About This Event
Chihuahua by UTMB brings the UTMB World Series to Mexico's legendary Copper Canyons, home to the Rarámuri people who are renowned as some of the world's greatest natural-born runners. This event invites runners from around the world to experience the dramatic landscapes of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains as guests rather than visitors. The race takes place in the rugged terrain of Chihuahua state, where deep canyons, high mesas, and traditional indigenous communities create a unique cultural and geographic setting. As part of the UTMB World Series, the event maintains the organization's high standards while celebrating the rich running heritage of the region. With six different distances ranging from 8.5K to 135K, the event offers opportunities for runners of all levels to engage with this remarkable landscape. The race format follows UTMB's Running Stones qualification system, making it both accessible to newcomers and challenging for experienced ultra runners seeking their next UTMB World Series experience.
Choose Your Distance
8.5K
The 8.5-kilometer route serves as the event's most accessible option with just 200 meters of elevation gain. This distance welcomes runners of all levels to participate in the cultural celebration and experience the canyon setting without extreme physical demands.
20K
The route navigates mixed terrain characteristic of the Chihuahua highlands, combining technical trail sections with more runnable fire road segments. Runners should expect rocky footing, variable surface conditions, and the effects of altitude throughout. The 650-meter elevation profile provides sustained climbing rather than a single massive ascent, requiring consistent pacing and elevation awareness.
38K
The route traverses mixed terrain characteristic of the Chihuahua high desert, combining trail surfaces with technical sections that require careful footing. Specific course details including elevation profile, aid station locations, and cutoff times are managed through the official UTMB World Series registration and runner materials. The technical nature of certain sections suggests this isn't simply a runnable fire road course, though the exact balance of terrain types varies year to year based on course design.
59K
The course explores the mixed terrain of the Sierra Madre, combining rocky singletrack with wider mountain paths through high desert landscapes. Runners encounter the region's characteristic red rock formations, pine forests at elevation, and expansive views across canyon systems. Technical sections demand attention to foot placement, while more runnable stretches allow for rhythm and recovery between challenging segments.
94K
The course explores the Copper Canyon system through a mix of mining roads, indigenous footpaths, and technical singletrack. Runners move between ecological zones as the route descends into canyon sections and climbs back to forested ridgelines, with terrain ranging from smooth pine-needle trails to rocky, technical passages requiring careful foot placement. Water and aid station spacing reflects the remote nature of the region.
135K
The 135K course explores the diverse terrain of the Sierra Madre Occidental, moving through pine forests, canyon systems, and high-altitude ridges. The mixed terrain alternates between runnable sections and technical passages requiring careful foot placement. Aid stations are spaced to account for the remote nature of certain course segments, with runners needing to carry mandatory gear and manage supplies strategically between stops.