Canyons Endurance Runs 2027 Guide: Courses, Aid, Cutoffs and Mandatory Gear
Quick answer: The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB run April 22 to 25, 2027 in Auburn, California, on the Western States Trail and the American River canyons. The 100 mile starts Friday, April 23 at 12:00 from China Wall Trailhead (35 hour limit) and the 25K that evening at 16:00 from downtown Auburn; the 100K starts Saturday, April 24 at 05:00 from China Wall (20 hours) and the 50K at 07:00 from downtown Auburn (10 hours). All races finish in downtown Auburn. It is a cupless race with a mandatory gear list that includes a collapsible cup and at least 1 liter of water for the 100M, 100K and 50K. The 100M and 100K are Western States qualifiers for 2028.
Canyons 2027 at a glance
| Race | Start | Distance and climb | Time limit | Standard fee (all in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100M | Fri April 23, 12:00, China Wall Trailhead | 161 km, 5,550 m+ | 35 hours | $568.76 |
| 25K | Fri April 23, 16:00, downtown Auburn | 25 km, 850 m+ | 5 hours | $177.67 |
| 100K | Sat April 24, 05:00, China Wall Trailhead | 100 km, 3,750 m+ | 20 hours | $437.37 |
| 50K | Sat April 24, 07:00, downtown Auburn | 50 km, 1,700 m+ | 10 hours | $311.76 |
From the race's official website and registration page, read October 12, 2026. Registration is direct entry, not a lottery, and closes April 18, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT or when sold out; there is no race day registration and no waiting list. Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable, with one deferral allowed until March 24, 2027. Runners must be 18 for the 100M, 100K and 50K and 16 for the 25K. Aid station charts, crew information, shuttles and the runner guide are still the 2026 versions, which the race says are subject to change for 2027.
The courses
The 100 mile follows Mitchell Mine Road into Eldorado Canyon, climbs to Deadwood on the Western States Trail, drops to the Swinging Bridge via the Devil's Thumb descent and climbs back out, then goes through Michigan Bluff and Volcano Canyon to Foresthill. From there it passes Rucky Chucky, Driver's Flat and Mammoth Bar to No Hands Bridge, climbs K2 to Cool, loops down to the American River, and finishes over Ann Trason's White Bridge in Auburn. The race describes about 18,000 feet of climbing. The 100K shares the route to No Hands Bridge and climbs to Robie Point and Auburn. The 50K crosses No Hands Bridge, climbs the Clementine trail and the Foresthill Divide Loop to Drivers Flat, and returns via Mammoth Bar and the Confluence Trail. The 25K runs from Auburn over No Hands Bridge and up Training Hill into Cool and back.
The race notes that recorded distance may differ by as much as a mile, and that due to permitting the course is subject to change.
Aid stations and the gaps between them
From the 2026 100 mile chart, which the race says is subject to change for 2027:
| Mile | 100M aid station | Miles to next | Cutoff (2026 chart) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Start, China Wall | 11.2 | |
| 11.2 | Deadwood 1 | 2.3 | |
| 13.5 | Swinging Bridge turnaround (no aid) | 2.3 | |
| 15.8 | Deadwood 2 | 6.8 | 6:30 PM |
| 22.6 | Michigan Bluff | 5.9 | 7:45 PM |
| 28.5 | Foresthill | 8.2 | 9:30 PM |
| 36.7 | Cal 2 | 9.3 | |
| 46.0 | Drivers Flat | 7.9 | 3:00 AM |
| 53.9 | Mammoth Bar | 3.7 | 5:30 AM |
| 57.6 | Confluence | 0.7 | |
| 58.3 | No Hands 1 (hydration) | 3.0 | |
| 61.3 | Cool 1 | 1.7 | 8:00 AM |
| 63.0 | Coffer Dam 1 (water only) | 4.6 | |
| 67.6 | Coffer Dam 2 (water only) | 5.9 | |
| 73.5 | Cool 2 | 4.2 | 12:00 PM |
| 77.7 | Browns Bar 1 | 5.4 | |
| 83.1 | ALT | 7.6 | 3:30 PM |
| 90.7 | Browns Bar 2 | 6.1 | |
| 96.8 | No Hands 2 (hydration) | 3.5 | |
| 100.3 | Finish, downtown Auburn | 11:00 PM Saturday |
The longest stretch is the first one, 11.2 miles from China Wall to Deadwood 1, and Cal 2 to Drivers Flat is 9.3 miles. The 100K follows the same stations to Confluence (2026 cutoffs: Deadwood 2 at 11:30 AM, Michigan Bluff 12:45 PM, Foresthill 2:30 PM, Drivers Flat 7:45 PM, Mammoth Bar 10:15 PM, finish 1:00 AM). The 50K has aid at Confluence (4.0), Clementine (7.2), Drivers Flat (15.6), Mammoth Bar (23.5) and Confluence (27.2), with an 8.4 mile gap from Clementine to Drivers Flat. Full aid stations carry Naak drink mix and gels, fruit, soda, sweet and salty snacks and PB&J, plus first aid, bug spray and sunscreen.
