Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® 2027

In 1848, men were arriving in Auburn with a pickaxe on their shoulder, convinced that fortune was sleeping beneath their feet 💰. 170 years later, we still come to Auburn to strike gold—except now it’s earned by the strength of your calves, and it comes in the shape of a bib. The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB turns every spring this former mining town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the United States into the stage for another rush: that of trail runners coming to snatch their pass to the most legendary races on the planet. A self-proclaimed cradle of ultra mountain running, Auburn doesn’t just host the event: it shaped it in its own image.

If the town calls itself the world capital of endurance, it’s not just empty talk 😏. The Western States plants its finish line here, the Tevis Cup equestrian event too, and "The Canyons" rounds out this trio by finishing its routes right in downtown. The race itself is recent—almost a child of the circuit—since it joined the UTMB World Series from its creation in 2022. Its reputation, however, didn’t need time to blow up: it all comes down to what’s at stake. Here’s the key prize 🎟️: "The Canyons" opens a double door—toward the UTMB World Series Finals on one side, and toward the legendary Western States Endurance Run on the other. The "100K" goes even further with its "Super Golden Ticket" status: the top three men and the top three women pocket a direct entry to the Western States 100 miles, a pass that thousands of runners chase for years. As a result, the elite field that shows up at the start line would make many championships blush—everyone knows a spot on the podium can change an entire career 🤓.

The flagship course, the "100M", gives nothing away of that intensity 🌲. You follow the mythical Western States Trail in California, run along the American River, climb toward Michigan Bluff, cross Volcano Canyon and then Foresthill before tearing down the endless runnable section of Cal Street. The meter reads nearly 5,550 m of elevation gain, to be done in under 20 hours or you lose your qualifier. The finale is pure ritual: the climb to Robie Point, the crossing of the White Bridge named in honor of Ann Trason (eleven-time Western States queen 👑), then a triumphant finish in the heart of old Auburn 🏁. Some of the most beautiful singletrack in the Sierra, canyons to string together with legs on fire: beauty costs you dearly here. Beyond the "100M", three other formats share the bill, from the most brutal to the most accessible. The "100K" rolls out its XXL loop with more than 3,750 m of elevation gain of climbing, the crossing of the Rucky Chucky ford, and the climb everyone nicknames "K2" 😅. The "50K" bets on punchy runnable terrain between Robie Point and Driver's Flat, alternating dry little kickers and fast descents, with a carpet of wildflowers as a spring bonus 🌼. As for the "20K", it heads out to Cool via the famous "Training Hill", perfect for soaking up the vibe without mortgaging your whole season. Curious beginner or seasoned finisher chasing Running Stones, no one leaves empty-handed.

On the record books side, the numbers speak loud 🚀. In 2022, Adam Peterman blew up the "100K" in 8:31:58, pushing Anthony Costales' old record nearly 40 minutes behind him. On the women’s side, the Canadian Jazmine Lowther finished the same year in 10:01:54 and snatched the record by one second. What came next reads like a fable: Peterman turned his golden ticket into a Western States victory two months later 🐐.

Then there’s the atmosphere, and that might be where "The Canyons" truly earns its stripes 🥶. The "100K" starts at 5 a.m. from the China Wall trailhead, in the icy bite of the Sierra high country, before plunging down into the valley. What runners bring back in their bags, beyond the time, is the welcome: volunteers who take great care, a trail culture woven year after year, and the singular energy of Placer County that gives the event more the feel of a reunion than a competition 🧳.

Medal packed away, Auburn invites you to slow down 🥇. The old town lines up its Gold Rush-era storefronts, its old-school diners, and its breweries where a nice cold California IPA comforts grieving quadriceps. Down below, the American River gorge offers the perfect recovery hike, feet in clear water 💦. And as you leave, you’ll carry with you one slightly dizzying certainty: these trails you’ve just devoured are the very same ones trodden by the greatest legends of ultra running. The nugget, in the end, might just have been that... And it’s worth all the gold in the world! 😉