Escalante Canyons Marathon
Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Fun Run
Race Day: Saturday, October 10, 2026
TEN DAYS AND COUNTING!!
As we enter the final ten days before the 14th annual running of the Escalante Canyons Marathon, we want to welcome our runners: marathoners, half-marathoners, and 5Ker’s. We’ll see you on October 9th at Escalante City Park for packet pickup and the pre-race dinner, and on October 10th for the big event! Race day promises to be a beauty, with sunny skies and perfect running temperatures. For those who have chosen to run this year … good choice! And for those who are still pondering, you have until October 8th at midnight to register online. Also, as a small race event, we have the flexibility to offer on-site registration during packet packet pickup on October 9th. Finally, a word to the wise: Be sure to check out the Race Info page for details about race logistics,
The Escalante Canyons Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k races are hosted by local volunteers to raise money for local school and community organizations. We enjoy having people come and participate in this amazing event on an unparalleled race course. The beauty of the entire route, the clear air and wide open spaces, the personal challenge, and the community spirit … we hope all this will add up to an unforgettable experience for racers, friends and family, and community members. And let’s not forget that this event could not happen without the continuing support, for 14 years and running, of our dedicated volunteers, our sponsors, and our safety personnel. We owe all these folks a big anticipatory thank you. And thanks to you for choosing to run Escalante Canyons!
Marathon and Half Marathon Courses
are USA Track & Field Certified
A USATF-certified course is a road race course that has been precisely measured and verified to guarantee an
exact distance. These courses are Boston qualifiers (good luck!) and allow confidence in finish times.
Race Day: October 10, 2026
Marathon
The marathon follows Utah’s All-American Scenic Highway 12, which has been called one of the the world’s most beautiful roadways. The race starts in Boulder, Utah, and finishes in Escalante. You will experience canyons lined with majestic sandstone cliffs, the famous Hog’s Back ridge, and the spectacular Calf Creek Canyons. After crossing the Escalante River, you’ll climb through rich red rocks that lead to unique limestone slickrock hills and washes …
Half Marathon
The half-marathon follows the last half of the marathon course You will find the first three miles of the course to be a challenging uphill run through some of the most amazing slickrock vistas in Escalante Canyons, followed by a long downhill stretch to the finish line through sagebrush rangelands bounded by a background of cliffs (the “staircase” of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument) …
What Runners Are Saying
Gallery
