Ragnar Trail Zion.
None of the three loops at Ragnar Trail Zion drops below 1,950 metres, so your whole share of this relay at Zion Ponderosa Ranch in Utah is run at altitude. Of the team's 124.8 miles, 15.6 fall to you, and the preparation comes down to learning how hard you can run up there once the trail climbs in earnest.
Ragnar Trail Zion 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The green, yellow and red loops are not equal: two measure a little over six kilometres, the third about twelve. All of them start and finish at the same point. One of the short ones is the quiet member of the trio, moving within a band of some 30 metres on nothing more than brief undulations.
The other short loop and the long one share their first kilometre and a half, then part ways, and both climb to around 2,100 metres. The short loop does it in one go from kilometre 8.25 of the overall course, 1.5 kilometres at just over nine percent, and then drops straight back. The long loop takes its time from kilometre 14.85, nearly two and a half kilometres at just over five percent, but it keeps moving afterwards: past the first descent, another swell begins at kilometre 21.4 before the final three-plus kilometres lead down to where you started.
You run at Zion Ponderosa Ranch, in the wide landscape around Zion National Park, with Checkerboard Mesa and Cedar Breaks as the backdrop. This is no mountain race, since the climbing is spread across a course that rarely stays level rather than stacked into one wall. The place is what changes things: with everything happening around 2,000 metres, each of these ascents costs more than its length suggests.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 0.4 km | 3.8 % | 7.4 % | +15 m | — |
| km 4.7 | 0.7 km | 3.8 % | 10 % | +27 m | — |
| km 6.3 | 0.7 km | 3.1 % | 5.7 % | +21 m | — |
| km 7.3 | 0.6 km | 4.7 % | 8.2 % | +26 m | — |
| km 8.3 | 1.5 km | 9.1 % | 19.4 % | +136 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 13.9 | 0.6 km | 4.7 % | 8.2 % | +26 m | — |
| km 14.9 | 2.5 km | 5.3 % | 17.3 % | +131 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 21.4 | 0.7 km | 3.6 % | 5.6 % | +26 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Ragnar Trail Zion.
Start under control
Plan three different efforts rather than one pace for all of them. The rolling short loop is the only one that allows a steady run, which is exactly what makes it the trap: your usual pace feels manageable there, and the thin air only sends the bill once the lap is behind you. Run it by breathing, not by the watch.
Hold your rhythm
On the steep climb of the other short loop, discipline decides the rest of your stint. Where running at just over nine percent overwhelms your breathing, a strong power hike is the faster choice, because the 130 metres back down return the time if you reach the top still relaxed.
Spend what is left
Your time is made on the long loop. Its climb is gentle enough to run throughout and long enough to overreach on. Take it so that you can pick the pace straight back up at the top, because the descent, the second rise and the long way back to the start all still have to be run. Arrive there empty and you lose far more over the closing kilometres than you ever gained uphill.
Training plan for Ragnar Trail Zion: 12-week build
Build the base
As an age-group runner you spend roughly 2:45 to 3:45 hours on the three loops combined, but never in one piece. The short ones take around 50 minutes each and the long one about twice that, with your teammates running in between. That makes the demand aerobic and delivered in blocks, with two clear spikes on the big climbs and a lot of undulating ground that never fully settles.
Train race pace
Those two climbs decide your race, and they ask for different things. For the steep one, train hill repeats of five to ten minutes, mixing running and strong hiking. For the long one, use longer tempo efforts on steady grades and keep running over the crest without a break. Add downhill work as well, because both climbs are followed by a long descent that you run on tired legs.
Rehearse the course
The key session is the multi-run day. On some weekends run three times with several hours between sessions, ideally with the longest last, so you learn what an hour of hills feels like on legs that have already been used. It also teaches you to eat, drink and start loose again between stints.
Arrive fresh
That leaves the altitude: the date falls in May, the course sits around 2,000 metres. If you live low, you can hardly reproduce that at home. So practise running climbs by breathing rather than pace, plan on slower times than you would manage at home, and arrive a little early if you can instead of driving up just before the start.
Courses
Download the Ragnar Trail Zion course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Ragnar Trail Zion.
How long is Ragnar Trail Zion?
Ragnar Trail Zion is 25.11 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Ragnar Trail Zion have?
Ragnar Trail Zion has around 553 m of elevation gain over 25.11 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ragnar Trail Zion?
Ragnar Trail Zion is classified as Hilly, averaging 21.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 13% of the route is flat, 38% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 7% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ragnar Trail Zion have?
The hardest climb of Ragnar Trail Zion starts at kilometre 8.3, runs for 1.5 km at an average of 9.1% and gains 136 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ragnar Trail Zion a loop course?
Yes, Ragnar Trail Zion is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Ragnar Trail Zion course?
Yes. The Ragnar Trail Zion course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Ragnar Trail Zion?
Preparation for Ragnar Trail Zion should account for 25.11 km, 553 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Ragnar Trail Zion?
The pacing strategy for Ragnar Trail Zion should reflect 25.11 km, 553 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Ragnar Trail Zion take place?
Ragnar Trail Zion takes place on May 7, 2027.
Where does Ragnar Trail Zion take place?
Ragnar Trail Zion takes place in Zion National Park, United States.
How do I register for Ragnar Trail Zion?
Registration runs through the organiser: runragnar.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
