Cirque Series - Arapahoe Basin
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Cirque Series : Arapahoe Basin
The event takes place on September 5, 2026 at Arapahoe Basin, Colorado. The course is listed as 9.4 miles with 2,211 ft of vertical gain. The field is capped at 700 runners.
The route begins at 10,780 ft in Mountain Goat Plaza and follows a sequence of established trails and service roads. Runners go to High Noon parking lot, then Last Chance, cross Highway 6 and follow the A‑Basin summer road to Black Mountain Lodge. A new singletrack near the top of the Pali lift leads toward Zuma Cornice, then the course connects back to a service road to the saddle and crosses to the top of the Montezuma Lift. The route continues on the Lenawee trail to the Little Lenawee summit, then returns via the summer road and the high alpine trail named Half Moon Vista. Approaching the finish, runners take the Argentine North Fork singletrack through shaded forest and complete the final mile on a new mountain bike singletrack to finish in Mountain Goat Plaza, where live music and food are provided.
The course uses approved established trails in the White River National Forest and may be changed as necessary. Every runner is subject to a strict 30 minute cutoff at Black Mountain Lodge Aid Station #1.
Safety instructions note the route is steep and direct to the high alpine, will be well marked, and require careful footwork on technical sections. If a runner kicks a rock they must shout "rock" and those below should protect their heads.
Race entries historically split roughly as 67% Sport, 28% Expert and 5% Pro. Each competitor receives a snapback, giveaway ticket, logoed bib and medal, a sponsor swag bag and free professional race photos. Early bib pickup is listed for September 4 in Boulder at the La Sportiva retail store, 2100 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
