The race begins at 6:00 AM at Ruby’s Inn on Highway 63, in Bryce, Utah. The course heads north briefly, then turns east onto National Scenic Byway 12, where runners are treated to spectacular views of the sunrise as it lights up the pink cliffs and red walls of the canyon ahead.
For the next four miles, the route descends through Bryce Canyon National Park, offering beautiful vistas of the unique sandstone pinnacles and spires that rise from the bottom of the canyon.
After mile five, the course leaves the park and the downhill becomes more gradual as the route rolls through pastures and ranches, crossing the Tropic Ditch and descending into the town of Tropic.
From there, the course continues eastward along the Paria River and toward the finish in Cannonville, at an elevation of 5,800 feet. Brilliant red and white rock formations frame the finish line, creating a memorable end to the race.
Organizers note that runners must reach the finish line in Cannonville by 9:00 AM — Highway 12 will need to be re-opened to traffic by then — so they’ll have a course time limit of 3 hours to finish the race. They’ll also award $3,000 in cash prizes to the top 5 overall male and female runners.
