Cave Creek Thriller
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Event overview
The Cave Creek Thriller is a trail race scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Cave Creek Regional Park (37900 E Cave Creek Parkway, Cave Creek, AZ). The event offers four distances:
- 50K
- 24K
- 11K
- 5K
The event was postponed from October 11, 2025, due to saturated watershed conditions and flash flood risk. Entrants were rolled over to the new date; participants who cannot attend may request a 100% race credit if requested by November 1. Entrant limit for the event is 500.
Course and logistics
The 50K and 24K are point-to-point courses that use sections of the Maricopa Trail and finish inside Cave Creek Regional Park. The 50K connects two regional parks beginning near Lake Pleasant (Agua Fria Trailhead); the 24K starts at the Anthem Trailhead. The 11K and 5K remain entirely inside Cave Creek Regional Park on the Go John, Quartz and Overton Trails. Trails include steep, rocky and exposed sections.
Key race details: the 50K is listed at 31.2 miles with about 2,810 ft elevation gain (time limit 9.5 hours); the 24K is about 15.6 miles with 1,960 ft gain (time limit ~8 hours); the 11K is about 7.3 miles with 960 ft gain; the 5K is about 3.6 miles with 542 ft gain. Aid stations are placed on all courses (spacing varies by distance); the series operates cupless aid stations, so runners should bring a reusable cup. Parking is at Cave Creek Regional Park and a park entry fee applies; specific shuttle and parking instructions vary by distance. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
