Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge
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Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge
The Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge is a timed trail event in Las Cruces, NM held on November 20, 2026. Participants complete repeated laps of a roughly 4 mile route around Tortugas Mountain that starts at the Arroyo Loop trailhead at the Monte Vista Parking Lot. After the opening lap, subsequent laps alternate direction.
The trail is a rocky, rolling single track with some two track. The route is marked with orange or pink flagging with reflective tape, rock cairns, and brown BLM trail markers; flagging and reflective tape are placed to remain visible in line of sight.
Aid is available at the start/finish under a covered picnic area and at the 2 mile mark. Aid stations provide water and Heed electrolyte drink and offer minimal food, so participants should plan to carry most of their own food. This is a cupless event and runners must bring their preferred drink vessels. Crews and supporters may use the start/finish aid station.
The event is presented as a free "Fatass" race with donations accepted for the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance. Funds support trail building and maintenance work days and trainings, local trail events, tool purchases, advocacy, and trail education. The event is capped at 50 entrants. Each lap is recorded on a registration board at the start/finish; runners may leave and later return to complete additional laps within the 24 hour period and should mark themselves away on the register when off course. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
