West Elk Challenge
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Event details
The West Elk Challenge is a point-to-point trail event on October 4, 2025 in the North Fork Valley, Colorado. Distances offered:
- 26.2 miles (trail marathon)
- 30 km / ~18.5 miles (new for 2025, limited to 50 participants; not eligible for prizes)
The event is a fundraiser for the Nature Connection’s Scholarship Fund and is run under permit from the USDA Forest Service.
Course and logistics
The course begins at Crawford Reservoir State Park and finishes in Paonia along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The route uses a mix of paved and gravel roads and singletrack forest trails, with singletrack making up over half of the course. Runners climb more than 4,000 feet to the Inter-Ocean Pass at about 9,762 feet, then descend through spruce, aspen and oak past Lone Cabin Reservoir. Organizers provide six aid stations at roughly miles 3 (water only), 7, 11, 15 (summit), 19 and 22, with water, snacks and first aid. A free shuttle runs from Paonia to the race start and return shuttles are provided from the finish; a $10 park fee applies for those who drive to the start. West Elk Mountain Rescue supports the event and receives a portion of proceeds. Post-race activities take place in Paonia. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.