Selected by Trail Runner Magazine as one of America's 14 most scenic races, the AspenVasque Golden Leaf Half Marathon traverses from Snowmass Village to the heart of Aspen on mountain trails and roads, at the height of Colorado's breathtaking Fall colors.
The Aspen Golden Leaf marathon starts on Fanny Hill just off the pedestrian mall in Snowmass Village at an elevation of about 8650ft.
The course climbs up a ski area access road along the Dawdler run for about 1 mile until a "T" in the road.
Turn left and follow this road a couple of hundred yards to a pond where there is a fork in the road.
Take the right fork (the pond will be on your left)and ascend to the 1st aid station at about 1.5 miles (elevation approximately 9620 feet)
The Government Trail intersects the road at this point and will cross under the Burlingame chair lift. The Government Trail is a single track that contours the mountainsides between Snowmass and Buttermilk before descending to the outskirts of Aspen. The trail is dirt with some obstacles (rocks, roots, etc.) and the terrain is hilly aspen forests and meadows. The first section is a rolling descent across Snowmass Ski Area.
At about 2.25 miles, the trail merges with a dirt road. Proceed downhill on this road and look for the trail to your right after 100 yards.
Just after the three mile mark the trail merges with an abandoned work road. Follow this road to the left and slightly downhill until you see the trail resume again on your left.
Follow the trail down a steep hill, cross the Elk Camp road and continue down a long gradual hill to a meadow.
Just before the five mile marker, there is a significant hill climb of about 300ft. (elevation approximately 9400ft.)
Shortly after, at about 5.5 mi., you are rewarded with an aid station followed by some relatively flat to declining terrain.
The next landmark is a Forest Service gate followed by a very rocky flat section (approximately 7 mi.). Subsequently, the course begins a gradual descent across Buttermilk.
Just before 8 miles, the trail begins an extended steeper descent into Maroon Creek. One section of the downhill is a power line cut followed by an intersection with a service road.
Abandon the trail and follow the road for about 400 yards, even though the trail falls steeply off to the left. The 10 mile aid station is on this short road section.
The trail from the aid station diagonals across the ski slope following first a double track then a single track until it leaves the eastern margin of the ski area.
The trail then winds down to the Tiehack road which is followed to the north until taking a hard right onto the Terral-Wade bridge.
After crossing the bridge the route leaves the asphalt, taking a trail to the left (thru the Moore Property).
After about a mile running in the sage the route leads out onto the Maroon Creek Pedestrian bridge, takes a left onto the bike path and takes the next left onto the Castle Creek Pedestrian bridge.
On the path leaving the bridge where it takes a hard left the route takes a hard right instead. Follow a single track by a pond on the right.
The path goes left here and diagonals to the community garden across the parapet/hanglider landing zone. The route goes right where the access to the garden is on the left and follows double tracks to the bike path leading over the Marolt bridge.
Taking a left off of the bridge onto 7th street the route leads to Hopkins Ave. where it follows the adjacent bike path a few blocks until the turn up to Little Cloud Park.
After taking this turn, a hard left is taken onto the dirt path on the old train right of way.
The path is followed a few hundred yards to the finish line!
*Terms and Conditions: Restrictions apply. Valid on direct bookings to ResortQuest Aspen Vacation Rentals. Valid on new reservations only. May not be combined with any other offers. Minimum night stay and other restrictions apply.
