Cirque Series - Arapahoe Basin
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Arapahoe Basin - Cirque Series
The Arapahoe Basin event on September 5, 2026 is a mountain trail race covering 9.4 miles with approximately 2,211 ft of vertical gain. The course begins at Mountain Goat Plaza near the base of Arapahoe Basin at about 10,780 ft and follows a sequence of summer roads, service roads, singletrack and high alpine trails to Little Lenawee summit before returning to Mountain Goat Plaza for the finish.
The route passes High Noon parking lot, crosses Highway 6, follows the A-Basin summer road to Black Mountain Lodge, includes a new singletrack section near the top of the Pali lift and continues toward Zuma Cornice and the Montezuma Lift saddle. The descent uses the Half Moon Vista high alpine trail, Argentine North Fork singletrack and a new mountain bike singletrack for the final mile. The course is located on approved established trails in the White River National Forest and is subject to change as necessary.
Organizers note a strict cutoff of 30 minutes at Aid Station #1 near Black Mountain Lodge. Safety briefings emphasize following course flagging and careful footwork on technical sections near Little Lenawee; runners are instructed to shout "rock" if they dislodge debris and to turn away and protect the head if they hear that warning from above.
The race is capped at 600 runners. Each competitor receives a branded running hat, giveaway ticket, logoed bib and medal, a sponsor swag bag and free professional photos. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
