The marquee distance. About 86 percent singletrack, with several stream crossings, a climb onto the Mogollon Rim itself and sweeping views out across the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau.
The race's own guide calls the 50 mile a postgraduate run rather than a harder version of some other trail fifty, and it does not soften what is underfoot: "This may be the most rugged trail you will ever run. Expect obstacles that will include, but are not limited to, rocks, fallen trees, rocks, foliage overgrowth, rocks, massive erosion, rocks, river crossings, and the occasional rock." About 86 percent of it is singletrack. Christopher Creek comes in the first mile and can be calf deep, and there are more crossings after it. The stretch out to the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery and back is run in both directions. Trekking poles are allowed.
The Zane Grey races are run on the Highline Trail, below the Mogollon Rim in Arizona's Tonto National Forest, and both distances start and finish at Mountain Meadow Ranch in Christopher Creek. The 50 mile is about 86 percent singletrack, crosses Christopher Creek in the first mile, turns around at the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery and climbs the Military Sinkhole Trail onto the Rim itself before dropping back down. The 50K covers the same ground as far as See Canyon and comes home from there. The race's own guide is plain about what is underfoot: rocks, fallen trees, overgrowth, erosion, river crossings, and more rocks.
Pat McKenzie founded the run after learning that the Highline Trail, which runs from just south of Pine to several miles east of Christopher Creek and was made a National Recreation Trail in 1979, is almost exactly fifty miles long. Six runners covered the whole trail in a day on 5 May 1990. Shortly after that first running, a lightning fire destroyed Zane Grey's cabin near the trail, burned 24,000 acres and 21 miles of the trail, destroyed 63 homes and killed six firefighters. For most of its life the race started at the Pine Trailhead and ran east. There was no edition in 2020. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 it was run as a 100K, point to point from Pine to the Rim Top Trailhead. In 2024 it came back to fifty miles, moved its start and finish to the 70 acre Mountain Meadow Ranch property in Christopher Creek, took in more of the maintained Highline Trail and left out the Hell's Gate burn area. A shorter second distance has run alongside it ever since: a marathon in 2024, 27 miles in 2025, and the 50K in 2026.
| Mile | Station | Cutoff | Crew access | Bag | Pacer | Med | To next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | Mountain Meadow Ranch | ? | ● | ● | ? | ? | 8.20 |
| 8.20 | Upper Tonto Creek Campground | ? | ● | · | · | ? | 7.30 |
| 15.50 | Hatchery Trailhead | 12:00pm | ● | ● | · | ? | 4.30 |
| 19.80 | Horton Springs | ? | · | · | · | ? | 8.00 |
| 27.80 | See Canyon Trailhead | 1:30pm | · | ● | · | ? | 6.80 |
| 34.60 | Two Sixty Trailhead | ? | ● | ● | ● | ? | 4.40 |
| 39.00 | Rim Top Trailhead | 5:30pm | ● | ● | ● | ? | 6.40 |
| 45.40 | Drew Trailhead | ? | · | · | ? | ? | 4.60 |
| 50.00 | Mountain Meadows Ranch | ? | ● | ● | ? | ? | ? |
The hamlet of Christopher Creek is 20 miles up Highway 260 from Payson. Once in Christopher Creek, take Mountain Meadows Drive, which is right next to the Creekside Steakhouse. Follow the dirt road and take a left at all the Y intersections. It is about a half mile up the road.
zanegrey50.comParking. Park at the Derrick Trailhead parking lot or at Lower Tonto Creek Campground. Vehicles should drive with care: runners cross the road to and from the trail.
From Highway 260, turn left onto Zane Grey Highway / NF289, across from Kohl's Ranch. Continue 4.3 miles up the hill to the aid station.
zanegrey50.comAbout 5 miles east of Christopher Creek on Highway 260, between mileposts 278 and 279. Roughly 27 miles east of Payson.
zanegrey50.comContinue east on Highway 260 for 3.5 miles, then turn left on FR300 toward Woods Canyon Lake. The trailhead will be on your right.
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