Come join us to run through a magical part of history in the Cuchara Valley. The Spanish Peaks of Southern Colorado have been among the most important landmarks of the southwestern United States, guiding Native American tribes, Spanish and French trappers, gold seekers, hunters, and American settlers.
The Ute, Comanche, Apache, and other, earlier Native American tribes held the peaks in religious awe and named the mountains Wahatoya, meaning “Breasts of the Earth.”
Our event will be pairing with both the town of La Veta and Cuchara to help them celebrate their annual October Fest.
We will have a 50K, heavy half marathon, and 8ish mile event that traverse through San Isabel National Forest land. The 50K will start in the town of La Veta, wrap itself through the middle of the town, onto a rugged out of commission county road with sweeping views of the dikes, buttes, and mountains in the surrounding areas. You will end on newly reopened and maintained trails that guide you straight into town ending with a festival at the Cuchara Yacht Club. The heavy half and 8 mile will start on private property, take on the Dike trail and some other local favorites, to end back under the arch at the Yacht Club to join the party.
We will be partnering with the local brewer to provide finish line beers, and other local businesses to provide five star accommodations, live music from local talent, and great food.
Permits Approved!
Start: Please note that the starting line if different for the 50k and the 8mile/Heavy Half
Start 50k: La Veta Highschool 200 East Stadium Drive, La Veta, CO 81055Start 8 Mile/Heavy Half: Cuchara Yacht Club30 Cuchara Ave, La Veta, CO 81055Cost:
50k: $100 Heavy Half Marathon: $758ish Mile: $50Course Info:
There are three different distances for this race, an 8ish Mile, a Heavy Half Marathon, and a 50k. All three courses share the same finish from the south trailhead of the Dike Trail in to the local’s favorite The Cuchara Yacht Club!
8ish Mile:
Distance: 7.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,626 ft
Max Elevation: 9,434ft
Route Description:
Start at the Yacht Club. Right out of Yacht Club on Cuchara Ave. Right on City Ave. Left on South City Ave. Left on Hill Road. All of these roads are well maintained dirt roads. Slight Right on to Dike Trail. This will be a well marked trailhead that has a few stairs off the main road to get on to the actual trail. You will continue with most of your gain here, in a shaded heavily wooded area. This trail is entirely maintained by the La Veta Trails group, with permission from the San Isabel Forest and they do an amazing job. Continue to Dike Trail South Trail Head while taking in sweeping views of the Cuchara Ski Resort, Raspberry Mountain and the surrounding area. You will continue downhill on some long switch backs until reach the Only Aid Station - Dikes Trail South TrailHead (@ mile 4). You will then return along Same Path to Yacht Club, to enjoy your finisher award, live music, food & beer for purchase.
Heavy Half Marathon:
Distance: 14.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 3,199 ft
Max Elevation: 10,634 ft
Route Description:
Start at the Yacht Club. Right out of Yacht Club on Cuchara Ave. Right on City Ave. Left on South City Ave. Right on Brook Lane, right on Brook Drive (all of the roads up until this point are well maintained dirt roads) right on Highway 12. There will be a volunteer out there helping to direct you along the highway. You are only running along the grassy shoulder for a few hundred feet before turning left at Spring Creek Trailhead. Right at First Junction on to 1302 (Dodgeton Creek)this is where the trail will start to climb towards the junction with the 50K course. This trail is stunning, filled with grouse, elk, and other small animals. Don’t forget to occasionally turn around and take in the view of the peaks behind you.Continue on 1302 Straight Thru all Junctions to stay on 1302 (Dodgeton Creek). Straight at Dodgeton Creek & Indian Creek Trail to continue on Indian Creek Trail. Left at Indian Creek Trail & Baker Creek Trail Junction to Continue on Baker Creek Trail, please be careful as this is where the 50k folks will join the course from above you. Enjoy the water crossings, views of the Spanish Peaks while winding your way through a fairy garden (if you believe the signs) and the heavily wooded area as you make your way down to the air station at the Ski Resort. Right At Junction Down to Cuchara Ski Resort Parking lot. Aid Station 1 - Baker Creek Trail @ Cuchara Mtn Resort TH (7.5-8ish mile ). Runners continue down Panadera Ave, this is a in use road, so please keep your eyes peeled, and maintain awareness of cars. At the Highway 12 junction, you will see another volunteer leading you down a social trail that connects to the neighborhood across the street. You will take a left on to Britton Trail. Right on Ponderosa Road, to a quick left on to Park Road, Continue to follow Park Rd until you see the second aid station at the entrance to the Dike Trail. Aid Station 2 - Dikes Trail S TH (Same one used for 50k & 8 Mile @ Mile 10). Runners turn on to Dike Trail Marked by Aid Station, slight Left on Oak Street after exit Dike Trail, right on South City Ave, right on City Ave left on Cuchara Ave to Finish in the Yacht Club to enjoy your finisher award, live music, food & beer for purchase.
