Grand Circle Trailfest 2026
Kanab, Utah, UT
Registration open
- Entry price
- $1250
Weather
This is a multi-climate course — conditions differ along the route, so we show weather by point rather than a single city average.
| Point | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|---|---|
| Finish — Wire Mesa | 38–65°F | Cool |
| Start — Coyote Hollow Trailhead | 48–78°F | Mild |
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
Day 1 – Bryce Canyon
Point-to-point · Trail · starts 7:00 AM- Elev gain
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- 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
Starts at Coyote Hollow Trailhead; quickly transitions to singletrack with slight drop-offs. Plateau sits ~8,000–8,800 ft — altitude is a significant factor. Course cutoff is 5 hrs 20 min (20 min/mile pace). Yield to horses; trail shared with hikers and mountain bikers. Last 5 miles feature long steep climbs.
Day 2 – Zion (Wire Mesa)
Point-to-point · Trail- 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
Runs from Smithsonian Butte to Wire Mesa on Gooseberry Mesa slickrock rim; panoramic views into Zion Canyon. Slickrock is only slick when wet. Described as a fun rim run with less climbing than Day 1. Historical cutoff was 4 hrs.
Day 3 – Antelope Canyon (Navajo Nation)
Point-to-point · Trail- 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
Runs through Wind Pebble and Deer Canyons on Navajo Nation land near Page, AZ. Optional 1-mile out-and-back spur to Ligai Si' Ánii adds ~1 mi for 360-degree views. Sandy surfaces and uneven slickrock require careful foot placement; short scrambles. Narrow slot canyon sections become congested with photo-takers. Historical cutoff was 4 hrs.
Travel
- Base town
- Kanab
- Nearest airport
- SGU · 80 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Limited
- Lodging
- Limited
- Facilities
- Limited
- Trip length
- 4 nights
- Travel complexity
- 6/10
Point-to-point course
You finish in a different place than you start, so plan for transport back to your car or lodging.
Kanab is a small remote town; limited lodging inventory books up fast around the festival. Rental car strongly recommended. Race shuttles handle transport to the three course venues across UT and AZ.
Las Vegas (LAS, ~2.5 hrs) and Salt Lake City (SLC, ~5 hrs) are alternative fly-in options with more flight options. Arrive Wednesday by noon for check-in; depart Sunday after morning checkout.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- Bucket-list trail runners who want iconic Southwest scenery
- Festival-minded runners who enjoy evening programming and recovery amenities
- Runners comfortable with ~35–40 miles over three days at moderate-to-high altitude
- Hikers/walkers — generous cutoffs make this accessible beyond pure runners
- trail running enthusiasts
- runners wanting festival atmosphere
- those seeking multi-day adventure
Avoid if
- You want to race a single distance on a single day
- High altitude (8,000–8,800 ft on Bryce plateau) is a concern
- Tight budget — all-festival pass only, no single-day option
- You dislike congestion in narrow slot canyons on Day 3
- you dislike trail terrain
- not prepared for back-to-back racing
- seeking a single-day race
First-timer mistakes
Underestimating Bryce Canyon Day 1 altitude (~8,000–8,800 ft) and the steep climbs in the final 5 miles; not yielding to horses on the Bryce trail; treating Day 3 slot canyon section as a fast race segment when photo traffic creates bottlenecks.
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