Race Info

We are thankful to be hosted by the Town of Vail and Vail Ski Resort for our start and the Town of Minturn for our finish for the inaugural Cougar Ridge Classic 26K trail race.

The course is a point-to-point race, starting at Lionshead Village in Vail and finishing in the Town of Minturn.

Spectator Info

Spectators are encouraged to cheer runners on at the start of the race at Dobson Ice Areana as well as at the finish in front of the Minturn Saloon. Specators my also cheer for runners along the course, however, there are no early spectator gondola rides for this race. Both gondolas open to the public at 9:30am and you will need a valid Epic pass or a single day foot pass to ride.  

Racers will begin by traversing up the front side of Vail Mountain towards Mid-Vail via Cabin Trail. This will be a long, consistent climb that we like to call a "Mountain Climb." Upon approaching Mid-Vail, racers will continue to ascend Vail Mountain up Kinnickinnick Trail.

As you approach Wildwood, we would like to congratulate you on making it up Vail Mountain, you’re 11,000 feet above sea level! We know you’re feeling that Colorado High, with your head down and your thighs shaking, but we recommend you take a moment to look up and enjoy the view. Feel free to tell the world that you’re King/Queen of the Mountain, you earned it!

The trail grade levels off as the course continues along Vail Mountain service roads towards Eagle’s Nest. After Eagle’s Nest, enjoy a steady descent traversing across Game Creek Bowl towards Cougar Ridge Aid Station. This is a public trail, so please keep an eye out for bikers and hikers

The course will then start on a technical, but steady, descent on Cougar Ridge Singletrack Trail towards the Town of Minturn. Enjoy flashes of gold as you run in and out of aspen groves with views of Mt. Holy Cross before a steep descent onto Minturn roads. From here, you’ll have a short distance to the finish in Minturn’s downtown!

PDF Course Map | Digital Course Map

Pre-run the course before the signs with Ride W/ GPS! Use the digital map to follow the route and stay on course!

Aid Stations

As you traverse over Vail Mountain, we’ll have well five stocked aid stations with plenty of snacks and electrolytes. We don’t suggest attempting to tackle a sub-ultra trail run fueling up on gels and chips alone, so each aid station will have some hearty and relatively healthy food options to keep you going.

Thanks to our partners at Skratch Labs, all aid stations will be well stocked with electrolyte hydration, energy chews and bars for those of you that need carbs. Aid stations will also be stocked with an assortment of sweet and salty snacks. Some snacks you may encounter out there in the wild are: Gummy worms, pretzels and fresh fruit.

Don’t expect to find everything at all the aid stations, so if there is something you really like, you may consider saving it for later! There will be a mix of goodies at each station as well as some extra treats you may not have expected.

There will be plenty of water available as well as pre-mixed electrolyte fluids, thanks to our partners at Skratch Labs. We’ll also provide some flat soda for that quick sugar intake. We will do our best to keep everything nice and cool for you while the sun is beating down on you, but we make no promises. Mid-Vail and Eagle’s Nest aid stations will have some ice for those of you who need to cool off.

Aid Station #3 is roughly the half way point. There is limited trail access for the second half of the race, so please access how you are feeling before continuing.

We want to give a huge shout out to The Small Champions, Colorado Snowsports Museum, Gore Range Gravity Alliance, Vail Avalanche Rescue Dogs, and Vail Valley Charitable Fund. These local non-profit organizations will be out on course supporting and cheering you on as you traverse over Vail Mountain. We love our local non-profit organizations and everything they do to help the Vail Valley Community - Check out their websites to learn more!

Aid Station Competition

These aid stations are out here to support and cheer you on, but they are also competing for your vote in the Big Cat Aid Clash. At the finish, you'll be asked to vote for your favorite aid station. At the awards, we will be announcing the winner of the Big Cat Aid Clash. One aid station non-profit will be crowned the King Clowder (that's a group of cats in case you didn't know). The King Clowder will recieve a financial prize/donation to their organization - so make sure you vote!

