The Grand Traverse
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 6:00 AM MDT
- Location
- Crested Butte, CO
- 620 2nd Street, 81224
- Type
- DUATHLON
Sign up and verify details on the organizer’s official page.
At a glance
An 80-mile mountain run across the challenging Elk Mountains, honoring historical routes and supporting Crested Butte Nordic.
- Scenic
- Competitive
- For a Cause
Scenic
Competitive
For a CauseGreat for
- For a Cause
For a CauseGreat for: cause-driven runners, runners who like a competitive edge
The Grand Traverse is an 80-mile mountain run with a rich history, tracing its roots to 1880s mail routes connecting the Colorado mining towns of Crested Butte and Aspen. Conceived in the 1990s and inspired by a Swiss ski race, it first sent competitors over the challenging Elk Mountains in 1998. Today, this extraordinary backcountry event, which also includes a winter ski race and mountain bike race, serves as a major fundraiser for Crested Butte Nordic, supporting their community initiatives.
What to expect
- An 80-mile journey through the Elk Mountains.
- A challenging backcountry experience.
- Participate in a race with a storied history.
Standout details
- 80-mile mountain run
- Crosses the Elk Mountains
- Historic mail route inspiration
- Fundraiser for Crested Butte Nordic
Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.
Distances & registration
3 optionsRegistration for all distances is through the official signup link above.
- 40 Miles
Sat, Sep 5, 6:00 AM MDT · From $239.50
Opens Nov 30, 2025, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Dec 31, 2025, 6:59 PM MST
- 40 Miles
Sun, Sep 6, 7:00 AM MDT · From $218.30
Opens Nov 30, 2025, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Dec 31, 2025, 6:59 PM MST
- 80 Miles
Sat, Sep 5, 6:00 AM MDT · From $394.75
Opens Dec 1, 2025, 8:18 AM MST · Closes Dec 31, 2025, 6:59 PM MST
Vibe Check
Push Potential
Push PotentialDistance only — terrain and weather data unavailable.
The course
- Timed race
From the organizer
The Elk Mountains Grand Traverse was conceived by Jan Runge in the 1990s. The race’s genesis was partially based on the historical mail routes that connected the Colorado mining towns of Crested Butte and Aspen in the 1880s. It also drew inspiration from the Patrouille des Glaciers, a point-to-point ski race in Switzerland which Runge had become familiar with in the 80s. In 1998, with the help of the community, Runge sent a brave field of competitors from Crested Butte, over the Elk Mountains, to Aspen. It worked, and the Extraordinary Backcountry Ski Race was born. In 2012, event ownership was transferred to Crested Butte Nordic. The race is now a major fundraiser for the organization. In 2014 the Grand Traverse summer events were launched. Now the Grand Traverse features a winter ski race, a summer mountain run, and a mountain bike race.
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