What to carry: The mandatory list sets the floor: a running pack that holds all of it and at least 1 liter of water for the 100M, 100K and 50K. Plan beyond that by time between refills, as in How Much Water Should I Carry Trail Running? For the 100M and 100K, with a hooded jacket, hat, food reserve, safety blanket and headlamps on the list, the ROOT8 has twin 500ml front flask pockets and more room for layers, and the ROOT18 adds more space for long days. The ROOT5 comes with two 500ml soft flasks (1L total) and suits the 25K. For setting up a pack around a gear list, see our mandatory gear pack setup guide.
Cutoffs
Runners must leave each aid station before its cutoff; miss one and you may be removed from the course and listed as a DNF. Overall limits are 35 hours for the 100M (finish by 11:00 PM Saturday), 20 hours for the 100K (1:00 AM Sunday), 10 hours for the 50K (5:00 PM) and 5 hours for the 25K (9:00 PM Friday), and these are also the Western States qualifying times for the 100M and 100K. The guide adds that runners "cannot leave an Aid Station behind the Course Sweeps. NO EXCEPTIONS!"
Mandatory gear, cups and rules
"This is a cup-less race. Runners will carry a personal container to refill at each Aid Station." The UTMB North America regulations add that no disposable cups, bowls or cutlery are handed out at any aid station. The mandatory list for 2026 and 2027, in summary (check the official PDF for exact wording):
- 100M: running pack, phone with roaming that works in North America, collapsible cup of at least 15 cl / 5 oz, at least 1 L of water, two working headlamps with spare batteries, food reserve, hooded weather jacket, hat, safety blanket, whistle.
- 100K: the same list with one headlamp.
- 50K: phone, collapsible cup, at least 1 L of water, food reserve, safety blanket, whistle.
- 25K: phone, collapsible cup, at least 0.5 L of water, safety blanket, whistle.
- The race may add a Hot Weather Kit or Cold Weather Kit based on conditions, which must then be carried for the whole race.
Missing safety items from the mandatory list means disqualification. Other rules:
- Pacers are permitted for 100M runners only, one at a time, at least 18 years old, joining at Cool 1 or Cool 2 in 2026. "No muling is permitted."
- Crew access in 2026 was at Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Drivers Flat, Cool 1 and Cool 2 for the 100M and the first three for the 100K. Crews may not enter no crew areas such as Cal 2.
- "If poles are permitted, they must be carried from the start of the race." Poles are not permitted in any bags.
- "Littering is strictly forbidden." Littering carries a 1 hour penalty in the 100K and 100M and 30 minutes in the 50K and 25K.
- No dogs or other animals. Bibs must be worn on the front of the torso and fully visible.
Weather
The 2026 guide says "Weather can range from hot temperatures to snowy mountain tops this time of year," which is why the race keeps the option of hot or cold weather kits. Check the forecast and the race's kit decision in race week.
Packet pickup, parking and shuttles
The race says the 2027 schedule will be posted "approximately 6-8 weeks from the 2027 race weekend." In 2026, bib pickup was at basecamp at East Placer and High Street in Auburn on Thursday and Friday, with no race morning pickup for the 100K, and you needed your registration QR code and photo ID. Main event parking was at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, with runner only shuttles to the China Wall starts; no car or tent camping in event parking.
FAQ
Is Canyons cupless?
Yes. A collapsible cup of at least 15 cl / 5 oz is mandatory gear at every distance.
Is there a lottery for Canyons?
No lottery is stated. Registration is direct and closes April 18, 2027 or when sold out.
What is the longest stretch without aid in the 100 mile?
The first 11.2 miles, China Wall to Deadwood 1, on the 2026 chart.
Which Canyons races are Western States qualifiers?
The 100M (under 35 hours) and 100K (under 20 hours), for Western States 2028.
Sources: canyons.utmb.world (race pages, registration, schedule, equipment and regulations, runner guide and crew pages), the 2026 and 2027 UTMB North America mandatory equipment list and race regulations, and the 2026 Canyons runner guide and aid station charts. Read October 12, 2026. LECAMO is not affiliated with the Canyons Endurance Runs or UTMB.