Eldorado Canyon ACE
Rattlesnake Ramble Trail Race
This year we are limited to 100 racers. We have this limit because we never have any injuries, conflicts with other users, trash left on the course, or any other signs that we've been here. Let's keep it up! Everyone needs to contribute to this goal to make it happen. Some things to remember:
- Respect other users of the trail, though there shouldn't be many others on the trails and they will be notified of the on-going race.
- Respect other racers, especially since this is an out-and-back course. Downhill runners have the right of way at all times. Uphill runners need to make every effort to get out of the way - always move to your right. Of course, downhill runners need to recognize that everyone is racing and to try and move as far right as possible when passing. Don't risk a collision to save some time. We trail runners need to prove that we can do things right. There are only a couple of short sections where passing will be difficult. In all other areas, neither runners should have to slow down much, but they may need to turn sideways a bit.
- If you have to throw trash during the race (water cups, for instance), make sure you throw it on the trail. This makes it much easier to find and pick up for the clean-up crew.
Course Description
The race starts at the west end of the main Eldorado Canyon State Park parking lot, which is just after entering the gate. The course consists of two out-and-back spurs connected by the main park road. The order in which the spurs are run depends on if the year is odd or even. In even years, the big climb up the Eldorado Trail spur comes first. In odd years, the flat Fowler Trail spur comes first.
The course is 4.25 miles long and climbs 850 feet.
Odd Years:
The course runs up the dirt road, which is rather steep, for about a half mile
to the Fowler Trail on the left. There will be an aid station here and it is
the only one on the course, but you'll pass it three times.Runners head out
the Fowler Trail until hitting the park boundary where there will be an aid
station (the only one) and a cone, which all runners must turn around. The runners
now run back along the Fowler Trail to the park road where they turn left, west,
further into the canyon. 
Racers continue up the road, over the bridge and up to the Eldorado Trail and turn right (north) onto it. This trail climbs very steeply and will test the best hill runners. The racers continue up this trail, past the climbers' trail to the Rincon Wall and down a hundred meters or so to the park boundary. Here there will be an aid station and a cone to run around here. The racers will reverse their course down to the park road and then run the road back to the Fowler trail junction, where the aid station is located. Now runners continue down the road to the finish, which is the same location as the start.
Even Years:
Runners continue west on the main dirt road, further into the canyon. Racers continue up the road, over the bridge and up to the Eldorado Trail and turn right (north) onto it. This trail climbs very steeply and will test the best hill runners. The racers continue up this trail, past the climbers' trail to the Rincon Wall and down a hundred meters or so to the park boundary. Here there will be an aid station and a cone to run around here. The racers will reverse their course down to the park road and then run the road back to the Fowler trail junction, where the aid station is located.
Now runners head out the Fowler Trail until hitting the park boundary where there will be an aid station (the only one) and a cone, which all runners must turn around. The runners now run back along the Fowler Trail to the park road where they turn right, east, continue down the road to the finish, which is the same location as the start.
Kids Course
The kids' course consists of only the Fowler Spur and is about two miles long. Kid's start at the same time as everyone else and have a separate finishing chute.
Course Records |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Open Record Fowler spur first (odd years): | John Tribbia | 27:58 | 2009 |
| Male Masters Record Fowler spur first (odd years): | Andy Ames | 28:43 | September 17, 2005 |
| Female Open Record Fowler spur first (odd years): | Lisa Goldsmith | 34:09 | September 15, 2007 |
| Female Masters Record Fowler spur first (odd years): | Lisa Goldsmith | 34:09 | September 15, 2007 |
| Male Open Eldorado spur first (even years): | John Tribbia | 27:10 | September 15, 2012 |
| Male Masters Eldorado spur first (even years): | Andy Ames | 28:05 | September 16, 2006 |
| Female Open Eldorado spur first (even years): | Freeya Murray | 33:22 | 2008 |
| Female Masters Eldorado spur first (even years): | Lisa Goldsmith | 33:40 | 2008 |
Other Stats:
Lisa Ledet is the only woman to win this race more than once. She won overall for females in 2005 and 2006.
John Tribbia won the race four times, in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. No other male runner has won the race more than once.
Only two people have run this race every year since it started. Here are the Tremendous Two:
| Andy Ames |
| Chris Maulsby |
Race Map
Directions from Boulder
Take Colorado 93 south from Boulder, turn right on Colorado 170 and continue to the park entrance west of Eldorado Springs, about eight miles southwest of Boulder.
Directions from Denver
Take I-25 North to State Highway 36, West towards Boulder. Exit at "Louisville-Superior" and turn South (left) at the light. Take the first right (West) onto State Highway 170 fro 7.4 miles to Eldorado Canyon.
This is a USATF sanctioned cross-country race, sanction number ??-??-???.
