North Fork 50 Mile/50K

The North Fork 50 Mile/50K is a gem of an ultramarathon in the Colorado mountains just southwest of Denver. The course is 100% soft surface, made up almost entirely of incredible singletrack trails with a few short sections of double track road.

Climb through open burn areas from a 1996 fire, then dive back into the beautiful ponderosa pines and wind around towering granite rock formations as you excite your senses and challenge your mettle.

A portion of race proceeds goes to the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department, which supports and serves the local community.

The course is a loop, plus an out-and-back section in the 50 Mile, starting and finishing along the rushing North Fork of the South Platte River in beautiful Pine Valley Ranch Park. The course is mostly in pine forest, but it also includes parts of the areas burned in the 1996 Buffalo Creek fire and 2000 High Meadows fire, both of which the North Fork Fire Department helped to fight. The altitude is 6,700 to 8,100 feet in the 50K and 6,700 to 8,400 feet in the 50 Mile. The 50K has about 4,800 feet of climb, and the 50 Mile about 7,500. Although the course is very challenging for those who do not regularly run mountain trails, speedsters used to altitude will find the course quite runnable. And the friendly aid stations, beautiful scenery and liberal time cutoffs make North Fork an excellent choice for a first trail ultramarathon. Complete race, course and lodging information can be found on the race website.