Telluride Mountain Run - 24 Mile Race

Race - Aug 28, 2021

Dogs Off-leash

The course takes you through the lush and forested Bear Creek Preserve, across the stunning ridge traverse from Ajax Peak to Telluride Peak and even gives you a taste of history as you run through the abandoned mining town of Tomboy. The course will cover a variety of terrain that includes jeep roads, forested singletrack, amazing alpine single and doubletrack, and a loose and rocky high ridge traverse to Telluride Peak. You'll spend the majority of the race running above 10,000ft and you'll summit peaks over 13,000 ft twice. With a little bit of everything, this is a great mountain running challenge for those not wanting to tackle the 40 miler.

You should know... there are sections of this course that are extremely technical, steep and loose. THIS IS A TECHNICAL MOUNTAIN RACE, NOT A TRAIL RUN- participants will be running to altitudes of over 13,000 ft on exposed ridgelines and steep, rocky summits. The trails are extremely rocky and at times there are no trails at all. There are many sections of this course that will be exposed to falls, potential rockfall and hazardous weather. There will be safety personnel along sections of the route monitoring these hazards but all participants should be responsible for their own safety. THIS IS NOT AN EVENT FOR BEGINNERS.

The 24 Mile course starts at the Oak Street Plaza in Telluride (base of the Gondola) and ends in the Telluride Town Park.

Section 1- Telluride to Bridal Veil: Leave Oak Street Plaza and head south across the bridge and onto the Ski Area. Follow Telluride Trail up for .5 miles and take a left onto the Camels Garden Trail. After .5 miles, the Camels Garden Trail will intersect the Bear Creek Trail, take a right turn, follow the doubletrack up for 2 miles to the Wasatch Trail intersection. Take a right turn up the Wasatch Trail and continue for 1 mile and veer left onto the East Fork Trail. Follow the East Fork Bear Creek Trail up for 1.2 miles where the trail will merge with the Wasatch Trail. Continue up and left for 1.5 miles to Wasatch Pass. From Wasatch Pass head down and left on a faint two track road marked with large rock cairns. After .8 miles on this road it will trend left into La Junta Basin- do not go this way! Instead, turn right and head down the grassy slopes, following small rock cairns to the Bridal Veil Road that can be seen below. Follow the Bridal Veil Road down for 3.5 miles to the Bridal Veil Aid Station- mile 11.



Section 2- Bridal Veil to Imogene: From the Bridal Veil Aid Station continue up the Black Bear Pass Road switchbacks for 1.2 miles before taking a left turn onto the Ajax Peak Trail. This will be shortly after a steep rock step in the road following the river crossing above Ingram Falls. Follow the Ajax Trail for 1.5 miles of switchbacks to the ridge. From the ridge continue up and right on rocky terrain for .3 miles to the summit of Peak 13,230. From the summit of Peak 13,230, turn left (east) and follow the high ridge for 1.5 miles, passing over the summit of Telluride Peak (13,509'), to the Imogene Pass Aid Station at 13,200'- mile 15.5. *Note-The route more or less follows the direct ridgeline with a few deviations dropping off to the right side for less technical terrain. There are sections of this ridge that a very loose so please take your time and be aware of others below you. It is also very exposed to weather so please use your best judgement on whether or not to proceed if storms appear to be moving in- this 1.5 miles will be very slow for some.

Section 3- Imogene to Liberty Bell: From the Imogene Pass Aid Station head down Tomboy Road for 2.5 miles and take a right turn on the Marshall Basin Road- this will appear shortly after you exit the old Tomboy town ruins. Follow the Marshall Basin Road to the upper mining ruins and continue up grassy slopes to the right until you are able to regain a singletrack trail heading back left towards Mendota Pass- 2.2 miles from the start of the road. *Note- If you continue up and right on this singletrack, instead of left, it will take you to Virginius Pass- do not go this way! Head down the steep loose trail from Mendota Pass. Once back on the tundra the trail will fork, take the faint trail to the right which will send you to the Liberty Bell Trail. From Mendota Pass, it is 2.6 miles to the Liberty Bell Aid Station- mile 22

Section 4- Liberty Bell to Telluride Town Park: From the Liberty Bell Aid Station, continue South down the Jud Wiebie Trail doubletrack towards Tomboy Road. *Note- if you turn right (west) onto the Jud Wiebie Trail singletrack you'll drastically extend your race.

After 1 mile, take a right turn on Tomboy Road and run until you intersect pavement on Oak Street. Descend Oak Street one block and take a left (east) turn on Galena. Run 4 blocks on Galena Street and turn right (south) on Willow Street. Run three blocks south, be careful crossing Main Street. Turn left on Pacific Street, right next to the post office, and enter Town Park. Follow signs to Finish Line!