Friday, September 27

Join us at Gravity Haus Vail on Friday, Sept. 27 from 4-7 p.m. to pick up your race packet. Dryland Vail will be hosting a Race-Prep Clinic from 3-4:30 p.m. with Veronika Venclova. This clinic will include some mobility activation on the turn followed by a light group run on some mountain dirt.

Saturday, September 28

If you can’t make it to the Friday packet pickup, you can pick up your packet between 6-6:50 a.m. on race day Saturday, Sept. 28 at the start near Dobson Ice Arena.

Cut-Off Times

In accordance with our safety plan, Vail Resorts, USFS, and respect for our volunteers' time and safety, cut-off times will be strictly enforced. Runners that are not leaving an aid station by the cut-off will be instructed to take the gondola down to Vail. Alternatively, racers can continue running to Minturn or back down to Vail. We are not responsible for your safety at this point, so please take what you need from the aid station and stay safe. If this is your first endurance run or you are unsure of making these cut-offs, please plan on having crew support to get a ride to the after-party and awards.

Gear Bags

We will have gear bag transportation for racers wishing to have extra gear/refueling supplies available for them on the course or at the finish. Gear bags need to be pre-labeled with name, bib number and destination. Please keep drop bags small (less than 20L). We will have tarps/trucks near the race start, labeled with which location they will be delivered to. Please place your drop bag at the appropriate tarp/truck for delivering to aid stations or finish. We are not responsible for gear delivered to incorrect locations. Our gear bag vehicles will depart the start at 6:55 a.m., so please plan accordingly.

Gear bags will be returned to the finish area at the Town of Minturn by course close at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and at the awards at the Town of Minturn. It is your responsibility to pick up your drop bag. If you forgot your bag because you wanted to race home too, please contact us at sports@vailrec.com.

Did Not Finish

If you did not make it to the Waypoint ahead of the cut-off time. You will be asked to download the gondola back to Lionshead or Vail Village. There will be information on the back side of your bib regarding who to contact about not finishing the race and more information on shuttles if needed.

The Town of Vail has an amazing network of buses to travel between villages. You can find more information on their buses on the Vail Transit Website.

Race Start

The race start in front of Dobson Ice Arena.

The race will start at 7:00 a.m. SHARP. You can always start after, but your official race time starts at 7 a.m.

Shuttles will go from Minturn to Dobson Ice Arena at 6:00 and 6:20 a.m.. If you miss the shuttle - you can park at the Lionshead Parking Structure for a short walk to the race start. There will be a shuttle from Minturn to Vail periodically after the race.

Race After-Party

Join us in Minturn for the Cougar Ridge Classic after-party! Racers can enjoy a free lunch at participating Minturn Restaurants and a free beer or N/A beer at the finish expo! The lunch voucher will be located on your racer bib - so don't lose it!

After-Party will begin at the finish expo at 10:00 a.m.

Awards will begin at the finish expo at 1:30 p.m. 

$80 if registered by Thursday, Aug. 1.

$95 after Thursday, Aug. 1

All Cougar Ridge Classic participants must sign and return the Vail Resorts Release of Liability Form to participate in the Trail Race. To save you time, you can print the form and bring it with you to bib pickup.

Vail Resorts Release Of Liability Form

Gravity Haus Vail

Thanks to our partners at Gravity Haus, racers can book a room with their discount code: COUGAR RUN. While staying at Gravity Haus, enjoy everything Vail Village has to offer while relaxing next to Gore Creek and looking up at Vail Mountain (which you’ll be running up)! Gravity Haus Vail has a limited number of rooms for Cougar Ridge racers; visit gravityhaus.com to book now while they are still available!

Evergreen Lodge

With its prime location in Vail Town Center (between Vail and Lionshead Villages), Evergreen Lodge is a short walk or a ride on the complimentary town shuttle, to world-class shopping, dining, summer and winter activities. Racers can receive a group discount by booking online HERE or by calling them directly at 970-476-7810 and referring Cougar Ridge Classic 26K Trail Running Race.

