Races
Canyons
China Wall to Auburn on the Western States Trail. Thirteen thousand feet up. Swinging Bridge. Cal Street into town.
104 km+9,313 ft-13,062 ft20 hours563 ft to 5,016 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookWestern States TrailWSER lottery stonesWSER qualifierAprilGolden TicketRunning Stones · 3 stones
Distance104 km
Gain+9,313 ft
Loss-13,062 ft
Altitude563 ft to 5,016 ft
Technicality5/10
Air45°F to 90°F
- Start5,016 ft
- High5,016 ft
- Low563 ft
- Finish1,267 ft
Field, 2026 · 11-year samplescraped
Starters678
Finish rate80%
Median15:55
Sub-24540
Geometryderived
Steepest drop1,519 ft-12.7% over 2.3 mi
Night miles19 misunset near 19:00 local
The cruxDevils Thumb double pass and Cal Street descent into Auburn (near mile 42)
Course DNA
The Course
Canyons runs 104 km through Auburn, California. +9,313 ft gain and -13,062 ft loss. Surfaces skew 85% trail / 10% dirt road / 5% paved. Devils Thumb double pass and Cal Street descent into Auburn. High point near 5,016 ft. Low near 563 ft. April temps run 45°F to 90°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 32.
The Work
Train for 9,313 feet of climbing across 104 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 20 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 42.
Kit
April in Auburn, California: plan for 45°F to 90°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 20 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 16. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 85% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 32.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 16. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 32. Devils Thumb double pass and Cal Street descent into Auburn near mile 42 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 21 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Canyons finish lines.
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Sources (3)
- Field stats (2026): https://utmb.world/utmb-index/races/3753.canyonsbyutmb100k.2026?page=1
- Qualifier: golden_ticket: https://www.wser.org/entry-info/
- Qualifier: utmb_stones: https://utmb.world/utmb-world-series