Vacation Races - Zion Ultras
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About the race
Zion Ultras is a multi-distance trail running event held April 10–11, 2027 in Apple Valley, Utah, with the start and finish at Ruby Rider Ranch and basecamp near Smithsonian Butte. The courses run across high-desert mesas and include singletrack, slickrock, exposed desert trails, sustained climbs, narrow rim sections, and technical footing with extended sightlines to Zion sandstone walls and the Virgin River.
Distances offered include:
- 100 Mile
- 100K
- 60K
- 30K
- Half Marathon
Course routing generally follows dirt roads and singletrack from Ruby Rider Ranch to Wire Mesa, Grafton, Gooseberry Mesa and Mondo Z, tracing rim trails above the Virgin River. Notable features include the Mondo Z Cut descents and ascents, the Flying Monkey technical trail with a fixed rope on one drop, potential water crossings in Dalton Wash, and repeated crossings of Highway 9 on some courses. Aid stations are fully stocked with electrolytes, gels, fresh fruit, a variety of sweet and salty items, and portable restrooms; later aid stations provide hot food options. Medical personnel and mobile medical vehicles are stationed at major aid stations and the finish line.
Crew and pacer rules restrict support to designated aid stations; crew is permitted for 60K, 100K, and 100 Mile distances, and pacers are permitted for 100K and 100 Mile distances with registration and visible pacer bibs. Drop bags are allowed for longer distances with size and dropoff rules, and required gear includes a headlamp, hydration system, and an offline-accessible course map device. The event operates as a cupless race so runners must carry their own drink vessel; spectators are limited to the start and finish areas. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
