Snow Peak 50: A Complete Course Recon Breakdown Using HARDN

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If it were easy, it wouldn't be Snow Peak 50.

That's the tagline. It's also just accurate. This is Utah's oldest 50-miler — 30 years running, held every second Saturday in June in the Wasatch Mountains above Provo. It starts and finishes at Vivian Park, passes Bridal Veil Falls in the dark at 5 AM, climbs 2,700 feet in the first five miles, and doesn't let up until you're 4,000 feet down the backside of Windy Pass with tired legs and three miles of paved canyon road left.

The 90% finish rate is real and it's earned. This race is hard enough that finishing genuinely means something, accessible enough that a well-prepared 50-mile runner can do it. It's the sweet spot.

I loaded the official Snow Peak 50 GPX into HARDN — 21,051 track points, 51.66 miles — and broke it down the way I'd actually prepare for it. Here's what the data shows.

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The Big Picture

| Stat | Value |
|------|-------|
| Distance | 51.66 miles (loop) |
| Elevation Gain | 13,580 ft |
| Elevation Loss | 13,577 ft |
| High Point | 9,323 ft (Windy Pass, ~Mile 41.5) |
| Low Point | 5,109 ft (~Mile 22.7, Hobble Creek) |
| Start/Finish | Vivian Park, Provo Canyon, UT — 5,197 ft |
| Terrain | 43% singletrack/dirt trail · 38% dirt road · 19% pavement |
| Start Time | 5:00 AM Saturday, June 13, 2026 |
| Cutoff | One cutoff: 2:30 PM at Little Valley (Mile 33.5) |
| Aid Stations | 9 (plus start/finish) |
| Drop Bags | AS3–AS8 (Horse Mountain through Big Springs); AS8 limited to 2-gallon freezer bag |
| History | Utah's 2nd oldest ultra; 90% finish rate |
| Capacity | 400 runners |

What makes this race unique: It's a true mountain loop — you leave Vivian Park heading east, climb into the Wasatch backcountry, loop south and west through Hobble Creek, Sheep Canyon, and the Great Western Trail, summit Windy Pass at 9,323 ft, and come screaming back down 4,000 feet to the finish. No out-and-backs. No repeated sections. New terrain all the way.

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Elevation Profile

[COURSE_ELEVATION:snow-peak-50]

The profile has two distinct halves with completely different personalities.

First half (Miles 0–22): A massive opening climb followed by high ridgeline travel and a long descent into Hobble Creek. Starts at 5,197 ft, spikes to ~7,800 ft at the Kyhv Peak overlook area by mile 7, undulates across the high country through miles 8–17, then descends hard to the low point at Hobble Creek (~5,109 ft) around mile 22.

Second half (Miles 22–51): The course climbs steadily from Hobble Creek through Sheep Canyon and onto the Great Western Trail, grinding upward for nearly 20 miles before the massive Windy Pass summit at mile ~41.5 and 9,323 ft. From there, nearly 4,000 feet of descent in 10 miles to the finish.

The snow warning on the race page is real: expect snow patches around mile 11 (after Rock Canyon) for 2+ miles, then on/off approaching Windy Pass from mile ~37 for about 4 miles, and for 2 miles after the pass. June in the Wasatch means the high country hasn't fully cleared.

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Aid Station Table

[COURSE_AID_STATIONS:snow-peak-50]

> No crew or pacer access documented on race site — this is a point-to-point loop through remote backcountry. Confirm crew access with RD before race day.

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The Five Major Climbs

The race description specifically calls out five major climbs. From the GPX data:

| Climb | Approx Miles | Gain | Description |
|-------|-------------|------|-------------|
| 1 — Bonneville to Kyhv Peak area | 2.1–7.2 | ~2,600 ft | Opening wall. 5 miles from pavement to ridgeline. |
| 2 — Rock Canyon to Horse Mountain | 10.85–14.62 | ~800 ft | Post-dip climb back into high country; snow starts |
| 3 — Hobble Creek to Little Valley | 26.05–33.5 | ~2,000 ft | Long steady grind out of the canyon valley |
| 4 — Little Valley to Wallsburg/GWT | 33.5–37.5 | ~900 ft | Sheep Canyon, stream crossings, Great Western Trail |
| 5 — Berryport Canyon to Windy Pass | ~39.5–41.5 | ~1,500 ft | Final and most demanding; steep, wild, snow-patched |

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Segment Breakdown

[COURSE_SEGMENTS_TABLE:snow-peak-50]

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How to Race It

Segment 1: Start to Horse Mountain (Miles 0–14.62) — The Opening Wall

Effort: Hard | 2,700 ft climb in the dark before mile 7

The race starts at 5:00 AM from Vivian Park. The first 2.1 miles follow the paved Provo River Trail past Bridal Veil Falls — flat, runnable, dark. It's a deceptive opening. At mile 2.1 you turn left onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the climbing begins immediately.

The first climb gains 2,700 feet in five miles to the Kyhv Peak overlook area. This is the most sustained climb on the course and it happens in the dark, before you're fully warmed up, on the most technical terrain of the morning. Almost everyone hikes significant portions. The runners who try to run the steep sections pay for it at mile 35.

Hope Campground at mile 5.58 has the legendary blueberry pancake breakfast with turkey sausages and juice — eat. It's the most famous aid station offering on the course and you need the calories before you reach the ridgeline.

