Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon — which comes out ahead?

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share and scenery score.

Route comparison snapshot

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
-4.6%
flat grade share
56.3% Favoured
lower ascent
256 m
climbing density
6.1 m/km
net elevation
-479 m
maximum grade
15.1%

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
-9.9% Favoured
flat grade share
54.1%
lower ascent
61 m
climbing density
2.9 m/km
net elevation
-477 m
maximum grade
21.5%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricEstes Park Marathon and Half MarathonEstes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Flat grade share56.3%54.1%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)-4.6%-9.9%
Uphill share11.2%4.6%
Steep-up share0.4%0.0%
Downhill share32.5%41.3%
Total ascent (m)256 m61 m
Climbing density (m/km)6.1 m/km2.9 m/km
Longest climb length (m)4,020 m870 m
Longest climb gain (m)96 m16 m
Longest climb average grade2.4%1.9%
Total descent (m)735 m539 m
Net elevation (m)-479 m-477 m
Max absolute grade15.1%21.5%
Start elevation (m)2,769 m2,768 m
Finish elevation (m)2,290 m2,290 m
Scenic score100/10090/100
Conditions77/10077/100

Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.

Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactEstes Park Marathon and Half MarathonEstes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

LocationEstes Park, ColoradoEstes Park, Colorado
Actual distance42.2 km21.1 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typePoint To PointUnavailable
SurfaceMixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use pathsUnavailable
Elevation characterNet DownhillNet Downhill
TerrainMixed, Trail, RoadMixed, Trail, Road
SceneryMountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, WaterfrontMountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront
AtmosphereScenic Tour, DestinationScenic Tour, Destination
TechnicalityModerateModerate
Total ascent256 m61 m
Climbing density6.1 m/km2.9 m/km
Total descent735 m539 m
Net elevation-479 m-477 m
Max absolute grade15.1%21.5%
Flat grade share56.3%54.1%
GAP factor-4.6%-9.9%
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Estes Park, Colorado

Actual distance

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
42.2 km
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
21.1 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Held

Course type

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Point To Point
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Unavailable

Surface

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use paths
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Unavailable

Elevation character

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Net Downhill
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Net Downhill

Terrain

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mixed, Trail, Road
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mixed, Trail, Road

Scenery

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront

Atmosphere

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Scenic Tour, Destination

Technicality

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Moderate
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Moderate

Total ascent

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
256 m
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
61 m

Climbing density

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
6.1 m/km
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
2.9 m/km

Total descent

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
735 m
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
539 m

Net elevation

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-479 m
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-477 m

Max absolute grade

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
15.1%
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
21.5%

Flat grade share

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
56.3%
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
54.1%

GAP factor

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-4.6%
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
-9.9%

Entry model

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Open
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Open

Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.

Common questions

Which is flatter, Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon?

Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.

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How figures are calculated →