Cave Creek Thriller

Cave Creek Thriller Trail Runs

The Cave Creek Thriller is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Cave Creek Regional Park in Cave Creek, Arizona. The event offers four distances:

• 50K - point-to-point, Lake Pleasant to Cave Creek on the Maricopa Trail
• 24K - point-to-point on the Maricopa Trail, finishes inside Cave Creek Regional Park
• 11K - entirely inside Cave Creek Regional Park on Go John, Quartz and Overton Trails
• 5K - entirely inside Cave Creek Regional Park on the same trails

This race serves as the opening event of the Desert Runner Trail Series and is noted as an annual event with distances that may vary slightly each year due to permitting.

Course, services and logistics

Course terrain includes steep, rocky and exposed sections with views of the Sonoran Desert. Key stats listed for the distances include: the 50K at 31.2 miles with about 2,810 feet of elevation gain and a max elevation near 2,518 feet; the 24K at about 15.6 miles with 1,960 feet gain; the 11K at about 7.3 miles with 960 feet gain; and the 5K at about 3.6 miles with 542 feet gain. Aid stations are placed along courses supplying water, electrolyte drink, sweet and salty snacks, and fruit; aid spacing varies by distance. The event is cupless - runners must bring a reusable cup or obtain one on site. Parking is centered at Cave Creek Regional Park and the park charges a $7 day entry fee per vehicle; shuttle service is provided from the park to the 50K and 24K start areas. Entrant limit is 500 runners. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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