Black Canyon Ultras, live.

Point to point down the Black Canyon Trail in February

Black Canyon Ultras runs two point to point races down the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail north of Phoenix in mid February.

Aravaipa Running puts on the Black Canyon Ultras over one February weekend in Arizona. The 2027 edition is on 13 and 14 February. The trail it follows has a long history of its own: it was established in 1919 as a livestock driveway, and today it carries a race weekend that, in the organiser's words, draws runners from around the world.

The 100K is on Saturday 13 February. It is 62.2 miles from Mayer High School in Spring Valley to the Emery Henderson Trailhead near New River, with 5,219 feet of climbing and 7,337 feet of descent, and a 20 hour time limit. The 50K follows on Sunday 14 February, 32.2 miles from the same start to Deep Canyon Ranch in Black Canyon City, with 2,004 feet up and 4,005 feet down and an 11 hour limit. Both races start in waves at 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning.

The 100K is a Western States 100 qualifier. Finishing it in under 17 hours qualifies a participant for the Western States 100 lottery, and the top three women and top three men of the 2027 100K earn an automatic place in the 2027 Western States 100. The organisers warn not to let the elevation profile fool you: the first 20 miles are fast and downhill, many runners go out too hard and struggle later, and the 100K saves most of its climbing, steep descents and rocky, technical terrain for the final miles.

In the 100K, crews are allowed at the Bumble Bee Ranch Adventures, Deep Canyon Ranch and Table Mesa aid stations. The 100K finish has no parking, so crews and spectators reach it on a free shuttle from the Outlets at Anthem, starting at 1:00 in the afternoon. The organisers expect cold race mornings, likely in the 30s Fahrenheit, and say afternoon heat and even the occasional thunderstorm or snow are not uncommon at this time of year.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from Aravaipa Running.