Aspen Backcountry Marathon
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Aspen Backcountry : event details
The Aspen Backcountry takes place Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Rio Grande Park, Aspen, Colorado. The event offers three trail distances, each run almost exclusively on dirt trails and starting and finishing at Rio Grande Park.
- 50K
- Marathon
- Heavy Half-Marathon
The race is hosted on the same day as the Duck Derby fundraising festival in Rio Grande Park, which includes live music, food trucks, youth booths, bouncy houses, beverage sales and a silent auction.
Course, support and logistics
Key course statistics: the 50K is listed as 30.39 miles with 5,512 ft total elevation gain and a max elevation of 10,385 ft (time limit 10 hours). The marathon is 26.35 miles with 4,764 ft gain and a max elevation of 10,090 ft (time limit 8.5 hours). The heavy half is 14.64 miles with 3,169 ft gain and a max elevation of 10,090 ft (time limit 8 hours).
The event is limited support with remote aid stations and course marking. Light aid offerings at some stations include water, an electrolyte drink (Tailwind), bananas and oranges. Portable toilets and a medical team are at the start/finish; volunteer medical personnel are on course but rescue is not guaranteed. A valid Pitkin County CORSAR card is required at packet pickup. Drop bags are allowed at the start/finish. Parking in Aspen can be limited; carpooling and public transit (RFTA) are noted as options. Live race tracking is provided. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.