race.vacations
Canyonlands Half Marathon
RoadPaved roadCanyon corridorRed rock canyons

Canyonlands Half Marathon

Moab, Utah, UT

One of the most scenic road halfs in America — a fast, net-downhill canyon run that earns its bucket-list reputation, with one late surprise hill.

When
March 20, 2027
Distances
Half Marathon · 5 Mile
Surface
Road
Course
Point-to-point
Elevation gain
—
Altitude
0 ft–4,000 ft
Weather
Cool
Nearest airport
CNY
Suggested trip
2 nights

Score breakdown

8.0/10

Strong. A strong destination race with real appeal.

Scenery / setting10.0· 20%
Course character8.5· 15%
Weather appeal6.5· 15%
Destination appeal9.0· 15%
Logistics practicality6.0· 15%
Difficulty clarity7.0· 10%
Data confidence7.0· 5%
Editorial judgment9.0· 5%

Also worth knowing (not weighted)

Non-runner appeal9.0
Remoteness7.5

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

Weather

MonthAvg high / lowBand
March32–57°FCool
Moderate cold riskSnow possible (~1 in)~0.7 in typical precipDesert-dry; mornings can be cold and windy in the canyon corridor

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

Route & course

Half Marathon

Point-to-point · Road · starts 8:15 AM
Elev gain
—
Elev loss
—
High point
4,000 ft
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 · 4,000 ftSpectator pointSpectator pointFinish

Starts at Sandy Beach, travels east ~0.5 mi then turns downriver along Hwy 128 for ~11 miles of red-rock canyon. Notable climb at mile 11 exiting Hwy 128, then flat streets through downtown Moab to Lions Park finish. Six aid stations with water and Gatorade Endurance. Finish line closes at noon (cutoff ~15:30/mile pace). Hwy 128 closed to all traffic 7:40 am–noon.

5 Mile

Point-to-point · Road · starts 8:35 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
StartFinish

Covers the final 5 miles of the half marathon course, including the mile-11 climb at the Hwy 128 exit and the downtown Moab finish at Lions Park.

Travel

Base town
Moab
Nearest airport
CNY · 60 min
Rental car
Recommended
Rideshare
Limited
Lodging
Good
Facilities
Good
Trip length
2 nights
Travel complexity
5/10

Point-to-point course

You finish in a different place than you start, so plan for transport back to your car or lodging.

Airport → start: 75 minAirport → finish: 65 min

Moab is remote — nearest airport is GJT (~1 hr drive); SLC is ~4 hrs. Rental car is essential; no race-day parking at Lions Park means shuttle planning is required. Book lodging early as Moab fills fast in March.

Race uses a shuttle system to the start at Sandy Beach (no parking there either). Packet pickup is Friday-only at Lions Park, requiring arrival Friday. Moab has good hotel/motel options but they sell out months ahead for race weekend.

Best for / avoid if

Best for

  • Runners seeking bucket-list desert scenery
  • Road runners chasing a fast net-downhill PR
  • Moab destination trips
  • Spring racing season openers
  • Scenery seekers
  • First-timers
  • Spring racers

Avoid if

  • You need flat start-to-finish (surprise hill at mile 11)
  • You struggle at 4,000 ft elevation
  • You hate cold or windy March mornings
  • You need last-minute registration (no race-day sign-up)
  • Dislike some hills
  • Want guaranteed cool weather

First-timer mistakes

Ignoring the mile-11 climb out of Hwy 128 — it catches many runners off guard after 10 miles of canyon bliss. Also: altitude (~4,000 ft) affects sea-level runners more than expected, and canyon headwinds can dramatically alter pacing.

Photos

"Arches National Park - Utah - United States - South West" by Onasill - Bill Badzo - 149 Million Views - Thank Y is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/.
"Canyonland Color" by howardignatius is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.
"Moab Landscape" by Zach Dischner is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
"Sunset at Delicate Arch" by Jason Carpenter is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.

Tap a photo to enlarge.

Where to stay, eat & explore

Local picks for the weekend.

  • Arches National Park Activity

    World-famous red-rock arches just minutes from the finish line at Lions Park — the obvious non-runner activity and post-race reward.

  • Canyonlands National Park Activity

    The race's namesake park, offering mesas, canyons, and Colorado/Green River overlooks — ideal for a pre- or post-race day trip.

  • Moab (general — book early) Lodging

    Moab has a range of hotels, motels, and vacation rentals but fills up fast for race weekend in March — book 3–6 months in advance.

  • Moab Valley Inn Lodging

    Comfortable hotel close to downtown.

  • Red Cliffs Lodge Lodging

    Scenic accommodation on the river.

  • Moab Brewery Food / restaurant

    Popular spot for runners and locals post-race.

  • Desert Bistro Food / restaurant

    Acclaimed for upscale Southwestern cuisine.

Runner reports

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Race history

Race-trip notes

Fly into Grand Junction (GJT, ~1 hr) or Salt Lake City (SLC, ~4 hrs). A rental car is essential — there is no parking at Lions Park on race day, and shuttle logistics require planning. Stay in Moab at least two nights; Friday packet pickup at Lions Park is mandatory.

About this race

The half marathon starts at Sandy Beach River Access (~4,000 ft), travels east a half mile then turns downriver, following the paved Hwy 128 canyon corridor for 11 miles before a sharp climb at the Hwy 128/191 junction and a flat run through downtown Moab to Lions Park. The 5-mile covers the final five miles of the same course. USATF-certified, limited to 5,000 combined entries.

Last verified June 27, 2026. Race details can change — always confirm with the official race website.

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