Vail Realty

If a hotel isn’t big enough for you, check out our partners at Vail Realty. They have the largest selection of condo and home rentals in the Vail Valley! Visit vailrealty.com to book while they’re available!

Racer Shuttles

Shuttles will be provided prior to the race from the finish line in Minturn to the start in Vail. There will be two shuttle trips at 6 a.m. and 6:20 a.m. Please be prompt. 

Post race shuttles back to Vail will be available periodically following the race but will not run on a set schedule. 

Minturn Parking

Minturn Municipal Lot and street parking. Carpooling is highly encouraged! 

We recommend this option as it allows you quick access to your vehicle once you finish.

Vail Parking 

There is free parking in the Lionshead Parking Structure and Vail Village Parking Structure. Carpooling is highly encouraged!

This is your only option if you miss the shuttles from Minturn at 6 & 6:20 a.m. There will be a shuttle from the finish to the start periodically after the race.

Awards will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Town of Minturn.

Elite Category
The top three men and women will be competing for a cash prize presented by Dynafit.

1st place - $500

2nd Place - $300

3rd Place - $150

Awards & Raffle
In addition to the $2K cash purse , we will prize the first, second and third places in each category for age group/gender. We will also have a raffle with some amazing gear, so make sure you stick around for that! You must be present to win the raffle.

If you must leave before the awards ceremony, please inform race staff prior to race day. This helps us when mailing out prizes. We want to make sure you receive your prize, and it’s a sad day when packages return to us.

Lunch Voucher

All racers will recieve a lunch voucher that is valid for a meal after the race. This voucher will be good for one meal at participating restuarants in the Town of Minturn.

Photo Contest

We got word that there is a little toy cougar hanging out around Lionshead Rock. Take a photo with it and share it to Instagram with #cougarridgeclassic for a chance to win $100! Winner will be announced at the award ceremony.

Refund Policy:

The Vail Recreation District's Cougar Ridge Classic generally operates under a no refund policy. Once an entry fee has been paid, refunds will not be issued, although extenuating circumstances will be considered.

Weather Policy:

Below are the guidelines for how VRD will conduct races in the event of challenging weather. Our primary considerations are the safety of racers, race support staff, race visitors and potential damage to the race venue (trails and infield).

Any decisions regarding cancelling, postponing or altering race start times, length of race, etc. will be made jointly by the VRD Sport’s team and the land manager. Often this decision cannot be made until the day of the race due to the unpredictable and emergent nature of wet or stormy weather.  That said, we will do our best to make the call to change venue or reschedule with as much notice as possible.

VRD will make every attempt to notify the racing population via emails, Facebook, and website updates as soon as possible.

VRD Weather Guidelines:

• Race is held on the scheduled date and time unless the racecourse or weather on the day of the race is deemed un-runnable and/or dangerous. 
• The presence of forest fires and poor air quality in and around the race location may cause the postponement or cancellation of an event.  In deciding whether to cancel or postpone an event due to smoke from forest fires VRD shall consider the Eagle County Air Quality Guidelines as part of its decision-making process.
• VRD will have the option to delay the start of the race from the published times if the weather has created dangerous conditions. VRD may also reschedule the race for a later date.
• Courses lengths may be altered or shortened because of weather conditions.
• All racing will stop immediately in the presence of lightning within 8 miles. Course marshals will direct racers off course where they can seek shelter in vehicles or buildings.
• Restarting a race that has been stopped (and course cleared) due to lightning or other emergency:  Depending on schedule and number of finishers who have completed the course, the race may be declared over. If time permits, racers may be directed to re-stage at the start line and an abbreviated race will be conducted or race may be rescheduled or cancelled.

Dog Policy:

Due to our permits with land owners and for the safety of all runners, spectators, volunteers and staff, dogs are not allowed on course during the Dynafit Vail Trail Running Races. We do make an exception to the Vail Avalanche Rescue Dogs who will be operating an aid station.

We couldn't put on this race without great volunteers.  If you are interested in volunteering at the Cougar Ridge Classic, please contact us at sports@vailrec.com or 970-479-2280.

2024 Race Results | Race Photos