The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB 100 Mile
Auburn, California · April · 100 mi
- Distance
- 100.3 mi (161 km)
- Point to point
- Climbing
- 5,550 m (18,210 ft)
- Hilly: 34 m per km (182 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 35 hours
- 20:54 per mi (12:59 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 64%
- of starters in 2024
Why runners love it
- Runs on much of the Western States Trail from China Wall to downtown Auburn
- Open first-come entry with no qualifier; a finish under 35 h earns a 2028 Western States qualifier
- Ribbons about every 60 cm (2 ft) and a charter shuttle to the 12:00 start
- Two pacers allowed from Cool 1 at 99 km (mile 61)
- UTMB World Series Major; 2026 winner Noa Ohms finished in 17:50
Watch out for
- First cutoff is 18:30 Friday at 25 km (mile 15.8), then 19:45 at Michigan Bluff, 36 km (mile 22.6)
- Heat or mud swings: over 32 C (90 F) in 2023, about 3 C (37 F) rain in 2024
- Crew banned at Deadwood, Cal 2, Mammoth Bar, Confluence, Brown's Bar and ALT
- 186 of 291 starters finished in 2024 (64%, Ultrarunning magazine)
- Route changes with snow and permits; the official site gives no high point or field size
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: Very tough
- Runner satisfactionLoved3.9
Mixed to positive: a big production on the Western States trail, but heat, mud and a third of starters dropping; few 100 mi reports. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
UTMB-run with charter shuttles, ribbons every 60 cm (2 ft) and a detailed guide; electrolytes ran short in 2023, night aid thin in 2024. · Low confidence
- Community and vibeFriendly3.3
A large corporate series with local sponsors; one runner called volunteers true pros, but it is less intimate than small races. · Low confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood3.5
13 stations plus 4 water-only; gaps reach 15.0 km (9.3 mi), and 18.0 km (11.2 mi) from the start to the first station. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessSome points3.0
Five crew points; crew is barred at six stations, and spectators wait long at the finish. · High confidence
- Drop bagsSome stations3.0
Three locations only: Foresthill, Cool 1 and Cool 2. · High confidence
- PacersLate race3.4
Two pacers allowed from Cool 1 (km 98.6, mile 61.3), one at a time, for about 63 km (39 mi). · High confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear4.4
White ribbons about every 60 cm (2 ft), including through the swamp, per a 2024 finisher. · Medium confidence
- SceneryBeautiful4.1
American River canyons, the historic Western States trail and a finish in downtown Auburn. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceGreat3.8
A famous trail with big climbs; some runners found the routing and mud unforgiving. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingModerate2.9
Rutted bike-trail descents, mud in 2024 and a rope-assisted crossing, balanced by flowing Western States singletrack. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMixed3.1
Runnable singletrack between steep canyon climbs. · Medium confidence
- ClimbingHilly2.2
Climbs 182 ft per mi (34 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 temperatureWarm or cold3.0
April swings from about 3 C (upper 30s F) rain to over 32 C (90 F) canyon heat. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Snow reroute in 2023, heat in 2023, mud in 2024 and a weather reroute in 2026. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeLow4.2
The official site gives no high point; the Sierra foothill canyons and Auburn are low, but the figures are unverified. · Low confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous3.9
35 h for 161 km (100 mi) with 5,550 m (18,200 ft) of gain, 5 h more than Western States; 64% finished in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsReasonable2.7
First of eight cutoffs: 6.5 h at 25 km (15.8 mi), after 1,800 m (5,900 ft) of climbing; 36% did not finish in 2024. · Medium confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2026 (aid station chart and runner guide); 2027 registration page)
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Deadwood 2 | 25 km (16 mi) | 18:30 Friday (6.5 h elapsed) |
| Michigan Bluff | 36 km (23 mi) | 19:45 Friday (7.75 h elapsed) |
| Foresthill | 46 km (29 mi) | 21:30 Friday (9.5 h elapsed) |
| Drivers Flat | 74 km (46 mi) | 03:00 Saturday (15 h elapsed) |
| Mammoth Bar | 87 km (54 mi) | 05:30 Saturday (17.5 h elapsed) |
| Cool 1 | 99 km (61 mi) | 08:00 Saturday (20 h elapsed) |
| Cool 2 | 118 km (74 mi) | 12:00 Saturday (24 h elapsed) |
| ALT | 134 km (83 mi) | 15:30 Saturday (27.5 h elapsed) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Steep canyons, heat or mud swings and a 64% finish rate, with no qualifier to screen the field. · Medium confidence
- Getting inUsually open3.7
Open first-come registration with no qualifier; one 2019 report says the races sell out quickly. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Sacramento is the nearest major airport; the distance was not checked. · Low confidence
- Places to stayGood3.8
Hotels in Auburn and Roseville and camping at Foresthill; a charter bus takes you to the start. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.8
Charter bus to China Wall for a noon start, drop bags at the Fairgrounds and crew restrictions at six stations. · Medium confidence
- ValueFair2.9
$514 base, $569 all-in for 161 km (100 mi), pricey against small-field 100s. · Medium confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2026 (aid station chart and runner guide); 2027 registration page edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Auburn, California, United States
- Region
- West Coast
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 23 April 2027
- Start time
- 12:00
- First held
- 2023
- Distance
- 100.3 mi (161 km)
- Course shape
- Point to point
- Surface
- Trail: Western States Trail and other singletrack, with some road at Mitchell Mine Rd, Hwy 49 and downtown Auburn. Starts at China Wall, finishes in downtown Auburn.
