Lost Dutchman Marathon
Apache Junction, United States · February · Independent
Why people love it
- Campfires, hot drinks and sunrise on the Superstition Mountains at the start.
- About 10 km (6 mi) of dirt road among saguaros before town roads.
- Net drop of about 149 m (490 ft); certified Boston qualifier.
- Aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi), with bacon and donut holes at some stops.
Watch out for
- Marathon capped near 400 and sells out quickly.
- Buses leave from about 04:15 and take about 45 minutes on dirt road.
- Biggest climb near miles 11 to 13 (18 to 21 km), plus a steep rise near mile 23 (37 km).
- Few spectators, sparse finish food and warm finishes up to 25 °C (77 °F).
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
RaceRaves 4.3 of 5 from 29 ratings, MarathonGuide 4.4 from 2. The campfire start and Superstition sunrise lifted most reviews; some wanted more spectators. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
RaceRaves production 4.5. Efficient buses, fires, toilets and prompt results; a shirt with the wrong date and a small expo are minor. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Dirt-road start, rolling climbs, a 45 minute bus ride in the dark and a warm finish; small and supportive but sparse crowds. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Net drop of 149 m (490 ft) and a certified Boston course, but 10 km (6 mi) of gravel, ups and downs and warmth; · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.4
RaceRaves scenery 4.2. Sunrise on the Superstition Mountains and saguaros for 10 km (6 mi), then roads through Apache Junction some find dull. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy4.0
Small field and wide roads; no congestion reported. · Medium confidence
- Road surfacePatchy2.4
Six miles (10 km) of rolling dirt and gravel, potholes near a turnaround in the half, then paved road and highway. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Police and volunteers hold intersections; some busy road and highway stretches. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.8
Rolling hills; reviewers split between "mostly downhill" and real ups and downs. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillDownhill3.7
Net drop of about 149 m (490 ft); Boston qualifier, but rolling dirt road offsets some of it. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
Buses from 04:15, fire pits, a heated bus and enough toilets, but the ride takes about 45 minutes and the wait is long. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Pace groups not widely reported; timing and results prompt. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
Limited spectators outside a few pockets; volunteers and police carry the course. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
About 16 stations every 3.2 km (2 mi) with water, electrolyte, gels, bananas, bacon and donuts; finish food and bags sparse. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm4.0
Wind not mentioned by reviewers. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Starts of 6 to 9 °C (43 to 49 °F), warming to 14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F); · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.2
Dry desert winter weather across many editions. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.0
Remote start and sparse spectators. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.1
Starts at 710 m (2,330 ft) and finishes at 561 m (1,840 ft): moderate elevation, not sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Book early; Apache Junction and Gold Canyon rates are high. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
Rates described as high; many stay near Phoenix airport. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving1.8
Remote start reached by a 45 minute bus ride; no walking. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
About 60 km (37 mi) from Phoenix; Mesa Gateway airport is closer. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Small expo, bus-only access, shuttle back to cars; efficient but long. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Hole in the Rock, Goldfield Ghost Town and the Superstition Mountain Museum nearby. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.8
About 400 marathon spots that sell out quickly. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.7
Long-sleeve shirt and medal praised, plus fires and burritos at the finish; fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Apache Junction, Pinal County, United States
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 15 February 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 330 athletes
- First held
- 2002
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 07:00
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- About 6 miles (10 km) of dirt and gravel road, then paved roads, sidewalk and highway
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 4–24 °C (39–75 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry desert
- Altitude
- 640 m (2,100 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, East Mesa
- Booking
- Book early because Apache Junction and Gold Canyon rates are high; many runners stay around Phoenix or Mesa. Packet pickup the day before.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
29 ratings, 4.3 overall; difficulty 2.7, scenery 4.2, production 4.5, swag 3.8. Agreed: campfire start and sunrise are the highlight, aid is frequent, few spectators and a modest finish.
“Campfire start beneath the Superstition Mountains.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
4.4 from 2 reviews. Sunrise and local-volunteer organization praised; a 45 minute bus on dirt; three long climbs plus a steep rise near miles 22 to 23 (km 35 to 37); about 25 °C (77 °F) late.
- Marathon Training AcademyRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Dirt roads, rolling hills and a tiring last stretch; 16 aid stations from mile 2 with bacon and donut holes; start at 2,330 ft (710 m) down to 1,840 ft (561 m); 13 °C (mid 50s F) at the start and about 25 °C (high 70s F) early. She finished in 4:32:01 and would recommend it.
- Michael Modzelewski blogRaced 2014 · blog · Positive
About 300 runners, 100 rolling hills and a steep climb at mile 23 (km 37). Campfires and hot cocoa at the start and burritos at the finish; called tough but worth it for the desert scenery.
- BibRave reviewsRaced 2016 · aggregator · Positive
BibRave reviewers call the starting area the best part, with easy parking, a shuttle long enough to eat breakfast on, a small-town feel and managed field sizes.
Show 6 more
- kristina.colby on RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Bussed in the dark, fire pits and a warming bus. Sunrise over six miles of dirt road among saguaros, plentiful water.
- DonutShark on RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Campfire start under the Superstitions, 6 miles (10 km) downhill on dirt, loop through Gold Canyon with the biggest climb at miles 11 to 13, modest crowds and limited finish food.
- jasonshou on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Real ups and downs so not a PR course, but well organised with water every 2 miles (3.2 km).
- titans1fan92 on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Limited expo, shuttles from Peralta, dirt then busy highway and neighbourhood loops; aid every 2 miles with water and Gatorade; cool start, upper-60s F (about 20 °C (68 °F)) finish.
- gmaulflash on RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Well organised with plenty of police, only water and Gatorade at aid, no cold drinks at the finish, and a flat stretch that felt dull.
- Bluebird46360 on RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Positive
Small expo, great parking and buses, campfires at sunrise, gravel and rolling hills but nothing major, strong volunteers.
Raced Lost Dutchman Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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