Gila 100 & 50 Course Overview
You’ll start at Open Space Brewing, following a trail that leads into a mix of historic corridors, runnable dirt, and high-country trail systems along the Continental Divide. The Gila 100 has a 36-hour cutoff, and the 50-mile course has a generous 20-hour cutoff. For your safety, there will be cutoffs at each aid station, which are listed on the course map and in our runners manual.
50 Mile (7am start)
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Start → Big Tree Aid (4 miles): through Bataan Park and historical Fort Bayard, then fast dirt as the mountains come into view.
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Big Tree Aid → Signal Peak Aid (10 miles): through the Fort Bayard trail network, then a steep/technical climb toward Twin Sisters and up to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
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Signal Peak Aid → Aztec Park Aid (6 miles): continuing along the CDT on a forested ridge as you descend toward the Mimbres Valley.
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Aztec Park Aid → Sapillo Aid (7 miles): stay on the CDT as you drop out of the high forest toward the Mimbres Valley; no turns until the last mile, then a main left off the ridge and a winding descent into Sapillo Campground.
Sapillo Aid is the turnaround spot for our 50-mile course. If you're running the GIla 100, you'll continue on!
100 Mile (6am start)
You'll run the same route as the 50-mile course, but once you get to the Sapillo Aid Station, you'll keep moving forward instead of turning around.
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Sapillo Aid → Lincoln Canyon Aid (5 miles): through the campground, then onto dirt roads with several quick direction changes; cross Highway 35 carefully; continue to Lincoln Canyon.
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Lincoln Canyon Aid → North Star Mesa Aid (6 miles): a near 180-degree shift to head north on Lincoln Canyon Road with no turns for 5.5 miles, although there will be a few gates to open (and close).
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North Star Mesa Aid → Rocky Camp Aid (6.5 miles): a public gravel road with no turns while still providing beautiful views all around.
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Rocky Canyon Aid → Black Canyon Aid (9 miles): continue north on the main road for nine scenic miles, with a fun drop into Black Canyon. Then remember: you’ll turn around and do it all in reverse.
Sponsors
We're proud to work with the following sponsors, and are so appreciative of their support.
Gila 100 Course Map
Both the Gila 100 and 50-mile race are out-and-back courses. Please note that some aid stations are extremely remote and crew/pacers are not allowed at certain entry points to ensure the safety of your team, and ours.
Gila 50-Mile Course Map
Aid Stations and Support
All aid stations will have water and Hammer Nutrition products, plus all the go-too snacks and volunteer home-cooked meals. Expect healthier, locally sourced options. Many stations will also have alkaline water available.
Some aid stations are extremely remote and for your safety, we cannot allow crew or pacers at specific checkpoints. Please refer to the full runners manual for details.
Both the 100 and 50-mile course will be heavily marked, including reflective elements for your night return. Due to the remoteness of this area, we highly recommend that you review the course course map in detail and download a GPX file of your respective distance to have on your watch or phone during the race.
Weather and Gear
Weather in the Southwest can be unpredictable and change drastically throughout a day and night. Rain, wind, and even snow is possible, and the one guarantee is temperature swings. In October, the Gila can climb into the 80's during the day and drop below freezing at night.
Although we don't have any mandatory gear to carry, we suggest packing all the layers: rain jacket, thermal layers, extra socks, and gloves. Drop bags are allowed at most aid stations. Poles are allowed. Basic first aid will be available at all aid stations, and we will have a medical crew on standby in the unlikely event someone needs medical attention.
Awards
All 100 & 50-mile race finishers will receive a buckle, and top finishers will receive a special one-of-a-kind aware made locally.