Black Canyon 100K
Mayer, Arizona · February · 100K (62.2 mi)
- Distance
- 100 km (62.2 mi)
- Point to point
- Climbing
- 1,591 m (5,220 ft)
- Rolling: 16 m per km (84 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 20 hours
- 19:18 per mi (12:00 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 92%
- of starters in 2026
Why runners love it
- Western States Super Golden Ticket: top 3 men and top 3 women earn 2027 entry.
- Net downhill overall: 2,236 m (7,337 ft) of descent against 1,591 m (5,219 ft) of climbing.
- 20 hour limit for 100.1 km (62.2 mi); 92% of 2026 starters finished.
- Pacers allowed from mile 31.9 (51.3 km), so about half the race.
- Three start waves (7:00, 7:30, 8:00 am) spread the field of up to 1,200 along the single-track.
Watch out for
- The early downhill tempts runners to start fast and wreck their quads before the climbing second half.
- Loose rocks and leaning cacti cause falls and rolled ankles.
- Shuttle start and shuttle-only finish: snow delayed the 2024 start by 2.5 hours in total.
- Rain or snow has changed the course or cutoffs in 2017, 2019 and 2024.
- Crew at only three points and no parking at the finish trailhead.
Race
How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
Toughness for its distance: Tough
- Runner satisfactionBucket list4.5
Racers rate it up to 10 out of 10; Golden Ticket and World Trail Majors status draw strong fields. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
Aravaipa handled a 2.5 hour snow delay of the start shuttle in 2024 well; a three-wave start spreads 1,200 runners. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.2
Bumble Bee Ranch had a live band in 2024; the vibe is described as excellent but few reports speak to it. · Low confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Nine stations, longest gap 14.8 km (9.2 mi); reports describe stations every 8 to 11 km (5 to 7 mi) with accommodating food. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessSome points3.0
Three crew points (miles 19.4, 31.9 and 51.1, or 31, 51 and 82 km (51 mi)); the finish is reachable by shuttle only. · High confidence
- Drop bagsSome stations3.2
Four bag points: Bumble Bee Ranch, Deep Canyon Ranch, Table Mesa and the finish. · High confidence
- PacersMuch of the race4.0
One pacer at a time from mile 31.9 (51.3 km), so about half the race, in the 100K only. · High confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear4.3
No marking complaints in the reports found; the route is a well-used national recreation trail. · Low confidence
- SceneryBeautiful4.0
Sonoran Desert with saguaros, canyon and mountain views along the Black Canyon Trail. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceGreat4.0
A fast, flowy net-downhill first half, then rocks and a long second-half climb with heat in the canyons. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingModerate2.5
Loose rocks that roll, long rocky stretches and reported falls; the singletrack is otherwise runnable. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMostly runnable4.2
A fast net-downhill first half; the second half rolls and climbs more. · Medium confidence
- ClimbingGently rolling4.1
Climbs 84 ft per mi (16 m per km), from the official elevation gain. · High confidence
Conditions
Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- Race-day temperaturePleasant4.0
Cold start, then afternoons around 21 to 24 °C (70 to 75 °F) in several reports; canyons are hotter with almost no shade. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Rain forced reroutes in 2017 and 2019, and snow delayed the 2024 start shuttle by 2.5 hours. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeLow3.5
High point 1,280 m (4,199 ft), low point 529 m (1,737 ft). · High confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous4.4
20 hours for 100.1 km (62.2 mi) is about 19 min per mile (12 min per km); 92% finished in 2026. · High confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsGenerous4.2
Ten gun-time cutoffs at roughly 17 to 19 min per mile (11 to 12 min per km), shifted by wave; few runners are pulled. · High confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2027)
