Cave Creek Thriller
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Event overview
The Cave Creek Thriller Trail Runs, organized by Aravaipa Running, is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2025, after being postponed from October 11, 2025. The event is held at Cave Creek Regional Park, 37900 E Cave Creek Parkway, Cave Creek, AZ. The race is the first event in the Desert Runner Trail Series and has an entrant limit of 500 runners. Distances offered are:
- 50K (31.2 miles)
- 24K (approximately 15.6 miles)
- 11K (about 7.3 miles)
- 5K (about 3.6 miles)
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 on the Go John, Quartz, and Overton Trails; the 50K starts near Lake Pleasant at the Agua Fria Trailhead and links two regional parks. The 11K and 5K stay entirely within Cave Creek Regional Park on hilly, rocky, and sun-exposed mountain trails. Aid stations are placed approximately every 3.0 to 9.25 miles depending on distance; runners should plan to carry a water bottle because this is a cupless event and reusable cups are required. Crews may support runners at the finish and select aid stations for the 50K; pacers are not permitted. Parking is at Cave Creek Regional Park (day pass fee $7 per vehicle); 11K runners must park at Cave Creek Memorial Arena for shuttle service. Drop bags are allowed at specified locations for longer distances and live split tracking will be available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