From Hope, the course climbs to the Rock Canyon overlook (~mile 7) where the views of Utah Lake and the Provo Valley are the first real reward of the morning. Snow can begin appearing right after Rock Canyon — the race page flags a 2+ mile snow section starting around mile 11. Horse Mountain at mile 14.62 is the first drop bag station and the unofficial high point of the first half.

How to race it: The opening climb sets the tone for the entire race. Don't chase runners ahead of you on the Bonneville Shoreline climb. Hike with purpose, keep heart rate controlled, and arrive at Hope Campground with legs still under you.

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Segment 2: Horse Mountain to Hobble Creek (Miles 14.62–26.05) — The Long Middle Descent

Effort: Steady | Descending toward the low point; best rhythm of the race

From Horse Mountain, the course descends steadily toward Pole Heaven at mile 20.94 — the terrain opens up into rolling meadows with views of the sprawling valleys below. This section is largely runnable and offers the best rhythm of the race.

At mile 22.7 the course hits Hobble Creek Road — 3.7 miles of paved road before returning to dirt. This is a welcome surface change after 22 miles of technical terrain. Run it. Eat on the road. Your legs will appreciate the predictable footing.

Hobble Creek Aid at mile 26.05 is the course low point (~5,300 ft) and the pivot. You're at the bottom of a long canyon descent. From here, everything goes up for the next 15 miles.

How to race it: The descent from Horse Mountain to Hobble Creek is where you bank energy and calories for the back half. Don't push the pace — let gravity do the work. Use the paved Hobble Creek section to eat real food and assess where your legs are.

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Segment 3: Hobble Creek to Windy Pass (Miles 26.05–40.5) — The Back Half Grind

Effort: Very Hard | 15 miles of climbing to the 9,323 ft summit

This is the Snow Peak 50. The back half.

From Hobble Creek, the course climbs steadily through Sheep Canyon — quiet trails, stream crossings, wildflowers, and steady elevation gain for miles. The Little Valley Aid Station at mile 33.5 sits at the 2:30 PM cutoff. That's 9.5 hours from the 5:00 AM start for 33.5 miles.

From Little Valley, the course climbs to Wallsburg Ridge and onto the Great Western Trail before the final push: Berryport Canyon to Windy Pass. The race description calls this "the last and most difficult climb." The GPX confirms it — from around mile 39.5 the course gains 1,500 feet in 2 miles to the 9,323 ft summit of Windy Pass. Steep, wild, and snow-patched in late spring race years.

The snow sections: The race page is specific — snow appears around mile 11 for 2+ miles, then on/off approaching Windy Pass from ~mile 37 for 4 miles, and for 2 miles after the pass. Traction devices are worth considering in high-snow years.

How to race it: The Windy Pass climb is a hike. Full stop. Every runner who tries to run it at mile 39 of this race is going to slow to a shuffle within 10 minutes. Hike with poles, eat, breathe. The summit comes. Then comes the reward.

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Segment 4: Windy Pass to Finish (Miles 40.5–51.66) — 4,000 Feet and Home

Effort: Hard | Technical descent then canyon road to the finish

Off the summit of Windy Pass, the course descends nearly 4,000 feet over the final 10+ miles. The first 2 miles are snow-patched and technical. Big Springs Aid at mile 46.5 is the last station before the finish.

From Big Springs, the descent continues another 1.5 miles to the paved canyon road for the final 3.7 miles back to Vivian Park. The canyon road is runnable and feels fast after 47 miles of mountain terrain. Most runners find something left for this section — the finish is close, the pavement is forgiving.

How to race it: The Windy Pass descent is technical in spots — watch your footing and don't bomb it. Blown quads at mile 43 make the final canyon road a suffer march. Control the upper descent, open up when the trail smooths, and run the road home.

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What This Race Demands You Get Right

The opening climb. 2,700 feet in five miles before mile 7. Hike it. Every runner you pass on the first climb will pass you back by mile 40 if you went too hard.

The Little Valley cutoff. 2:30 PM at mile 33.5. Approximately 17:00/mile overall gets you there with 30 minutes of buffer. If you arrive at Hobble Creek (mile 26) after 11:00 AM, do the math.

The snow. Check RD communications the week before. Poles are recommended. Traction devices may be worth carrying in high-snow years.

Drop bag strategy. Drop bags at AS3 (Horse Mountain), AS4 (Pole Heaven), AS5 (Hobble Creek), AS6 (Little Valley), AS7 (Windy Pass), and AS8 (Big Springs — 2-gallon freezer bag limit). The most important bag on this course is Little Valley — you need everything for the hardest section.

The paved sections. Three sections: miles 0–2.1, miles 22.7–26.4, and the final 3.7 miles. The Hobble Creek paved section is your best fueling window. Use it.

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Logistics

Start/Finish: Vivian Park, South Fork Provo Canyon, Provo UT — half-mile walk from parking lot to start area

Start Time: 5:00 AM Saturday, June 13, 2026

Host Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites, 851 W 1250 S, Orem UT

Registration: 400-runner cap. No refunds — partial rollover credit if withdrawn before May 24.

Drop Bag Size: AS8 (Big Springs) is limited to a 2-gallon freezer bag. All other stations accept a normal small duffel.

Course Markings: Orange and blue flagging. Follow markings carefully — multiple canyon trails in the area.

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Load the Snow Peak 50 into HARDN and build your race execution plan — cutoff pacing from the Little Valley gate, drop bag contents for each station, and a climb-by-climb strategy for one of Utah's most historic 50-milers. [Try it at hardn.app →](https://hardn.app)