Course Overview
The Silverton Alpine Marathon follows a 26.9-mile loop through the San Juan Mountains on historic Alpine Loop jeep roads, starting and finishing at 9,318 feet in Memorial Park. With nearly 4,000 feet of climbing and a high point at California Pass (12,930 feet), this isn't a fast marathon—it's a high-altitude grind on mostly runnable dirt roads. The route passes through ghost mining towns including Howardsville, Eureka, Animas Forks, and Gladstone, with aid stations roughly every 4 miles. Much of the course runs on wide jeep roads shared with recreational vehicles, so expect dust and occasional OHV traffic. The scenery shifts from forested valleys to exposed high-country terrain, but the consistent climbing and altitude demand respect. Cutoff times are generous (10 hours total), with mandatory checkpoints at California Pass by 2:30 PM and Gladstone by 4:00 PM. This race suits runners comfortable with sustained climbing at altitude and those who don't mind sharing the trail with vehicles. The jeep road surface makes for steady footing, but the elevation and distance create their own challenges. If you're looking for a fast road marathon or prefer singletrack trails, this isn't your race. But for those drawn to Colorado's mining history and high-country views, the Alpine Loop delivers a solid mountain marathon experience.