Next race
Saturday, 18 September 2027
6:45 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Mountain road
Elevation
Net downhill · 67 m gain
67 m climbing
Race profile
The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is a net-downhill speed course drawing approximately 2,500 finishers each September through Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Starting at Guardsman Pass and descending Big Cottonwood Canyon to Cottonwood High School in Murray, the course drops roughly 1,600 m on a steep scenic mountain highway. September's crisp alpine morning and the fast descent make it one of America's most popular personal-best marathons.
REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 2,500 finishers
Course & terrain
The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is a net-downhill point-to-point from Guardsman Pass in Big Cottonwood Canyon to Cottonwood High School in Murray, following SR-190 through Wasatch Mountain scenery with roughly 1,600 m of net descent on a steep straight downhill. The early high-altitude miles are the toughest because of thin air at Guardsman Pass, while the long sustained downhill rewards aggressive pacing but punishes the quads. Crowd support concentrates at the valley finish and at organised cheer points where the canyon road meets suburban neighbourhoods.
The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon course is net downhill over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 67 metres of climbing and 1666 metres of descent, with a net descent of 1599 metres from start to finish.
Net downhill · 67 m gain — approx. 1,299 m above sea level
↑ 67 m · ↓ 1666 m · net −1599 m
Registration
For the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon, runners take shuttle buses from the finish area in the Salt Lake valley to Brighton Ski Resort at 2,590 m. Arrive early for the alpine start.
Getting there
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
8 km / 5 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake City Marathon draws approximately 1,500 finishers each April on an urban road in Salt Lake City, United States. Descending from the east bench gives the race a quick first half before the city grid settles the pace. The course passes This Is The Place Heritage Park, Liberty Park, and temple district streets with Wasatch views throughout. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Friday, 23 April 2027
The Ogden Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each May on a canyon point-to-point road in Ogden, United States. The canyon start gives the event one of the most scenic road descents on the U.S. spring calendar. The course passes steep canyon walls, pine-lined descents, and the Union Station area in the city finish. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
The Utah Valley Marathon draws approximately 2,200 finishers each June on a canyon point-to-point road in Provo, United States. Its long gentle descent makes it a common target for personal bests and Boston qualifying attempts. The route passes Deer Creek-adjacent canyon roads, the Provo River corridor, and broad urban streets near BYU. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Saturday, 5 June 2027
The Bear Lake Wyoming Marathon draws approximately 41 finishers each August on a scenic road in Cokeville, United States. The Bear Lake Wyoming Marathon serves runners on the scenic Wyoming side of Bear Lake each August. The course tours Bear Lake basin roads with mountain and lake-country scenery on the Wyoming–Idaho border. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 1 August 2027
The Run with the Horses Marathon draws approximately 57 finishers each August on a scenic road in Green River, United States. Green River's Run with the Horses Marathon serves southwestern Wyoming on a rolling high-desert course. The course tours Green River neighborhoods and high-desert plateau roads. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 1 August 2027
The Jackson Hole Marathon draws approximately 248 finishers each September on a scenic road in Jackson Hole, United States. Wyoming's largest marathon by participation finishes at the base of the Tetons on a certified Boston-qualifier course. The course tours Jackson Hole valley roads, community pathways, Wilson, and Grand Teton views. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Next race: Sunday, 5 September 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
Which US marathons produce Boston qualifiers in practice — course data, typical BQ rates, and how to match a race to your qualifying window.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
