Event Overview
| Date | May 2-7, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | 🇺🇸 Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona, USA |
| Format | 200+ Mile |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | North America |
| Distance | 253.3 mi |
| Elevation gain | 38,791 ft estimated gain |
| Elevation loss | 33,884 ft estimated loss |
| Cutoff | 125 hours |
| Start | 5:00 AM |
| Highlights | Point-to-Point |
Course & Terrain
Point-to-point trail and road ultra from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Black Canyon Trail
- Crown King, Prescott, Jerome, Clarkdale, Sedona, and Flagstaff
- Black Canyon, Prescott Circle Trail, Sedona, Arizona Trail, and Flagstaff Loop Trail systems
The course mixes single-track, double-track, and pavement, moving from Sonoran desert into high-country forest and red-rock terrain.
Early May in Arizona can include hot desert exposure, cold high-elevation nights, wind, and storms as the route climbs north.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Support model | 21 aid stations and four water drops, with water, electrolyte drink, soda, snacks, fruit, vegetarian and vegan options, and hot meals at most aid stations. |
| Crew / pacers | Crew and pacer rules are handled in the official crew and pacer guide; pacers begin later in the course under event rules. |
| Logistics note | Cocodona is a large crew-and-pacer operation. Runners should study the runner guide, crew guide, aid access, shuttle needs, sleep strategy, and hot-weather planning well before race week. |
Why This Race Matters
Cocodona 250 is a useful reference point for runners comparing long fixed-distance ultras that still unfold over multiple days. Its format, terrain, and support model shape the kind of preparation required: not just fitness, but pacing discipline, nutrition planning, foot care, and the ability to make good decisions under fatigue.
Best Fit
- Experienced ultrarunners ready for a 200-plus-mile point-to-point race
- Athletes who want a large Arizona journey rather than a looped race
- Runners with strong crew, pacer, sleep, and heat-management systems
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- The route is longer than a simple 250-mile label suggests
- Early desert heat and later high-country cold can both matter
- Aid and crew logistics are complex across the full point-to-point course
Event FAQs
How long is Cocodona 250?
The official 2027 course details list the Cocodona 250 at 253.3 miles.
What is the Cocodona 250 time limit?
The official course details list a 125-hour time limit.
Related Preparation
- Browse Cocodona 250 results by year
- Open the 200+ Mile format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the multiday pace calculator
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review in June 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Cocodona page — https://www.aravaiparunning.com/cocodona/
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: June 2026.