Moab Trail Marathon 2026: Course, Aid Stations, Cutoffs and Shuttles
Quick answer: The Moab Trail Marathon runs on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, 2026, from the Kane Creek Recreation Parking Area just outside Moab, Utah. Saturday has the marathon, half marathon, 10K and Kids K, and hosts the 2026 USATF Trail Half Marathon National Championships; Sunday has a second half marathon. The marathon climbs about 3,500 feet over slickrock, sandy washes, jeep roads and singletrack, with aid stations 3.2 to 5.7 miles apart. There is no on-site parking on race day, so everyone arrives by shuttle or drop-off, and there is no cell service at the start and finish.
Moab Trail Marathon 2026 at a glance
| Race | Day | Start waves | Finish cutoff for a medal | Price from Aug 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Sat, Nov 7 | 7:45 to 8:25 AM (6 waves) | Under 9 hours | $190 |
| Half Marathon | Sat, Nov 7 | 9:50 to 10:15 AM (6 waves), plus an 11 AM wave | Under 6.5 hours | $150 |
| 10K | Sat, Nov 7 | 10:25 to 10:27 AM (4 waves) | Under 4 hours | $110 |
| Kids K | Sat, Nov 7 | 8:45 AM | $60 | |
| Half Marathon | Sun, Nov 8 | 8:00 to 8:45 AM (3 waves) | Under 6.5 hours | $125 |
From the race's race info page, course page and linked PDFs, read October 10, 2026. Prices apply from August 1 to race day or until sold out; registration numbers are limited and Saturday races typically fill early. The pre-race PDF lists slightly different wave windows (marathon 7:45 to 8:20 AM, half 9:45 to 10:10 AM), so check your assigned wave. There are no wave changes on race day.
The marathon course
The marathon has two major climbs: a gradual one at the beginning and a shorter, steeper one just after halfway, for about 3,500 feet of gain. Expect narrow singletrack, rugged jeep trails, sandy washes, slickrock, a short dirt road, sections with no visible track, an old mining trail, climbing sections and a small slot canyon. The race's named sections include the Pritchett Canyon jeep track, Hunter Canyon Rim, the "Scorched Earth Wall" climb, a slickrock scramble around mile 17.5, Captain Ahab singletrack, Pothole Arch and Rockstacker, and the Jackson Trail descent beside the Colorado River. The finish has one short, steep hill less than a quarter mile from the line.
The course is marked with orange flagging tape and white chalk or flour, and the race asks you to follow the flags and chalk rather than the runner in front of you. Its race day notes list ropes and creeks among the terrain, and ask you to slow down on slickrock if it is wet.
Aid stations and the gaps between them
| Mile | Marathon aid station | Gap from previous |
|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | Pritchett Canyon and Hunter Rim intersection | 5.7 miles from the start |
| 9.7 | Hunter Canyon Rim Trailhead | 4.0 miles |
| 13.7 | Cattleguard at the Scorched Earth Wall turn | 4.0 miles |
| 17.4 | Taz's Canyon, at the bottom of the slickrock scramble | 3.7 miles |
| 20.6 | Upper Captain Ahab Trail and Amasa Back Road | 3.2 miles |
| 24.3 | Rockstacker and Jackson Trail junction (limited supply) | 3.7 miles |
The stations serve water, Tailwind, GU, bars, fruit, Coke and electrolytes. The race's own advice is to know how far it is to the next aid station and to carry a pack or bottle for water and food if you think you will need it. The race pages do not state a cup policy or any required gear.
The longest gap is the first one, 5.7 miles that include the start of the first climb, so that is the stretch to plan your water for. With climbing and scrambling, the time between stations matters more than the distance; our guide to how much water to carry on a trail run shows how to plan by the refill gap. On a course with a slickrock scramble, ropes and a slot canyon, carrying water in a vest keeps both hands free. A 5L vest such as the LECAMO ROOT5 comes with two 500ml soft flasks, one liter in total, plus room for a phone, fuel and a light layer. You can compare all three capacities on our trail running packs page.