50k
Start at La Veta High School Parking Lot. You will then quickly wind your way through the Town of La Veta to the county road. Left on North Main StreetRight on West Moore/Park Street, continue on South Oak Street. Right on West Francisco Street to a left on South Aspen Street followed by a quick right on County Road 430. Slight Left on County Road 421. First Aid Station at Mile 5 (Piney Ridge Road & County Road 421 - runners stay on Country Road 421 as this is private property - we have special permission to have our aid station here). Continue on 421 past old Sulphur Springs, Hope Gulch, Tracy Canyon. Left and then a quick right on Indian Creek Trail (1300). This will be a little bit of an adventurous section, we have permission from the forest service to go out and clear out the downed trees from fires, floods, and the blow downs, but we may not be able to get to all of them before race day. Aid Station 2 - intersection of Indian Creek trail and Forbes Park TH access (this is a water only aid station and is a 0.80 mile (one way) out and back to get to the aid station). Once you are back from the water stop you will continue on Indian Creek Trail. You will take a left on to Dodgeton Creek Trail 1302. You will take a left the first time at the next junction to continue on the Dodgeton Creek Trail and hit Aid Station 3 - Spring Creek Trail (Limited Aid). You will back track to the Junction of the Dodgeton Creek Trail and Baker Creek Trail and this time take another left on to the Baker Creek Trail (1301). Take a left to pass thru a fairy garden in the dense ferns to the Chuchara Mountain Park. Aid Station 4 - Baker Creen Trail & Cuchara Mtn Resort. Right at Junction of Baker Creek Trail & Dodgeton Creek Trail (Runners continue on Dodgeton Creek Trail). Runners will continue down Pandero Ave, and cross the street on to Britton Trail. Right on Ponderosa Road, followed by a quick left on park road. Aid Station 5 - Dikes Trail S TH (will also be used for Heavy ½ & 8 mile). Runners turn on to Dike Trail Marked by Aid Station. Slight Left on Oak Street after exit Dike Trail. Right on South City Ave. Right on City Ave. Left on Cuchara Ave to Finish in the Yacht Club
Race Rules
Leave no trace. Better yet, leave the trails better than you found them (pick up any trail trash that you see along the way-free Trail Trash Trucker hat to the runner who picks up the most trash mid-race!) No littering. Anyone intentionally littering will be disqualified.
Stay on course. If you get off course, please do your best to return to where you went off course and continue along your designated loop.
Be Kind. Anyone who is rude to other runners/staff/park staff/crew will be disqualified.
NO COMPLAINING - this is an adventurous undertaking, we assume that you are going to be responsible for yourself, this includes getting information before race day, and having the course gpx on at least one device.
Check in. If you are going through and aid station that is manned by volunteers, make eye contact with them, and make sure that they get your bib number.
No dogs on the course.
No Pacers.
Crew cannot administer aid to their runner outside of the main aid station. Crew can sit at road crossings and cheer people on.
In case of muddy or wet trail conditions (it is the end of September so we don’t expect this) please run directly through the muddy section. It’s counterintuitive but running around the mud widens the trail unnecessarily and negatively impacts the areas adjacent to the trail.
Mandatory Gear. Please see the list for each race distance.
We don’t disallow headphones, but we do recommend that you keep at least one of them out or use the bone conduction type. You are running in a remote area in the wilderness. There is wildlife. It is good practice to be on alert.
HAVE FUN!
