A high-altitude loop through Colorado's ghost mining country
Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K takes place on July 18, 2026 in Silverton, CO.
Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K is 31.8 miles with 4,570 ft of elevation gain.
No — Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K uses open registration; no lottery is required.
Yes, crew is allowed at Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K. Sign in to Trailrace to see crew access for each aid station.
No, pacers are not allowed at Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K.
Yes, Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K allows drop bags.
Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K has 6 aid stations along the course.
The overall cutoff for Silverton Alpine Marathons 50K is 11h. Per-aid-station cutoffs are available to signed-in Trailrace members.
Other trail races within 61 miles
A 31.8-mile lollipop route through the San Juan Mountains on the historic Alpine Loop jeep roads. Starting and finishing at Silverton Memorial Park at 9,318 feet, the course begins with a short out-and-back to Niagara Gulch before sweeping through the ghost mining towns of Howardsville, Eureka, Animas Forks, and Gladstone, cresting the legendary California Pass at 12,926 feet. Open to OHV traffic on race day — a bandana or gaiter recommended for dust.
Some ultra experience recommended
Silverton, CO, United StatesJuly 18, 2026
Moderate trail conditions with some technical sections
| Location | Mile | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
Start Start | 0.0 | 9,344 ft |
Niagara Gulch Checkpoint | 2.2 | 9,783 ft |
Memorial Park Aid Station | 4.5 | 9,344 ft |
Howardsville Aid Station | 8.8 | 9,682 ft |
Eureka Aid Station | 12.4 | 9,865 ft |
Animas Forks Aid Station | 16.8 | 11,161 ft |
California Pass Aid Station | 20.8 | 12,897 ft |
Gladstone Aid Station | 24.8 | 10,564 ft |
Niagara Gulch Checkpoint | 29.2 | 9,783 ft |
Finish Finish | 31.8 | 9,344 ft |
Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.
July in the San Juan Mountains brings warm mornings and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Race day starts cool in Silverton (9,318 ft) with temperatures typically in the 50s–60s°F at the gun, rising through the day. Above treeline near California Pass (12,926 ft), wind and rapidly shifting weather are common. Afternoon thunderstorms typically develop between noon and 3 PM on the exposed ridgelines. UV intensity is high at altitude. Runners in later start waves should be prepared for lightning conditions above treeline.
Course spends significant time above 11,000 ft with a summit at 12,926 ft at California Pass
Afternoon thunderstorms common on exposed Alpine Loop ridgelines in July — peak risk 12–3 PM
High UV exposure on open jeep roads at altitude; sunscreen and sun protection recommended
No required gear specified
No recommended gear specified
No reviews for this event yet. Be the first to share your experience!