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Mesa (mile 7.7) | 12 km (7.7 mi) | 2:15 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Hidden Treasure (mile 12.9) | 21 km (13 mi) | 3:45 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Bumble Bee Ranch (mile 19.4) | 31 km (19 mi) | 5:45 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Gloriana Mine (mile 24.0) | 39 km (24 mi) | 7:30 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Deep Canyon Ranch (mile 31.9) | 51 km (32 mi) | 10:00 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Black Canyon City (mile 37.2) | 60 km (37 mi) | 12:00 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Cottonwood Gulch (mile 46.4) | 75 km (46 mi) | 15:00 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Table Mesa (mile 51.1) | 82 km (51 mi) | 16:30 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Doe Springs (mile 58.7) | 95 km (59 mi) | 19:00 elapsed (wave 1 clock; waves 2 and 3 get +30 and +60 min) |
| Finish (mile 62.2) | 100 km (62 mi) | 20:00 elapsed (03:00 AM for wave 1) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Easy navigation and good support, but rocks, canyon heat and a downhill start that tempts runners to go out too fast. · Medium confidence
- Getting inUsually open3.8
Open UltraSignup entry with a 1,200 cap and no qualifier; Golden Ticket demand may fill it, but no sell-out history is published. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Phoenix is the airport, then shuttles to the start in Mayer; the race gives no distances. · Low confidence
- Places to stayBook early3.2
One report suggests booking camping or hotels 6 to 8 months ahead; the official page gives no hotel details. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.6
Shuttle to the start and a shuttle-only finish with no trailhead parking; limited spectator parking. · High confidence
- ValueGood value3.5
$350 to $380 depending on when you register, with a Golden Ticket and three drop bag points; no direct value comments found. · Low confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2027 edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Mayer, Arizona, United States
- Region
- Mountain West
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 13 February 2027
- Start time
- 07:00
- Distance
- 100 km (62.2 mi)
- Course shape
- Point to point
- Surface
- Trail: Black Canyon National Recreation Trail singletrack from Mayer High School to the Emery Henderson trailhead (about 55 of 62 mi on the historic trail per iRunFar 2026).
- Footing
- Official 2027 page: +5,219 ft (1,591 m) gain, -7,337 ft (2,236 m) loss, high 4,199 ft (1,280 m), low 1,737 ft (529 m). Net downhill early with most climbing in the second half (iRunFar). Reports describe long rocky sections, loose rocks that cause falls and ankle rolls, and cacti leaning into the trail.
- Elevation gain
- 1,591 m (5,220 ft)
- Climbing rate
- 16 m per km (84 ft per mi)
- High point
- 1,280 m (4,200 ft)
- Overall cutoff
- 20 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 19:18 per mi (12:00 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Official 2027 page: 20 h time limit. Three start waves (07:00, 07:30, 08:00 MST); cutoffs are clock times that shift by wave. Elapsed times above are for wave 1 and are computed from the published clock times. Under 17 h is required for the Western States lottery. Cutoffs were altered in 2024 after snow delayed the start shuttle.
- Aid stations
- 9
- Longest gap between aid
- 15 km (9.2 mi)
- Drop bags
- Some stations
- Crew access
- Some points
- Pacers
- Allowed from Deep Canyon Ranch (mile 31.9 / 51.3 km), one at a time
- Support notes
- Official page says nine aid stations (its table lists ten entries including the finish). Longest gap is Black Canyon City to Cottonwood Gulch at 9.2 mi (14.8 km), computed from the published mile markers. Drop bags at Bumble Bee Ranch, Deep Canyon Ranch, Table Mesa and the finish. Crew at Bumble Bee Ranch, Deep Canyon Ranch and Table Mesa; finish reachable by shuttle only, no trailhead parking. Cupless (hot cups only). Trekking poles allowed.
- Water notes
- Not described on the official page. One 2024 report mentions three river crossings in a wet year.
- Night running
- Some
- Mandatory gear
- No formal list on the official page. Bib on front; warm layers for the cold start (warm-up bag shuttled); headlamp recommended in drop bags by expected finish time; own bottle or cup.
