Telluride Mountain Run - 13 Mile Race

Race - Aug 28, 2021

Dogs Off-leash

This course splits its mileage between the Telluride Ski Area and the West Fork of Bear Creek, climbing to a highpoint of 12,900ft on the Gold Hill ridge line from the town of Telluride. You'll cover a variety of terrain, including jeep roads, forested singletrack, a high ridge traverse to the highpoint on Gold Hill and a stunning descent through grassy alpine basins. This course will work your lungs with 4,500ft of vertical gain in the first half of the course. Watch out, climb number two makes you earn the last 600ft of elevation gain.

You should know... there are sections of this course that are technical, steep and loose. THIS IS A TECHNICAL MOUNTAIN RACE, NOT A TRAIL RUN- participants will be running to altitudes close to 13,000ft on exposed ridgelines and steep, rocky summits. The trails are extremely rocky and at times they can be hard to decipher. 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 13 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 Gold Hill 1: Leave Oak Street Plaza and head south across the bridge and onto the Ski Area. Follow Telluride Trail up for 1 mile until you have the option to continue straight on Easy Out Road. After .3 miles, Easy Out Road will take a right turn, follow this up for 1 mile to See Forever Ridge. If you miss this turn you'll soon arrive at the base of Lift 9. Continue on the See Forever Trail (road), off and on the ridge, for 1.8 miles to the Gold Hill Aid Station- mile 4.2.

Section 2- Gold Hill 1 to Gold Hill Summit and back to Gold Hill 2: This section of the course has steep and loose travel to 12,900ft. From the Gold Hill 1 Aid Station continue up the road, past the top of Lift 15 for ~1 mile. You'll encounter the Gold Hill staircase at this point. Take the stairs to the top and follow the signs looping you around the summit of the 13 mile course. You'll then descend the staircase and follow the road back to Gold Hill 2 Aid Station- mile 6.5.

Section 3- Gold Hill 2 to East Fork of Bear Creek: Exit the Gold Hill 2 Aid Station and immediately take a hard right. The course winds underneath Lift 15 and you begin your descent into Bear Creek. Follow the beautiful Wasatch Connection trail through green and flowered alpine bowls. This singletrack trail is a mix of dirt and loose rock, watch your step. After 1.5 miles, take a right and start back uphill on the West Fork Trail. This .75 mile climb and traverse sends you through more alpine bowls and connects with the East Fork Trail.

Section 4- East Fork of Bear Creek to Telluride: At the intersection, head left, downhill, and follow the East Fork Trail back towards Telluride. You'll descend the East Fork Trail for 1 mile to where it intersects with the Wasatch Trail. Turn right (downhill) and follow the Wasatch Trail for 1.25 miles to the intersection with the Bear Creek Trail. Turn left (downhill) and run the wide and smooth Bear Creek Trail until it turns to asphalt in the Town of Telluride after 2 miles. Continue straight on Pine Street for ~500 ft. You'll cross the San Miguel River and hang an immediate right on the River Trail. Continue for .25 miles and take your next right into Town Park across another bridge over the San Miguel river. At this point you are within .1 mile! Follow the signs to the Finish Line.