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Built on bad decisions in Boulder, CO.

Sawatch Ascent 50K

Basic Listing
  1. Freestone Endurance
  2. 2026 Edition

High-alpine vert-fest circling Mount White to 13,100 feet above the Sawatch Range

Directions
Register

Nearby races

Other trail races within 45 miles

Sawatch 50/50

Sawatch 50/50

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Buena Vista, CO, US
Sep 26, 2026
Combo Event
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Lottery
Qualifier Req
Service Req

High Lonesome 100

100 Mile
Nathrop, CO, US
Jul 17, 2026
100 miles
23,240 ft gain
Loop
Crew
Pacers
Dropbags
1 mi away
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30.57 miles
4,300 ft gain
Loop
Crew
Dropbags
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7,000 ft gain
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15,490 ft gain
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All trail races in Colorado→
September 27, 2026
Sunday 7:30am MDT start
Buena Vista, CO
United States
33 miles
Lollipop Course
7,000 ft
Elevation Gain
Open Registration
No lottery
No Service Requirement
Does not require trail or volunteer work
No Qualifier
No qualifier race required
Challenging
Some ultra experience recommended
Links
WebsiteInstagramFacebook
2021
Established

What Makes It Great

A high-alpine 33-mile lollipop course starting at the base of 14,197-foot Mount Princeton and climbing deep into the Sawatch Range. Runners ascend through ponderosa and aspen forests on the Colorado Trail before reaching a sweeping alpine plateau between Mount White and Mount Antero at 13,100 feet. The course completely circumnavigates 13,667-foot Mount White through two stunning canyon systems — Browns Creek and Little Browns — before descending back to the Arkansas Valley. Day 2 of the Sawatch 50/50 back-to-back challenge and a High Lonesome 100 qualifier when combined with the West Line Winder 50k.

Difficulty

Intermediate
4/10

Some ultra experience recommended

High Altitude
Steep Climbing
Technical Terrain
Exposed Ridgeline
Variable Weather

Race Highlights

13,100 ft high point
Climbs to a vast alpine plateau between Mount White and 14,269-foot Mount Antero with panoramic Sawatch views
7,000 ft of gain in 33 miles
Continuous climbing from the 8,150-foot Arkansas Valley floor to the Skyline aid station at the course high point
Circumnavigates Mount White
Completely encircles 13,667-foot Mount White through two distinct canyon systems — Browns Creek and Little Browns
High Lonesome 100 qualifier
Finish both the WLW and Sawatch Ascent under cutoff and you've earned a High Lonesome 100 qualifier

Finish Awards

Finisher Medal
Medal for all finishers; can opt out for $10 off registration
Finisher Shirt
Race shirt for all finishers; can opt out for $10 off registration

Sawatch Ascent 50K

Buena Vista, CO, United StatesSeptember 27, 2026

September 27, 2026
Course map for Sawatch Ascent 50K
DistDistance33 mi
GainElevation Gain7,000 ft
LimitCutoff11 h
Terrain Technical Terrain
High AltitudeSteep ClimbingExposed RidgelineVariable Weather

Entry Timeline

Race DaySeptember 27, 2026

Lottery

This event uses open registration - no lottery entry required.

Qualifier

This event does not require a qualifier for entry.

Service Requirement

This race does not have a service requirement for entry.

Terrain

Technical Difficulty6/10

Moderate trail conditions with some technical sections

Surface Types
Singletrack67%
Pavement14%
Mining Roads12%
Gravel Road7%
33.0 mi
Distance
Lollipop
Route
11h
Cutoff Time
9,800 ft
Average Elevation
7,000 ft
Total Ascent
7,000 ft
Total Descent
13,100 ft
High Point
8,150 ft
Low Point
Course map
Launch Course Explorer

Aid Stations

LocationMileElevation
Start
Start
0.08,563 ft
Raspberry 1
Aid Station
7.38,957 ft
Skyline
Aid Station
18.013,028 ft
Raspberry 2
Aid Station
25.78,957 ft
Finish
Finish
33.08,563 ft

Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.

Dogs Allowed

Dogs must remain leashed at all times and stay at least 100 feet from trails and aid stations. Runners may not run with dogs.

On-Site Camping Available

Camping available at the Sawatch Ascent start/finish area in Nathrop. Reservations required for runners ($30); free for volunteers. Opens Friday at 1pm, closes Sunday at 7pm. No fires, food must be stored in vehicles (bears active). Dogs allowed only in RVs, camper trailers, or conditioned vans.

Crew Access Points

Pacer Rules

No Pacers Allowed

Crew Rules

  • Crew allowed at Start/Finish (38.740282, -106.161237), Raspberry 2 aid station (mile 25.7; coordinates 38.689344, -106.170766; access after 10:30am only). Crew NOT allowed at Raspberry 1 (mile 7.3) or Skyline (mile 18).
Weather

September in Nathrop delivers classic high-altitude Colorado conditions. Early morning starts at 8,150 feet are cool (40–50°F). Temperatures warm in the lower valleys but drop sharply near the 13,100-foot high point, where wind and cold are common. Above treeline, afternoon thunderstorms are possible, though less frequent by late September. Runners should carry a windproof shell and be prepared for a 30–40°F swing between the start and the alpine plateau.

Gear Rules

Trekking poles allowed

Required Gear

No required gear specified

Recommended Gear

No recommended gear specified

Race Reports

Sawatch Ascent 50K — Sawatch 50/50 (2025)
By Wilderness Wanderings • 2025

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Register•September 27, 2026