Short answer: the best-known ultra marathons in Utah are the Wasatch Front 100 (100 miles, about 24,000 ft of climb), the Moab 240 through the canyon country, and the Speedgoat 50K at Snowbird, one of the steepest 50Ks in the country. For a runnable first ultra, the Antelope Island races on the Great Salt Lake are the usual pick.
Utah splits into two scenes: alpine races along the Wasatch Front in the north, and canyon and desert races around Moab and St. George in the south.
| 240 miles | Moab 240: canyon country around Moab |
|---|---|
| 100 miles | Wasatch Front 100: East Mountain Wilderness Park to Soldier Hollow, about 24,000 ft of climb |
| 50 miles | Antelope Island 50: mostly runnable, on the Great Salt Lake |
| 50K | Speedgoat 50K (Snowbird, very steep); Buffalo Run and Ragged Edge |
| Terrain | North: alpine Wasatch. South: red-rock canyon and desert |
Utah punches above its size in ultrarunning. The Wasatch Range sits over Salt Lake City; the canyon country south of the I-70 holds more single-track than any other US state. Two iconic ultras anchor the calendar, Wasatch and Moab 240, with a deep bench of 50Ks and 50-milers in between.
The 100-miler
Wasatch Front 100
100 miles point-to-point through the Wasatch. About 24,000 ft of climb. Read the Wasatch briefing →
The 200-miler
Moab 240
240 miles in the canyon country. The desert 200-miler. Read the Moab 240 briefing →
The 50-milers
Speedgoat 50K
Snowbird, UT. A notoriously steep 50K with roughly 11,000 to 12,000 ft of climb. Summer. Directed by Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer, whose nickname is also the name of Hoka's trail shoe.
Antelope Island 50
50 miles on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. March. Mostly runnable; saltwater views; bison crossings. Different energy than mountain races.
Buffalo Run
50 mile / 25K / 50K on Antelope Island. March. Cult-favorite spring race for Western States hopefuls.
The 50Ks worth knowing
Squaw Peak 50
50-mile and 50K distances in the Wasatch. June. ~14,000 ft vert (50M). Heavy local field.
Ragged Edge 50K
Park City. June. ~5,000 ft vert. Mid-elevation training race for Wasatch.
The two Utah running cultures
Utah ultrarunning splits into two scenes. North Utah (Wasatch Front, Salt Lake, Park City) is mountain-centric (Wasatch 100, Speedgoat, Squaw Peak. South Utah (Moab, St. George) is canyon-and-desert) Moab 240, Bryce Canyon Ultras, the Zion Ultras. Most Utah runners pick a scene; few try to do both well.
Where to train
- Salt Lake City / Park City: Wasatch trail access, altitude (4,500–7,000 ft), strong club scene.
- Moab: red-rock single-track at the door. The most photogenic training base in the U.S.
- St. George: winter training haven. Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow, Zion within 30 miles.
Common questions
What is the hardest ultra in Utah?
For 100 milers, the Wasatch Front 100 with about 24,000 ft of climb. For multi-day racing, the Moab 240. Among 50Ks, Speedgoat at Snowbird is known for its climbing.
What is a good first ultra marathon in Utah?
The Antelope Island and Buffalo Run races on the Great Salt Lake: mostly runnable trail, lower altitude than the Wasatch races, and spring timing.
Are there ultra races in southern Utah?
Yes. The canyon country around Moab and St. George hosts the Moab 240 and several desert ultras, best run in the cooler seasons.
Sources: official race websites and our race briefings. Dates, distances and entry rules change each year; confirm with each race. Researched, not professional coaching advice.
What these sessions assume you are measuring with
Every pace, zone and power figure here needs something recording it. These three cover running, long days and the bike.
Garmin Forerunner 965 AMOLED multisport with the training-load and threshold metrics most of these sessions assume you can see day to day.
Check price on Amazon →
COROS APEX 2 Series GPS Watch Sapphire titanium and the longest battery in its class, which is the deciding feature once a day out runs past a few hours.
Check price on Amazon →
Favero Assioma Uno Power Meter Pedal Single-sided pedal power, the cheapest honest entry into training with watts rather than estimating from heart rate.
Check price on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
