Cocodona 250
Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona · May · 250 mi
- Distance
- 253.5 mi (408 km)
- Point to point
- Climbing
- 11,870 m (38,940 ft)
- Hilly: 29 m per km (154 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 125 hours
- 29:36 per mi (18:24 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 66%
- of starters in 2026
Why runners love it
- Point to point, 408 km (253.5 mi), Black Canyon City to Flagstaff via Prescott, Jerome and Sedona
- Eight sleep stations (six indoor and heated), with showers at three, among 21 aid stations
- Pacers from mile 75.6 (122 km); crew can reach about 14 stations
- 125 h limit; 66% of listed starters finished in 2026, median finisher 108 h 34 min
- Drop bags at 16 stations, plus a bag sent direct to the finish
Watch out for
- Lottery entry from 2027: 475 places, 300 waitlisted, $1,995 plus tax
- Sleep stations supply cots or bunks only, no sheets, blankets or pillows; carry your own in a drop bag
- The first staffed gap is 40.4 km (25.1 mi); carry 4 L (135 oz) of water capacity
- Desert heat in the first two days and again near Dead Horse; cold, hail or snow later
- No pacers for 23 km (14.4 mi) Schnebly Hill to Munds Park, or the last 31 km (19.3 mi)
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: Extreme
- Runner satisfactionBucket list4.5
A first-timer would strongly recommend it despite never wanting another 200+; community and organisation are praised across reports. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.4
Praised for planning and for handling problems without runners noticing; the 2022 wildfire reroute went smoothly and the crew guide is very detailed. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.3
Over 1,000 volunteers and about 100 staff per the crew guide; runners cite friendly volunteers and a supportive crew culture. · Medium confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood3.6
21 stations and 4 water drops with hot meals, but 40.4 km (25.1 mi) between the first two staffed stations. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessGood4.3
Crew can reach 14 stations from Crown King on; parking is restricted at some, and the guide covers every station. · High confidence
- Drop bagsMany stations4.4
Bags at 16 stations, including one bag sent direct to the finish. · High confidence
- PacersMuch of the race3.9
Pacers from mile 75.6 (122 km) to 234.2 (377 km), except Schnebly Hill to Munds Park; none for the last 31 km (19.3 mi). · High confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear3.9
Orange ribbons with black dots plus wrong-way flagging; a GPS file is mandatory, and reported navigation errors were fatigue-driven. · Medium confidence
- ScenerySpectacular4.8
Sonoran desert, Bradshaw ridgelines, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona red rock, then ponderosa forest and Mount Elden into Flagstaff. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceGreat4.4
Runners rave about the variety; the Fain Ranch section was the only part one veteran disliked. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingModerate2.6
About 46% double-track and 9% pavement, but the 45% singletrack includes rocky climbs, slickrock and technical night descents. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMixed2.9
Much of the double-track and Black Canyon Trail is runnable, with long hiking climbs between. · Medium confidence
- ClimbingRolling hills2.7
Climbs 154 ft per mi (29 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 temperatureHarsh2.4
Severe desert heat early, cold nights, and hail or snow in some years; cold-weather gear is checked. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
2025 had hail, snow and heavy rain; 2022 had a wildfire reroute; heat varies by year. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeModerate2.7
Low point 608 m (1,996 ft) in the desert, but Mount Elden at 2,817 m (9,241 ft) near the end. · Medium confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous3.5
125 h for 408 km (253.5 mi) with 11,870 m (38,943 ft) of gain, about 3.3 km (2.1 mi)/h (2.0 mph); 66% finished in 2026. · High confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsReasonable3.3
22 cutoffs at roughly 3 km (1.9 mi)/h (1.9 mph) including sleep; the guide does not say arrive-by or leave-by, and sweepers can close stations. · Medium confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2027)
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek | 12 km (7.4 mi) | Sun 9:50 am (4.83 h elapsed) |
| Lane Mtn | 52 km (32 mi) | Sun 10:45 pm (17.75 h elapsed) |
| Crown King (crew, pacer access later) | 59 km (37 mi) | Sun 11:55 pm (18.92 h elapsed) |
| Arrastra Creek | 82 km (51 mi) | Mon 7:00 am (26 h elapsed) |
| Kamp Kipa (sleep) | 98 km (61 mi) | Mon 2:00 pm (33 h elapsed) |
