San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run
June 21, 2025
ALTERNATE COURSE
Alternate Course Description - Should the regular course be unwise to use. Please take a few minutes to review and study it.
Segment 1 -The race runs from the Town Park north on Silver Street to Eighth Street, turn right to Hwy149 and then left to Oceanwave Drive, turn left on Oceanwave and proceed past the Cemetery to the Crystal Lake/Larson Lakes Trailhead. Water refill here, if you want. Continue to Aid Station #1 at Crystal Lake. Follow the Larson Lakes Trail loop north around Larson Lakes and back to the Crystal Lake/Larson Lakes Trailhead. Follow the course backwards to Aid Station #2 at the Start Finish in the Town Park.
Segment 2 - From there, proceed backwards on the regular course, north on Silver Street to 5th Street, turn right cross Hwy149 and the 5th Street pedestrian bridge and left on Hotchkiss Street. Follow Hotchkiss Street to the Water Dog Lake Trailhead and then follow the Water Dog Trail to Water Dog Lake and Aid Station #3.
Segment 3 - From there, head down Vicker’s Ranch Road to Hwy 149. Cross Hwy 149 and follow the marked trail through the Monte Queen Subdivision to the Round Top Road. Climb the Round Top Road to Aid Station #4 at approximately mile 31. Continue to the top of Round Top Road and make the loop around the top using the bib punch at the top to punch a hole in runner’s bib proving the loop was made. Continue south to the Silver Coin Road and follow that down to County Road 30. Cross County Road 30 and follow the marked trail down to Hwy 149. Ever mindful of traffic, cross the Dawn of Hope Bridge and turn right on the Wood Lake Campground road. Follow that road up the Slumgullion Earthflow to Hwy 149. Cross the Hwy and follow the course to the Slumgullion Aid Station, #5.
Segment 4 - Cross the highway again and descend back down the trail for about a mile and just past where the Hwy was crossed on the way up to Aid #5. Turn right onto a trail going up through aspen groves. This first hill here is a doozy, heading up 1,700’ to an elevation of about 11,000’, so be ready for it! You’ll reach Aid #6 about two miles down from the high point. From this aid station, merge and turn left down onto the Waterdog Trail. One mile down, turn right into the aspen trees, and now it’s a no-brainer, down to town for 2 miles. When you emerge into the residential area, follow the markers to the 5th Street pedestrian bridge, and use 5th Street to cross over Highway 149 to Silver Street. Turn left and it’s only two blocks back to the park!
CHECK IN AND OUT of each aid station. Let someone know if you drop. There are real safety concerns here.
AID will be provided at six stations along the course. All Aid Stations will carry a full supply of sandwiches, cookies, chips, bananas, etc. Over the counter medications such as ibuprofen will not be available at the aid stations so be sure to pack whatever of these items you may need in your drop bags.
CUT-OFFS for the alternate course:
Aid #1 7:45 am Crystal Lake, mi 5.5 – This is a pack in Aid Station so it is minimal. But most runners are not into eating much that early in the morning.
Aid #2 10:00 am Start/Finish , mi 17.25 (Drop Bags) Fully stocked, Spectators and Crew allowed
Aid #3 12:00 pm Water Dog Lake, mi 22.25 (Drop Bags) Fully stocked
Aid #4 Round Top, mi 31 - Fully stocked
Aid #5 6:00 pm Slumgullion, mi 41 (Drop Bags) Fully stocked, Spectators and Crew allowed
Aid #6 Vickers upper ranch, mi 47 has plenty, but most just want to get to the park, which is about 3 miles straight downhill. Don’t miss the turn 1/2 mile past the aid.
Aid #7 9:00 pm the finish line Town Park, mi 50 has loads of fruit, sandwiches, drinks, and other treats.
You must be out of the aid station at the published cut-off time, to the second according to the race clock. No refunds are available to those who miss cut-off times!!
• CREWS and Spectators are allowed at Aid #2 Start/Finish, Town Park (mile 17.25) and Aid #5 Slumgullion (mile 40), and, of course, at the finish. Crews, you may aid your runner only within one hundred yards of the aid stations. No dogs allowed at the aid stations (or, for that matter, on the course, unless mandated for a medical condition). Also, please park off the roads and drive at the speed limit. Hinsdale Sheriff’s officers will pick you up for going five over, especially in town.
• DROP BAGS will be ferried to the following aid stations: # 2 (Start/Finish, Town Park mile 17.25), # 3 (Water Dog Lake, mile 22.25), and # 5 (Slum, mile 40). Send extra gear.
• PACERS are allowed from mile 40 (aid #5, Slumgullion). Pacers do not need to register, but please let the aid station captain at Slum know you are leaving with a pacer.
• TREKKING POLES are allowed for runners and pacers.
• STAY ON TRAIL Most trail deviations force us to DQ you; however, you may parallel the trail (i.e., get down!) if the weather causes you exceptional fear. Keep an eye on those clouds! Finishing this race in a particular time is definitely not worth your life.
• ENVIRONMENT FIRST is the credo of this run. Any runner caught messing with the local ecology will be pulled. If you throw any trash, including drink cups, on the ground, you will be DQ’d. Never litter ANYWHERE. Bury human waste at least 6” deep, 200’ from water sources, and 50’ from any trail. Use common sense and courtesy with respect to the land, water, and all others out there enjoying the mountains, including race volunteers. Just because you’re running does not mean you have the right of way or the right to be impolite. We know you’re tired; try not to be cranky about it. The old Ultra “no whining” rule is in effect at this event.
© 2019 SJS50