course maps
5KThe race starts in Parking Lot A at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. All runners will be on a paved road leading out of the Park for about .7 miles (this is all uphill) and turn right onto a dirt road that loops thru a picnic area. All 5K runners will be turned around before completing the full picnic loop and will then backtrack to the paved road, returning to Parking Lot A, going to the left of the ticket booths at the Main Gate of the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, and then crossing the Bridge for 1/4 mile to the FINISH LINE!
The 10 K runners will complete the full picnic loop and return to the paved road where they will bear right for 1/4 mile, turning right onto a dirt road that leads to camping areas. They will continue for about 1 mile to a water/aid station where they will be turned around to backtrack - back to the paved road, taking a left to the picnic loop, run the picnic loop again, returning to the paved road where they will turn left to return to Parking Lot A, running to the left of the ticket booths at the Main Gate of the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, and then crossing the Bridge for 1/4 mile to the FINISH LINE!
The trail run will begin at the same start as the 5K & 10K. All trail runners will run on the paved road out of the park for about .7 miles. They will then go left to jump on the Twisted Cistern Trail for 1.6 miles before getting on a 3-mile loop, "Made in the Shade." Runners will then get back on Twisted Cistern and make their way back to where they started and keep running towards and then over the Bridge to the FINISH LINE! We will have a trail map up soon.
The 1/2 marathon will start in Parking Lot A at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. All runners will begin by running towards the Royal Gorge Bridge. Runners will make their way across the bridge and follow the road (South 3 A) up past Tommy Knocker Children's Playland. They will continue on this road for approximately 5 miles. Runners will turn around just before the cattle guard (before Gulch Road) and head back towards Temple Canon Road where they will take a right and run on a dirt road for approximately 1.7 miles, at which point, runners will head back towards South 3A where they will turn right. Runners will continue to the FINISH at the Bridge. There will be water/aid stations at mile markers 3, 5, and 7. Runners will hit mile marker "3's station" on the way back, making 4 total opportunities to hydrate.