Canyonlands Half Marathon & 5-Mile Run

An island of busy civilization in a sea of desert wilderness, Moab is southern Utah’s adventure base camp. Day trippers to Arches or Canyonlands National Parks can return to a hot tub and pub food, a boon after a dusty day on the trail. Unlike the rest of the region, here you can shop for groceries till midnight, buy a bottle of tequila, get a cell signal and even a late dinner.

For those coming from the wilderness, the hubbub can be jarring. Corporate chain motels line Main St, souvenir shops abound and streetlights and neon signs blot out the night sky. Still, there’s a distinct sense of fun in the air. Everyone is here to play in Utah’s recreation capital – from the hiker to the four-wheeler, recreationists’ enthusiasm borders on fetishism.

Runners get the chance to run in the shadow of the majestic red rock formations of Utah’s Arches National Park at the Canyonlands Half Marathon, which will celebrate its annual running as winter is giving way in the spring.

Now one of the Moab area’s most popular outdoor athletic events, the race has seen its field of runners grow from just 21 at its first running to more than 2,700 finishers, thanks in large part to the stunning red rock scenery that lines the course.

Set at a moderate elevation of about 4,000 ft., the half is run on a USATF-certified and sanctioned course that offers a challenging mix of rolling hills and fast descents.