Cutoffs
| Race | Point | Time from your start |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Mile 9.7, aid station 2 (Spring) | 4 hours |
| Marathon | Mile 13.3, aid station 3 (Rock) | 5 hours |
| Marathon | Mile 17.3, aid station 4 (Taz) | 6.5 hours |
| Marathon | Mile 21.3, Jackson cutoff (Amasa and Jackson) | 6.75 hours |
| Half Marathon | Mile 9.7, aid station 2 (Spring) | 4 hours |
The cutoff sheet gives slightly different miles than the course page (13.3 and 17.3 against 13.7 and 17.4). It also notes that cutoffs may change and that staff may stop a runner at any point. The race's suggested qualifying standard for the marathon is a marathon under 6 hours, or a top 75% finish in a trail race over 10 miles; for the half, a half marathon under 3 hours or the same trail alternative.
Half marathon and 10K
- Half marathon: the first nine miles follow the marathon course, with aid at miles 5.7, 9.7 and 12.2 (Amasa Back parking lot). After the "Tricky Rock" descent into Gatherer Canyon and the Hymasa singletrack, you cross Kane Creek twice near the finish. If there is water, the race says it is typically no deeper than knee-high, and its race day notes describe about a mile in and out of the creek.
- 10K: Kane Creek Road, then the Amasa Back Jeep Road climb known as "Cliffhanger" to a high point near mile 3, the Jackson Trail descent and "The Squeeze", a ladder and a narrow slot just before the finish. Aid is at mile 3 and mile 4 (limited supply).
The race's pre-race information says your feet may get wet and asks you to bring a dry pair of socks and shoes to change into.
Weather and daylight
The race gives an average low of 34°F and high of 65°F for this time of year, so it will be chilly at the start and warmer later. On November 7 the sun rises in Moab at about 6:51 AM and sets at about 5:12 PM (our calculation from the NOAA sunrise equation), and the race sets its cutoffs so the course can close before dark. A warm-up bag drop at a tarp and canopy lets you leave a jacket at the start; do not leave valuables there.
Shuttles, packet pickup and race morning
- No on-site parking on race day. Shuttles leave from the south side of Helen M Knight Elementary School; the ride is 5 miles and takes about 13 minutes. Friends or family can drop you off instead. If you are late, you may miss your start wave.
- Spectators can take the shuttle to the finish from 10:15 AM on Saturday or 8:30 AM on Sunday.
- No cell service at the start and finish area, so agree on pickup times in advance.
- Packet pickup: Friday, November 6, 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the Kane Creek parking lot, or on race morning (from 6:15 AM per the race info page). Bring your online confirmation and photo ID.
- No pets and no caching on the course, and stay on marked surfaces to protect the desert soil crust.
- Medical: first responders are at the finish line and two are on the course.
Awards
The race gives a finisher mug and medal to every marathon and half marathon runner who finishes within the cutoff, and to every 10K and Kids K finisher. Registration also includes chip timing, a T-shirt, a goodie bag and post-race soup, quesadillas and snacks. The top three men and women overall receive a swag bag, and the USATF championship pays the top five from $800 down to $350.
Running in Moab before or after the race
If you arrive early and want an easy shakeout with a view, our guide to trail running at Dead Horse Point near Moab covers a controlled rim loop.
FAQ
Can I park at the start of the Moab Trail Marathon?
No. There is no on-site parking on race day. Take the shuttle from Helen M Knight Elementary School or get dropped off.
How far apart are the aid stations?
In the marathon, 3.2 to 5.7 miles. The longest gap is from the start to mile 5.7.
Will my feet get wet?
Possibly. The half marathon crosses Kane Creek twice near the finish, and the race says the creek is typically no deeper than knee-high when there is water. The 10K has one final Kane Creek crossing before the finish.
Is there a cup-free policy?
The race pages do not state one. They advise carrying a pack or bottle if you think you will need water between stations.
Sources: Moab Trail Marathon, race info, the course, cutoff times, 2026 pre-race information, 2026 prices. Read October 10, 2026. Sunrise and sunset times are our own calculation. LECAMO is not affiliated with the Moab Trail Marathon.