Mayer, Arizona · Trail
Official site ↗Black Canyon Ultras
A point-to-point 100K down the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, and one of the Golden Ticket races that decide early entries to Western States.
Distances
- Distance
- 100 km (62 mi)
- Vert gain
- 5,219 ft (1,600 m)
- Cutoff
- 20 hr
Point to point, net downhill; billed at 62.2 miles · WSER 2028 qualifier (sub-17:00)
| Distance | Vert gain | Cutoff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 km (62 mi) | 5,219 ft (1,600 m) | 20 hr | Point to point, net downhill; billed at 62.2 miles · WSER 2028 qualifier (sub-17:00) |
Course records: Jennifer Lichter 7:57:05 (2026) · Hans Troyer 7:20:00 (2026)
About
The Black Canyon 100K runs point to point down the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, from Mayer High School on the high grassland at 4,000 feet to Emery Henderson Trailhead in the low Sonoran Desert north of Phoenix. The course drops more than it climbs (about 5,200 feet of gain against 7,300 of loss) on fast, rocky singletrack among saguaro, and its February date makes it the marquee early-season 100K in North America.
It is a HOKA Golden Ticket race: the top finishers earn automatic entries to the Western States 100, which fills the front of the field with many of the best ultrarunners in the country. The race is part of the World Trail Majors and is put on by Aravaipa Running, with a 50K on the same trail the following day.
Course
Point to point from Mayer to Emery Henderson Trailhead, entirely on the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail. The 100K is billed at 62.2 miles with about 5,219 feet of gain and 7,337 feet of loss, from a high point of 4,199 feet to a low of 1,737. A wave start (7:00, 7:30, and 8:00 AM) spreads the field out on the singletrack, and the time limit is 20 hours.
How to register
Registration is first come, first served on UltraSignup, with an entry limit of 1,200 in the 100K and tiered pricing that rises as the race nears. Finishing the 100K under 17 hours qualifies for the Western States lottery, and the top three men and women earn Golden Ticket entries. An Echo Challenge add-on lets 100K runners also race the 50K the next day.