| Camp Wamatochick (sleep, shower) | 109 km (67 mi) | Mon 4:45 pm (35.75 h elapsed) |
| Whiskey Row, Prescott (sleep, first pacers) | 122 km (76 mi) | Mon 10:00 pm (41 h elapsed) |
| Watson Lake | 133 km (83 mi) | Tue 3:30 am (46.5 h elapsed) |
| Fain Ranch | 155 km (96 mi) | Tue 6:00 am (49 h elapsed) |
| Mingus Mountain (sleep, shower) | 173 km (107 mi) | Tue 1:00 pm (56 h elapsed) |
| Jerome | 200 km (124 mi) | Tue 8:30 pm (63.5 h elapsed) |
| Dead Horse (outdoor sleep, shower) | 214 km (133 mi) | Wed 12:00 am (67 h elapsed) |
| Deer Pass | 236 km (147 mi) | Wed 4:45 am (71.75 h elapsed) |
| Sedona Posse Grounds (sleep) | 256 km (159 mi) | Wed 12:00 pm (79 h elapsed) |
| Schnebly Hill | 283 km (176 mi) | Wed 9:00 pm (88 h elapsed) |
| Munds Park (outdoor sleep) | 306 km (190 mi) | Thu 2:45 am (93.75 h elapsed) |
| Kelly Canyon | 326 km (203 mi) | Thu 8:00 am (99 h elapsed) |
| Fort Tuthill (sleep) | 340 km (211 mi) | Thu 12:45 pm (103.75 h elapsed) |
| Walnut Canyon | 366 km (227 mi) | Thu 7:45 pm (110.75 h elapsed) |
| Wildcat Hill (last pacer point) | 377 km (234 mi) | Thu 10:45 pm (113.75 h elapsed) |
| Trinity Heights | 402 km (249 mi) | Fri 8:15 am (123.25 h elapsed) |
| Finish, Heritage Square, Flagstaff | 408 km (254 mi) | Fri 10:00 am (125 h elapsed) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyDemanding1.9
250 mi (402 km) over five days; the race says its own Bradshaw Brute 100 should not be a first 100. · High confidence
- Getting inHard2.0
Lottery with extra tickets for past finishers; 475 places and 300 waitlisted, starting with the 2027 race. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeFair3.4
Phoenix Sky Harbor is the main gateway; Flagstaff airport is 1 h 20 min from the start, and the finish is in Flagstaff. · Medium confidence
- Places to stayBook early3.4
Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona have lodging, but Black Canyon City at the start is small; not checked independently. · Low confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.0
Point to point over 408 km (253.5 mi) with 14 crew points, parking limits and a dedicated crew plan. · High confidence
- ValueFair3.2
$1,995 includes 8 sleep stations, showers at 3, hot food, tracking and 21 aid stations; race-week costs are far higher. · Medium 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
- Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Central and Northern Arizona, United States
- Region
- Mountain West
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 2 May 2027
- Start time
- 05:00
- First held
- 2021
- Distance
- 253.5 mi (408 km)
- Course shape
- Point to point
- Surface
- Mixed: Single-track 45 percent, double-track 46 percent, pavement 9 percent. Black Canyon Trail, Bradshaw Mountain jeep roads, Prescott Circle Trail, Sedona slickrock and red rock trails, Arizona Trail and Flagstaff paths.
- Footing
- Official 2027 figures: 38,943 ft (11,870 m) gain, 34,039 ft (10,375 m) loss, high point 9,241 ft (2,817 m) near Mount Elden, low point 1,996 ft (608 m). Technical sections include Mount Union and Kamp Kipa singletrack at night, the North Mingus descent, Sedona slickrock with exposure (the Hangover trail) and the Casner Canyon climb. Distance and gain vary slightly each year with permits.
- Elevation gain
- 11,870 m (38,940 ft)
- Climbing rate
- 29 m per km (154 ft per mi)
- High point
- 2,817 m (9,240 ft)
- Overall cutoff
- 125 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 29:36 per mi (18:24 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Time-of-day cutoffs from the 2027 official crew guide for a Sunday 5:00 am start; finish cutoff Friday 10:00 am (125 h), about 2.0 mph (3.2 km/h) overall. The guide does not say whether each time is arrive-by or leave-by. A runner who leaves the course to sleep must restart before the station cutoff or when the sweepers pass, whichever is first, or is out of the race.
- Aid stations
- 21
- Longest gap between aid
- 40 km (25 mi)
- Drop bags
- Most stations
- Crew access
- Many points
- Pacers
- Allowed from Whiskey Row (mile 75.6, km 121.7) to Wildcat Hill (mile 234.2, km 376.9), one at a time; no pacers from Schnebly Hill to Munds Park (14.4 mi, 23 km) or from Wildcat Hill to the finish (19.3 mi, 31 km)
- Support notes
- 21 aid stations and 4 water drops, with a hot meal at most stations. Largest staffed gap is Cottonwood Creek (mile 7.4) to Lane Mtn (mile 32.5), 25.1 mi (40.4 km), with water drops between. Sleep stations: indoor heated at Kamp Kipa, Camp Wamatochick, Whiskey Row, Mingus Mountain, Sedona and Fort Tuthill; outdoor unheated tents at Dead Horse and Munds Park; showers at Wamatochick, Mingus and Dead Horse. Cots or bunks are supplied but no sheets, blankets or pillows. First crew-access station is Crown King at mile 36.6 (km 58.9). Drop bags at 16 stations, including one direct-to-finish bag. The race is cupless.
