Grin & Bear It
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Event overview
The Grin & Bear It takes place on July 11, 2026 in Crested Butte, Colorado and is presented by Crested Butte Nordic. The event includes the following distances:
- 25 km loop
- 15 km out-and-back
- 14.83 miles mountain bike
Registration opens December 1, 2025. The running events are open to ages 16 and older; the mountain bike event is open to ages 12 and older. The event notes minimal swag and no podium awards.
Course and aid
All courses start and finish at the Crested Butte Nordic Center. The 25 km loop gains and loses about 2,900 ft and reaches a course high point near 10,983 ft. The route climbs from town to the Baxter Gulch singletrack, crosses Baxter Creek twice, climbs to a high saddle, then follows a rocky traverse and descends toward Green Lake before returning to town. Runners follow a 0.3-mile spur to Green Lake; bikers bypass that spur and continue down the Green Lake Trail. The 15 km out-and-back gains and loses about 1,600 ft and finishes back at the Nordic Center.
Course aid is limited. Volunteers filter and distribute water at on-course aid locations, and participants are required to carry a minimum of 16 oz of water. There is a cut-off at the Baxter Gulch saddle (approximate mile 6) for both run and bike fields. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.