Colossal Vail 50/50 2026: Course, Aid Stations and Cutoffs on the Arizona Trail
Quick answer: The Colossal Vail 50/50 is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at La Posta Quemada Ranch in Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Vail, Arizona, about 24 miles southeast of Tucson. It runs on Passages 7 and 8 of the Arizona Trail with four events: a 50 mile at 7:00 AM, a 55K at 7:15 AM, a daytime half marathon at 9:00 AM and a night half marathon at 5:00 PM. Run both halves and you have a trail marathon in one day. The race is cupless, and night half runners must start with a light. LECAMO is a sponsor and is supplying ROOT8 vests as prizes.
Colossal Vail 2026 at a glance
| Event | Distance | Gain | Start | Cutoffs | Entry to Nov 6 | After |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Mile | 50.1 mi | About 4,000 ft | 7:00 AM | Gabe Zimmerman (mile 28.9) 4:00 PM, Pistol Hill northbound (39.1) 7:00 PM, finish 10:00 PM | $120 | $140 |
| 55K | 33.8 mi | About 2,300 ft | 7:15 AM | Gabe Zimmerman (mile 28.9) 4:15 PM | $105 | $125 |
| Daytime half | 13.6 mi | About 1,300 ft | 9:00 AM | No time limit | $80 | $100 |
| Night half | 13.1 mi | About 950 ft | 5:00 PM | Finish by 10:00 PM | $65 | $75 |
From the race's Just the Facts, course and aid station pages and UltraSignup, read October 9, 2026. Prices are before fees. The course page gives the 55K gain as both about 2,300 and about 3,000 feet. The aid station page and participant guide put the night half cutoff at 10:00 PM; Just the Facts says 4.5 hours, which is 9:30 PM. Registration closes Friday, December 4, at 11:59 PM MT. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Trail Association.
The course
The ultras are two out-and-backs from the ranch. The south leg runs 16.9 miles to the Peaks View turnaround and back. The 50 mile then adds a north leg to a turnaround at North Colossal Cave Place, at mile 41.7. The low point is Cienega Creek at 3,300 feet and the high point is a ridge at 4,200 feet, on the stretch of the Arizona Trail between Saguaro National Park and the Rincons and the Santa Rita foothills.
Aid stations
| Aid station | Ultra miles |
|---|---|
| Gabe Zimmerman (GZ) | 4.9 and 28.9 |
| Sahuarita Road (SR) | 11.0 and 22.8 |
| Peaks View turnaround | 16.9 |
| La Selvilla (LAS), 50 mile | 35.5 and 47.9 |
| Pistol Hill (PH), 50 mile | 39.1 and 44.3 |
| North turnaround, 50 mile | 41.7, no water |
The night half passes La Selvilla at miles 2.2 and 10.9, Pistol Hill at 5.8 and 7.3, and turns around at 6.55. The race's minimum menu is chips, M&Ms, PB&J, Skratch Labs, pretzels or Goldfish, gummies, bean wraps, salted potatoes and cookies, and last year's guide also listed soda, bananas, watermelon and first aid.
Cupless, lights and what to carry
- Cupless: bring your own cup, bottle or flasks. Collapsible HydraPak cups are sold on UltraSignup and at packet pickup.
- Lights: night half runners must start with a light, and 50 mile runners leaving Pistol Hill at or after 3:15 PM should carry one. Sunset is 5:18 PM.
- Drop bags: Sahuarita Road for all ultras, plus La Selvilla and Pistol Hill for the 50 mile. Bags are due at 6:50 AM, labeled with the location, your bib number and your name.
- Crew: only at the start and finish, Gabe Zimmerman and Pistol Hill. A crew member showing up at Sahuarita Road, Peaks View, La Selvilla or X-9 Ranch Road gets the runner disqualified.
- No pacers at any distance, and music and earbuds are not allowed.
Past runners on the race's own advice page say there is almost no shade, so they put ice in a hat or buff, walk through the 11 AM to 2 PM heat and start in an outer layer they drop at an aid station. The longest stretch for the ultras is the 6.1 miles from Gabe Zimmerman to Sahuarita Road, and the north turnaround has no water at all. The ROOT8, the vest we are giving to this year's top finishers, is an 8L vest that ships with two soft flasks and has room for extra layers and gear.
Organizing a cupless race? A soft flask with the race logo in every runner packet is one way to make sure nobody reaches the aid table without a container. Our race director's guide to custom soft flasks covers quantities, timing and delivery.
Advice from previous runners
The race collects tips from people who have run it. They say to start conservatively and save energy for the climbs back, expect rocky ground, power-hike the climbs, and know that the slowest miles come after Gabe Zimmerman on the final climb, where poles help. They also recommend training with long runs rather than hikes, not trying untested food on race day, and carrying an EpiPen if you are allergic to bees.
Race day logistics
- Getting there: take I-10 to exit 279, head east on Colossal Cave Road and follow the signs to the Ranch, not the Cave. In map apps, search for Boomerang Riding Adventures.
- Packet pickup: Friday, December 4, 12 to 5 PM at Fleet Feet Tucson, 7301 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Race-day check-in starts at 6:00 AM and is required.
- Where to stay: Vail has no hotel. The race points to Tucson, Benson (26 miles) and vacation rentals. Free camping is allowed on the grass east of the finish, the RV area is limited, and the road to La Selvilla Campground is impassable after storm damage.
Awards
Ultra finishers get an engraved railroad spike and half marathon finishers a wooden award. The top 3 men and women in each event get awards, and runners who do both halves get a special award. 50 mile runners who drop to the 55K get 55K credit but cannot win a top 3 award. Food at the finish is free for runners, followed by a post-race party. The 50 mile is race 1 of the Southern Arizona Triple 50.
December weather
National Weather Service normals for Tucson give a high of 67°F and a low of 42°F on December 5. The race's own figures for Vail are a 64°F average high and a 37°F low, with sunrise at 7:13 AM and sunset at 5:18 PM, so a 50 mile or night half will see both the midday sun and a cold evening.
Why LECAMO is backing Colossal Vail
LECAMO is supplying six ROOT8 vests to the Arizona Trail Association for this race: five as prizes for top finishers and one for a raffle. You can see every race we support on our race partners page.
FAQ
Can I run both half marathons?
Yes. Running the daytime and night halves makes a trail marathon in one day, with a discount code and a special award.
Is Colossal Vail cupless?
Yes. Bring your own cup, bottle or flasks. Collapsible cups are sold on UltraSignup and at pickup.
Where can my crew meet me?
Only at the start and finish, Gabe Zimmerman and Pistol Hill. Crew at any other aid station gets the runner disqualified.
Do I need a headlamp?
For the night half, yes, from the start. 50 mile runners leaving Pistol Hill at or after 3:15 PM should carry one.
Sources: Colossal Vail 50/50, its facts, course, aid station, participant guide, advice, lodging and registration pages, UltraSignup, and NWS Tucson December normals. Read October 9, 2026. Last year's participant guide is still posted, so check the race's 2026 updates for any schedule changes.