- Footing
- Official gain 5,550 m (about 17,000 ft by the overview, 18,000 ft in the course text); high point not stated. Runners report steep canyon climbs, rutted bike-trail descents, mud in 2024 and rope-assisted water crossings; the Western States sections are flowing singletrack.
- Elevation gain
- 5,550 m (18,210 ft)
- Climbing rate
- 34 m per km (182 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 35 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 20:54 per mi (12:59 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Eight timed cutoffs plus the 23:00 Saturday finish (35 h), from the 2026 aid station chart (revised 22 Apr 2026). The course and cutoffs are subject to change for 2027.
- Aid stations
- 13
- Longest gap between aid
- 18 km (11 mi)
- Drop bags
- Some stations
- Crew access
- Some points
- Pacers
- Allowed from Cool 1 (km 98.6); up to two pacers, one at a time; 100 mi only
- Support notes
- Chart lists 13 aid stations plus 4 hydration or water-only stops. Longest gap is the first 18.0 km from China Wall to Deadwood 1; after that 15.0 km Cal 2 to Drivers Flat is the longest. Drop bags at Foresthill, Cool 1 and Cool 2. Crew at Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Drivers Flat, Cool 1 and Cool 2; crew is prohibited at Deadwood, Cal 2, Mammoth Bar, Confluence, Brown's Bar and ALT. Reusable cup required, no bib pickup at the start.
- Water crossings
- A few
- Water notes
- 2024 report: knee-deep crossings, a swamp section and one rope-assisted crossing in a wet year; 2019 100K report mentions creek crossings used to cool off.
- Night running
- Most runners run through one night
- Mandatory gear
- 1 L hydration capacity, reusable cup, running pack, cell phone, hooded jacket, 2 headlamps with spare batteries, 800 kcal extra food, hat, whistle, survival blanket
- Entry
- Open
- Qualifies for
- Western States (finish under 35 h, 2028 qualifier), UTMB Running Stones (4)
- Entry fee
- About $514
- Fee notes
- 2027 all-in $568.76 ($513.67 base plus fees); non-refundable, one deferral to next year allowed until 24 Mar 2027
- Finish rate
- 64% of starters in 2024
- Air temperature
- 3–34 °C (37–93 °F)
- Weather notes
- Spring swings: 2023 forecast over 32 C (90 F) with canyon heat trapped; 2024 started near 3 C (upper 30s F) in rain with mud. Poison oak on trails. Runner-reported.
- Nearest airport
- SMF
- Stay notes
- Hotels in Auburn or Roseville; camping at Foresthill per a 2019 report. Charter bus shuttle from Auburn to China Wall start; finish in downtown Auburn.
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What runners and reviewers say
- Deep Think Endurance (Jade Graham)Raced 2024 · blog · Mixed
Finished 28:20; 186 of 291 starters finished. Highly technical, muddy, with knee-deep crossings, a swamp and a rope-assisted crossing. Start near 3 C (upper 30s F) in rain, no heat issue. Ribbons about every 60 cm (2 ft); minimal aid on the Cool 1 to Cool 2 night loop. Charter shuttle to China Wall. Crew and pacer made the difference.
“Ultra endurance races are truly a team sport.”
- Will to Run (Will Weidman)Raced 2023 · blog · Mixed
Finished 23:12, 21st overall. Snow reroute gave 5,200 m (17,000 ft) and a reversed Western States run. Forecast over 32 C (90 F) with trapped canyon heat caused overheating; aid had ice, cold sponges and salted watermelon but electrolytes ran short at Mammoth Bar. Over half the field did not finish. Descents on rutted bike trails.
“I was overheating and bonking.”
- Sunrise Running Co (Andrew Taylor), 100KRaced 2019 · blog · Mixed
A 100K report on the same trails: not very technical apart from steep climbs, about 16,000 ft (4,900 m) of gain, climbs to Deadwood and Michigan Bluff can each take over 45 minutes. Exposed canyon heat, 10 to 13 km (6 to 8 mi) gaps between stations, limited crew access, Foresthill best for spectators. Races sell out quickly.
“Devote time to training for the climbs.”
- RaceRaves (Peach Villacarlos), 50KRaced 2017 · aggregator · Positive
A 50K review rating the event 5 of 5: out-and-back on the Western States trail, about a third technical and rocky, thigh-high creek crossing, plenty of ice and cold water, hot by 10:00. Called it brutal for a 50K.
- iRunFar 2023 100 Mile and 100K resultsRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Covers the first 100 mile edition, a snow-affected loop format of about 5,200 m (17,000 ft) with at least half on the Western States Trail. Notes the race is a UTMB World Series Major with Browns Bar passes and a sprint finish.
Show 3 more
- Trail Runner Magazine 2023 previewRaced 2023 · article · Mixed
Explains the 2023 snow reroute into an Auburn loop with a 17-mile (27 km) Foresthill out-and-back and a 32 h limit that year. First half of the 100K is mostly singletrack. 100K was a final Golden Ticket race.
- Aid Station Fireball (Liam), 2026 previewRaced 2026 · blog · Mixed
2026 100K preview: weather reroute back to the 2025 layout, forecast highs in the low 60s F (about 16 C), start 05:00, no livestream. Course climbs over 4,000 m (13,120 ft) and drops over 5,000 m (16,400 ft).
- Official Canyons runner guide and aid chartRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Aid chart and 2026 runner guide: nine cutoffs, 35 h limit, drop bags at three stations, crew at five, pacers from Cool 1, mandatory gear list, poison oak warning.
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Sources
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