Niwot's Challenge
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Niwot's Challenge
Niwot's Challenge is presented as an invitation only endurance event in Sedalia, Colorado, along the South Platte River. The 13th edition is scheduled for May 2, 2026, and the field is limited to 40 participants. Organizers describe the event as not a race but a navigational trial with limited public details.
The course is unpublished and emphasizes extensive off trail navigation, occasional dirt roads, and faint trails. Participants must retrieve unique codes at designated waypoints and follow the route exactly to complete the course. Aid is minimal and runners are expected to be largely self sufficient. GPS devices are not allowed on course; phones are for emergency use only.
Entry is by application and acceptance. Applications open January 19, 2026 and close January 21, 2026; selection follows a stated priority order that fills a 40 person field and may create a waitlist. The entry fee is listed as free with a suggested donation.
Three main challenges are described:
- Burn loop: ~24 miles, +10,000 feet, 16 hour limit, no aid.
- Chief's loop: ~50 miles, +20,400 feet, 30 hour limit, very limited aid.
- Deity status: ~100 miles, +40,800 feet, 60 hour limit, extremely limited aid.
Mandatory items include a printed course map, signed waiver, whistle, emergency blanket or bivy, headlamp, at least 2 liters of fluids, a light jacket, and sufficient calories for 12 hours. Official updates and participant communications are distributed through an online group hub and pre event dispatches to accepted participants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
