Description:

Named best trail race by Colorado Runner Magazine in 2006 and 2011, the HillClimb tests local, regional and national runners with a 7.7 mile climb from Vail Village to Mid-Vail. The Vail HillClimb will begin at 7 a.m. in Vail Village – next to Vail’s Mountain Haus – and finish at Mid-Vail after ascending over 2,200 vertical feet. Race participants will follow the historic gravel double-track route that has made the HillClimb a favorite among trail running enthuasists. The race course will head east from Eagle’s Nest and end at the newly relocated finish line at Mid-Vail. Gondola One in Vail Village, which accesses Mid-Vail, is open for spectators to ride to the top for FREE from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. All friends and family who are going to spectate will need to pick up a free voucher for gondola access good for that morning only at bib pick up the day before the race or on race morning at registration. Failure to load the gondola by 7:30 a.m. will forfit access to Mid-Vail without paying a daily scenic ride ticket for $34. Dogs or other pets are not permitted to load the gondola. Post-race, the gondola will be free for racers and spectators to download to Vail Village. The HillClimb is presented by the Vail Mountain Haus and is the third race of the 2017 La Sportiva Vail Mountain Trail Running Series. Day-of registration is available on race morning from 5:30a.m.-6:45 a.m. in front of Vail’s Mountain Haus next to the Covered Bridge.