Rocky Mountain Half Marathon

Set for its 11th annual running through the resort town of Estes Park, Colorado, which lies just outside the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon takes runners on a high-elevation, out-and-back loop course that features stunning views of the mountains that surround in all directions. Runners should note that the race doesn’t take them within the confines of Rocky Mountain National Park due to restrictions by the National Park Service — which does allow running events like this one in some parks, like Death Valley — in order to preserve the environment inside the park’s boundaries. However, the race will take runners along the edge of the park and they’ll be able to visit both before and after the race. As for the race itself, the course begins in Estes Park on the Lake Estes Trail, near the intersection of Community Drive and St. Vrain Avenue. From there, the race follows the trail around the lake and then onto Big Thompson Avenue and Dry Gulch Road, which brings runners on a steady uphill for the next few miles. That’s followed by an equally gradual downhill in the second half of the race. Once runners reach the furthest-out point of the course along Devils Gulch Road, they’ll begin a gradual descent over the last five miles or so of the race, which include some rolling hills. This is a very high-elevation race, runners should note — the lowest point on the course lies at just over 7,400 feet above sea level, while the highest point (around mile 8) tops out at just over 7,900 feet. By comparison, “mile-high” Denver lies at just over 5,200 feet, Atlanta at about 1,000 feet, and Salt Lake City at about 4,200 feet. Walkers are welcome as long as they can finish the race within the 4-hour course time limit, and you can find more info on COVID-19 precautions and shuttle transportation to and from the start/finish line area at the official race website here. Our Experts Recommended Race If you’re considering the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon, you will absolutely like the Rogue Expeditions Running Vacations. For over a decade, Rogue has been guiding running tours through Ireland, Italy, Morocco, and other popular bucket list destinations globally and in the United States. Experience the world through your running. Awards & Accolades We ranked the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon as one of the Most Fun Half Marathons of 2024.