Grizzly 50 Miler

  • 51 Miles of Mountainous Pain

  • 10,000+ ft. Vertical Ft. Elevation Gain 

  • 10,000+ ft. Vertical Ft. Elevation Loss

  • (20,000+ Vertical Ft. Change)

  • Start time 2:00 am on Saturday

  • The final cut-off is 16 hours (6:00 pm on Saturday) 

*Prerequisites:  Possessing a healthy appetite for beauty and pain... No "race" prerequisites but this is NOT your grandma's 50-miler... Be prepared for a TOUGH race that many have described as the most difficult 50-miler they have ever done, but their favorite!

 

  • Start & Finish at Big Elk Creek YMCA camp located here, the course covers 1 GIANT, 51-mile figure-eight

    • 97% Single Track (zero asphalt, only a few miles of dirt road)

  • Cut-offs: There are only 2:

    • ​N. Indian Cr., the final time​, leaving by 11:00 am Saturday morning

    • Big Elk Creek finish, 6:00 pm Saturday evening

  • Creek Crossings, there are multiple ones, depending on snowmelt, but none of them are over thigh-deep with the deepest being Big Elk Cr. and a rope is secured during high water years

    • You will have wet feet, you will NEED merino wool socks and shoes that drain well

    • We discourage the use of waterproof shoes as they won't breathe well in the July heat​

  • Drop Bag and Crew/Spectator Access at miles 9.5 and 30, both at  N. Indian Cr. located here

  • Wilderness Aid Stations located at miles 14, 23, 34, 42, 45 for a total of 6 fully-stocked wilderness aid station stops (8 total)

    • Medical personnel will be staffed at most of these locations and have In-Reach GPS units to text back to the medical director​

    • Liquid IV's will not be available

  • Filtering Water: We do not recommend drinking from any of the streams without using a water filter. There are multiple points to filter water if needed, except for 2 major stretches: 

    • Quaker Flat/Blowout Canyon has lots of climbing, exposure, and the only possibility of water access​ being along Spring Run (closer to N. Indian Cr.)

    • Dry Canyon is a long dry stretch after leaving Garden Gnome aid station late in the race, so stock up well​

      • A couple of miles up ​Garden Canyon there is a possibility of water access before the canyon turns to the west, this a good place to filter water and top yourself off before your last grueling climb late in the race

  • NO PACERS allowed in the Grizzly 50

  • Pricing: $175 by Jan. 31 - $195 by Apr. 30 - $220 until registration closes June 30

Grizzly 50 Maps
Grizzly 50 Grid Chart
Schedule & Policies