Dead Horse Ultra 2026
Moab, Utah, UT
Registration open
- Entry price
- $125–$245
Weather
| Month | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|---|---|
| November | 35–51°F | Cold |
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
50 Mile
Unknown · Trail · starts 6:00 AM- Elev gain
- 4,895 ft
- Elev loss
- 4,892 ft
- High point
- 5,797 ft
- Low point
- 4,564 ft
9 aid stations; 12h45m cutoff. Opens on ~4.5 miles of rough jeep road to spread the field, then transitions to technical slickrock and sandy singletrack on the Magnificent Seven trail system. Mixed-use course — expect mountain bikers, dirt bikers, and ATVs. Course record: 6h02m (M), 7h10m (F).
50K
Lollipop · Trail · starts 7:30 AM- Elev gain
- 2,805 ft
- Elev loss
- 2,812 ft
- High point
- 5,768 ft
- Low point
- 4,560 ft
- A shared stem leads into a loop
- Note the loop direction
5 aid stations; 10h00m cutoff. Wave start at 7:30, 7:35, and 7:40 — runners self-select wave by anticipated finish time. Lollipop format returns to Gemini Bridges TH. Course record: 3h04m (M), 3h49m (F).
30K
Unknown · Trail · starts 9:00 AM- Elev gain
- 1,729 ft
- Elev loss
- 1,729 ft
- High point
- 5,131 ft
- Low point
- 4,564 ft
Equal gain/loss and single venue suggest lollipop or out-and-back; format not explicitly confirmed by official source. Approachable for experienced trail runners.
15K
Unknown · Trail · starts 9:30 AM- Elev gain
- 932 ft
- Elev loss
- 932 ft
- High point
- 5,000 ft
- Low point
- 4,564 ft
Entry-level trail option; equal gain/loss and single venue suggest out-and-back, but format not explicitly confirmed. Good intro to Moab slickrock terrain.
Travel
- Base town
- Moab
- Nearest airport
- CNY · 20 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Limited
- Lodging
- Good
- Facilities
- Good
- Trip length
- 2 nights
- Travel complexity
- 4/10
Most visitors fly into Grand Junction (GJT, ~1.5 hrs) or Salt Lake City (SLC, ~3.5 hrs) — CNY has limited commercial service. A rental car is effectively required. Moab has ample lodging and dining but books up fast around popular race weekends.
Trailhead is ~10 miles north of Moab center via Hwy 191; easy drive. Book lodging early — Moab is a popular outdoor destination and November weekends fill. Packet pickup available at the trailhead the day before (Friday 2–6 p.m.) or race morning.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- Trail runners wanting a Moab destination race
- Runners chasing the Triple Crown of Moab
- Those seeking technical desert slickrock over high-mountain suffer
- Runners who want multiple distance options (15K–50M) at one venue
- trail enthusiasts
- scenic runners
- technical terrain lovers
Avoid if
- You dislike shared-use trails with motor vehicles and mountain bikers
- Cold pre-dawn starts (sub-30°F possible) are a dealbreaker
- You need aid-station cups — this is strictly cup-free
- prefer flat races
- cannot handle rocky footing
First-timer mistakes
Forgetting a hydration pack or handheld — there are zero disposable cups on course. Also underestimating November cold: temperatures at the gun can dip well below 30°F, so bring more layers than you think you need.
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