- Entry
- Open
- Qualifier needed
- None. Register on UltraSignup; closes Saturday, Feb 6, 2027.
- Qualifies for
- Western States (Golden Ticket: top 3 men and top 3 women)
- Entry fee
- About $380
- Fee notes
- $350 early registration, $365 from 1 July and $380 from 1 December (official page); $380 is the latest tier.
- Field size
- About 1,200 runners
- Finish rate
- 92% of starters in 2026
- Weather notes
- Mid-February: cold start (snow in 2024) warming to about 21 to 24 C (70 to 75 F) by afternoon in 2025 and 2020 reports; canyons run hotter, with almost no shade. Rain forced reroutes in 2017 and 2019.
- Nearest airport
- PHX
- Stay notes
- Phoenix is the nearest large airport. The start in Mayer is a shuttle ride from parking and the finish is shuttle-only. A 2024 reviewer suggested booking camping or hotels 6 to 8 months out.
- Course record (men)
- 7:20:00 (Hans Troyer, 2026)
- Course record (women)
- 7:57:05 (Jennifer Lichter, 2026)
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What runners and reviewers say
- Team Run Run, Dandelion Dilluvio-ScottRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
Finished 14:08 in a snowy, muddy, cold-and-windy edition and gave it 10/10. The start shuttle was delayed twice for 2.5 h total; Aravaipa handled it well and altered the cutoffs. Rocky stretches, three river crossings and leaning cacti; limited spectator parking and a shuttle-only finish. Bumble Bee Ranch had a live band.
“Black Canyon 100K is a tricky course to pace.”
- Team Run Run, Chase PRaced 2020 · blog · Mixed
DNF at about 46 mi (74 km) after 11 h. Hard-packed desert and rocks caused a rolled ankle at mile 5; almost no shade and 21 to 24 C (70 to 75 F) air with hotter canyons brought heat sickness. Aid and medics were very well run.
- Team Run Run, Jeff URaced 2017 · blog · Mixed
Finished 11:38 in the wet 2017 edition that became an out-and-back reroute. Cold, 4 to 9 C (40s F), muddy single track hard to run rhythmically; several runners dropped from the cold. Aid was 5 to 7 mi (8 to 11 km (6.8 mi)) apart and accommodated his dietary needs.
- Team Run Run, Deserae Clarke (60K)Raced 2020 · blog · Positive
Ran the 60K in 6:19; applies only to shared course and logistics. Net downhill with most climbing late, start shuttles made logistics easy, aid excellent with dietary options and an experienced volunteer at each station. Notes 2018 was hot and 2017 and 2019 had rain severe enough to force reroutes.
- iRunFar, 2026 Black Canyon 100k resultsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Describes a 7:00 AM start for just over 900 runners and 62 mi (100 km) with 55 mi (89 km) on the Black Canyon Trail, net downhill early and most of the roughly 7,000 ft (2,130 m) of climbing in the second half. Super Golden Ticket (3 men, 3 women) and World Trail Majors event; both course records fell.
Show 3 more
- Tempo Journal, Black Canyon Carnagearticle · Mixed
Race-day feature: net downhill, fast but technical, with many rocks causing falls and blood at Table Mesa (mile 50 / 80 km (49.7 mi)). Little shade, dry heat and afternoon temperatures in the low to mid 70s F (21 to 24 C); mild for the event.
- UltraMinute, Brady and Ruhling shatter recordsRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 recap: fast net-downhill first half, then rocky terrain and a punishing second half holding most of the climbing. Heat and equilibrium trouble ended the women's early leader at Deep Canyon Ranch (mile 31.9 / 51.3 km (31.9 mi)). Super Golden Ticket with six tickets.
- UltraSignup results, 2026 Black Canyon 100KRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
The 2026 results file shows 850 finishers and 72 DNFs, a finish rate of about 92%, which shows the 20 h limit is rarely a concern.
Ran Black Canyon 100K? Your notes on the footing, cutoffs and aid stations help the next runner decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings.
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