High-desert mesa running with nonstop views of Zion's sandstone walls
Other trail races within 198 miles
The Zion Ultras 100 Mile traverses some of the most dramatic high-desert terrain in the American Southwest, running adjacent to Zion National Park across a series of sandstone mesas above the Virgin River canyon. From the Ruby Rider Ranch basecamp, the course links Wire Mesa, Gooseberry Mesa, and Smith Mesa through a mix of singletrack, slickrock, ATV roads, and desert washes. The highlight stretch drops off Gooseberry Mesa via the Mondo Z Cut, passing the cliffs made famous by Red Bull Rampage, before entering the Virgin Desert. A long sustained climb to Smith Mesa precedes the technical Flying Monkey Trail — narrow rocky singletrack with a fixed rope descent that tests runners thoroughly in the dark. The final push back over the Mondo Z Cut and into the finish at Ruby Rider Ranch cements this as a race of sustained challenge and relentless beauty.
Experienced ultrarunners
Apple Valley, UT, United StatesApril 11, 2026
Zion Ultras 100 Mile is a loop trail race in Apple Valley, UT, United States, held on April 11, 2026. The course covers 100 miles, climbs 11,900 ft, and has a 36h cutoff.
| Location | Mile | Elevation | Cutoff | Crew | Pacers | Drop bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start Start | 0.0 | 4,925 ft | — | |||
Ruby Rider Ranch Start | 0.0 | 4,921 ft | — | CrewHike in | ||
Wire Mesa Aid Station | 8.0 | 4,564 ft | — | |||
Wire Mesa II Aid Station | 15.3 | 4,669 ft | — | |||
Mondo Z Aid Station | 23.0 | 5,059 ft | — | |||
Crazy Jug Point Landmark | 25.3 | 5,305 ft | — | |||
Gooseberry Aid Station | 30.8 | 5,262 ft | — | |||
Mondo Z II Aid Station | 34.6 | 4,006 ft | — | |||
Virgin Desert Aid Station | 42.9 | 3,776 ft | — | Crew | Pacers | |
Hwy 9 Crossing Landmark | 51.4 | 3,556 ft | — | |||
Water Monster Resource | 51.4 | 3,556 ft | — | |||
Virgin Dam Aid Station | 51.5 | 3,645 ft | — | |||
Smith Mesa Aid Station | 59.7 | 5,023 ft | — | |||
Flying Monkey Water Monster Resource | 61.6 | 4,865 ft | — | |||
Virgin BMX Aid Station | 69.1 | 3,556 ft | — | Crew | Pacers | |
Guacamole Aid Station | 74.9 | 4,472 ft | — | |||
Guacamole II Aid Station | 81.0 | 4,213 ft | — | |||
Hwy 9 Crossing II Landmark | 81.9 | 3,533 ft | — | |||
Virgin BMX II Aid Station | 87.5 | 3,655 ft | — | Crew | Pacers | |
Mondo Z III Aid Station | 91.7 | 5,059 ft | — | |||
Ruby Rider Ranch Finish | 96.9 | 4,921 ft | 36h6:00 PM +1 | CrewHike in |
Aid station details for this race are still being filled in. Cutoffs and access rules come from the race’s own published information and can change — check the official race details before planning around them.
Sign in for race-day weather at every station, points of interest, segment-by-segment analysis, pacing, and to save this race to your calendar.
Primitive camping at Ruby Rider Ranch (same location as expo, start, and finish). Options include tent, car camping, hammock, or RV. Tent rental available for an additional fee. Reserve a spot in advance — space is available but it's treated as a large group site.
Exposed desert mesa terrain with minimal shade for extended stretches — sun protection essential
April desert weather can swing rapidly — temperatures may drop significantly at night on exposed ridgelines and mesa tops
No required gear specified
No recommended gear specified
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