race.vacations
Cactus to Cloud Sky Race
UltraDesert to AlpineCanyon TrailSingle-track

Cactus to Cloud Sky Race

Alamogordo & Cloudcroft, NM, NM

One of the Southwest's most striking point-to-point trail experiences the desert floor to the alpine ridge in a single day, but the 9,000 ft gain demands serious preparation.

When
October 17, 2026
Distances
32K Cloud Run · Sky Run 50K
Surface
Trail
Course
Point-to-point
Elevation gain
9,000 ft
Altitude
4,400 ft–9,200 ft
Weather
Cool
Nearest airport
ELP
Suggested trip
2 nights

Score breakdown

7.8/10

Strong. A strong destination race with real appeal.

Scenery / setting9.5· 20%
Course character9.0· 15%
Weather appeal7.0· 15%
Destination appeal7.5· 15%
Logistics practicality5.5· 15%
Difficulty clarity8.0· 10%
Data confidence7.0· 5%
Editorial judgment8.5· 5%

Also worth knowing (not weighted)

Non-runner appeal6.0
Remoteness8.0

Editorial score (v0.1) — full method on How we score. Never affected by sponsorships.

Weather

This is a multi-climate course — conditions differ along the route, so we show weather by point rather than a single city average.

PointAvg high / lowBand
Start — Oliver Lee State Park41–61°FCool
Finish — Cloudcroft30–58°FCool
High cold risk~0.63 in typical precipRain on ~4–5 days in October; snowfall typically begins in November. Cool and crisp at altitude.

Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.

Route & course

32K Cloud Run

Point-to-point · Trail · starts 8:00 AM
Elev gain
—
Elev loss
—
High point
—
Low point
—
  • Start and finish are in different locations
  • Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
  • Conditions can differ from start to finish
Start · 9,200 ftFinish · 8,676 ftHigh point · 9,200 ft

Starts at high elevation and follows mountain trails to Cloudcroft.

Sky Run 50K

Point-to-point · Trail
Elev gain
9,000 ft
Elev loss
—
High point
9,200 ft
Low point
4,400 ft
  • Start and finish are in different locations
  • Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
  • Conditions can differ from start to finish
Start · 4,400 ftHigh point · 9,200 ftFinish · 8,676 ft

Starts at Oliver Lee State Park (4,400 ft), climbs Dog Canyon via the 'Eyebrow' trail (~5,000 ft gain), reaches Sunspot Solar Observatory (9,200 ft), then runs the Rim Trail through pine/aspen to Cloudcroft finish. Hard cutoff 6:59:59 PM. Shuttle to start included.

Travel

Base town
Alamogordo
Nearest airport
ELP · 100 min
Rental car
Recommended
Rideshare
Poor
Lodging
Limited
Facilities
Limited
Trip length
2 nights
Travel complexity
6.5/10

ELP is the logical hub (~86 miles / ~1.5 hrs to Alamogordo); rental car is essential as there is no public transit or reliable rideshare to Oliver Lee State Park or Sunspot. Cloudcroft is a small mountain village — book lodging well in advance.

The Lodge at Cloudcroft offers runner discount rates and is steps from the finish. Cell service is spotty between Cloudcroft and Sunspot — download offline maps before race day.

Best for / avoid if

Best for

  • Experienced trail runners comfortable with big elevation gain
  • Runners seeking a desert-to-alpine point-to-point adventure
  • Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series completionists
  • Altitude-ready runners chasing a unique New Mexico course
  • experienced trail runners
  • altitude runners
  • climbing enthusiasts

Avoid if

  • Not acclimatized to elevations above 8,000 ft
  • Uncomfortable on exposed canyon walls or rocky single-track
  • Expecting reliable cell service on course
  • New to trail ultras — the 50K is extremely challenging
  • first-time ultra runners
  • altitude sensitive runners

First-timer mistakes

Underestimating the thermal gradient on the 50K: it can be 45°F at the desert start and drop back into the low 50s at the mountain finish — carry layers even if it feels warm at Oliver Lee. Poles are worth the weight on Dog Canyon.

Where to stay, eat & explore

Local picks for the weekend.

Happening nearby

  • Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series Nearby event

    Three-race series by Wanderlust Running Unlimited; Cactus to Cloud is the final event. Series limited to 50 runners; series finish award for all three completions.

Runner reports

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Race history

Race-trip notes

Rent a car at El Paso (ELP); there is no reliable rideshare to Oliver Lee or Sunspot. Stay in Cloudcroft to walk to the finish — The Lodge offers runner discount rates. Book early; lodging in Cloudcroft is limited.

About this race

Part of the inaugural Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series by Wanderlust Running Unlimited, Cactus to Cloud sends runners up Dog Canyon's precipitous 'Eyebrow' trail to the Sunspot Solar Observatory then along the Rim Trail through pine and aspen to Cloudcroft. The 32K starts at Sunspot and covers the same Rim Trail section. Shuttles to start lines are included.

Last verified June 20, 2026. Race details can change — always confirm with the official race website.

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