- Water crossings
- A few
- Water notes
- Verde River wade at the midpoint and an Oak Creek crossing in Sedona (runner report); creek crossings in the Bradshaws. Four unstaffed water drops. Runners must leave Cottonwood Creek (mile 7.4, km 11.9) with at least 4 L of water capacity.
- Night running
- Two or more nights
- Mandatory gear
- Cell phone, GPS device with the course file, headlamp with spare power, collapsible cup, space blanket, whistle, capacity for 4 L of water from the start and Cottonwood Creek; cold-weather kit (gloves, warm hat, long sleeve, insulating layer) checked at set aid stations; waterproof jacket only if rain or snow forecast.
- Entry
- Lottery
- Entry fee
- About $1,995
- Field size
- About 475 runners
- Sells out
- months
- Entry notes
- 250-mile lottery began with the 2027 race. Official lottery page: one base ticket for everyone, plus one extra ticket per prior Cocodona finish from 2021 to 2026 (max three), extra tickets for core volunteers, and a 7 percentage point boost to the women's share, capped at 50:50. After 475 entrants are drawn, 300 are waitlisted (150 men, 150 women). Entry fee is 1,995 USD through 31 August 2026, 2,045 through 28 February 2027, 2,095 through 25 April 2027, before 6.35 percent Arizona tax and UltraSignup fees. Field size is the number drawn per the lottery page; 2026 results list 402 entries. Charity bib route requires raising 8,000 USD. No Western States, UTMB or Hardrock qualifier status is stated by the organiser.
- Finish rate
- 66% of starters in 2026
- Weather notes
- Reports range from severe desert heat in the first two days and again near Dead Horse, to hail, snow and rain in 2025, and cold windy snow on the Mount Elden descent. The organiser does not publish a temperature range.
- Nearest airport
- PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbor)
- Stay notes
- Start is at Deep Canyon Ranch in Black Canyon City, about 22 mi (35 km) north of Phoenix as the crow flies per the organiser. Flagstaff airport has daily flights from Phoenix, Dallas and Los Angeles, 1 h 20 min by road from the start and 15 min from the finish. Packet pickup and the 4 L capacity check are the day before the start and on start morning.
- Course record (men)
- 58:47:18 (Dan Green, 2025)
- Course record (women)
- 56:09:48 (Rachel Entrekin, 2026, also fastest overall in 2026 results)
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What runners and reviewers say
- Team RunRunRaced 2023 · blog · Positive
Finished in about 108 h with more than 16 h to spare. Short planned naps (20 to 90 min); a noisy bunk room made one sleep station a bust, her crew vehicle worked better. Severe desert heat between Dead Horse and Deer Pass forced a medical stop. Steep rocky climbs and a narrow rocky trail toward Kamp Kipa at night were hard. A companion short report praises Aravaipa's planning and community and calls Fain Ranch the only disliked stretch.
“the wheels were off the bus”
- Trail RunnerRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
The Crooks Fire forced a reroute between Crown King and Prescott, trimming the race to 250.4 mi (403 km) with 122 h limit and over 40,000 ft (12,200 m) of climbing. Heat dominated the lower desert; Mingus Mountain is called one of the hardest climbs. 21 aid stations, several with cots, all cupless.
- MassUltraRaced 2023 · article · Positive
In 2023, 137 of 191 starters finished inside the 125 h limit (about 72 percent). The article describes a 252.7 mi (407 km) route with heavy climbing and strong women's performances, including a home-course winner.
- Marathon HandbookRaced 2026 · article · Positive
May 2026 report: just over 253 mi (407 km) and roughly 39,000 ft (11,900 m) of climbing through central Arizona. Records fell in 2025 (Dan Green 58:47:18, Rachel Entrekin 63:50:55) amid hailstorm chaos, and Entrekin then won outright in 2026.
- Canadian Running MagazineRaced 2021 · article · Mixed
Inaugural 2021 race coverage: around 13,000 m (42,650 ft) of gain over about 400 km (249 mi), desert heat and climbing, with about 60 runners out in the first 72 h. Michael Versteeg led from the start; Maggie Guterl was top woman and seventh overall, paced by Courtney Dauwalter.
Show 3 more
- Aravaipa Running (official lottery notice)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
The 250 moves to a lottery because of rapid growth: the race began with fewer than 200 runners and the 2026 festival drew over 1,300 across all distances. Base ticket for all, extra for past finishers (up to three) and core volunteers, and a women's-share boost; other distances stay first come, first served.
- Mountain Running and Living (Substack)Raced 2023 · blog · Mixed
A Tahoe 200 finisher who has also run Cocodona 250 says Tahoe was harder. Useful comparison: She felt less emotionally flat after finishing Tahoe than she did after Cocodona, and called Tahoe the harder of the two.
- Multiday Running (event listing)aggregator · Mixed
Listing shows 21 aid stations and 4 water drops, entry fee tiers and the 25 April 2027 cutoff for registration, and does not mark the 250 as beginner friendly. Used only to cross-check the official page.
Ran Cocodona 250? Your notes on the footing, cutoffs and aid stations help the next runner decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings.
Training for Cocodona 250? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.