt road. The surface includes redstone hardpack on the Blue Sky Trail.
Marathon aid stations are placed at multiple locations with some intermediate cut-offs enforced; half marathon aid station spacing is provided. Aid stations offer sports drink, gels, water, soda, salty and sweet snacks, and fruit, with gluten-free and vegan alternatives available for most non-GF items. Drop bags are allowed at designated start/finish areas and will be staged on tarps. Courses will be marked with pink flagging, flour, and arrows. Crewing and pacing rules differ by distance - crew access is restricted to designated locations and pacers are not permitted. Parking is organized in designated lots near the Marina and South Bay with vehicle park passes provided for race vehicles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
