How hilly is the Horsetooth Half Marathon?
The Horsetooth Half Marathon is described as net downhill. The course listing puts the climb at 280 m.
Horsetooth Half Marathon
This race edition
- Race date
- Date not confirmed for this distance
- Race timezone
- Timezone not confirmed
- Edition status
- Status not confirmed
Entry options
2026 edition
Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.
Decision summary
Horsetooth Half Marathon at a glance
- Cut-off average pace
- 11:23/km
- Typical conditions
- 86/100
- Evidence depth
- 49 verified facts
4:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
Horsetooth Half Marathon has known course details for its half marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 21.1 km
- Terrain
- Trail, Road, Mixed
- Scenery
- Lakeside, Coastal, Mountain, Historic, Riverside, City
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the Horsetooth Half Marathon route go?
The Horsetooth Half Marathon route starts at Dixon Canyon Drive (CR 42C) near Maxwell Natural Area, at 5,195 feet elevation; 8:00 AM start and finishes at New Belgium Brewing in Old Town Fort Collins. Underfoot, expect mix of paved roads and recreational trail, including the Cache la Poudre recreational trail for the final descent. It passes Maxwell Natural Area, Horsetooth Reservoir, Monster Mountain, A Hill and North Dam Hill. Challenging but net-downhill point-to-point course that climbs to 'Monster Mountain' at mile 1.7 before running the eastern shoreline of Horsetooth Reservoir, tackling A Hill, North Dam Hill and Bingham Hill (mile 6.4), then descending the Cache la Poudre trail to finish at New Belgium Brewing.
What should runners know on race day for the Horsetooth Half Marathon?
5. Chip timing with split mats at mile 1.8 and mile 8.
Race character
Scenery
- Lakeside
- Coastal
- Mountain
- Historic
- Riverside
- City
Atmosphere
- Scenic Tour
- Festival
- Competitive
Terrain
- Trail
- Road
- Mixed
- Elevation character
- Net Downhill
- Technicality
- Moderate
- Source-stated ascent
- 280 m
- Net elevation
- -72 m
Entry, logistics and records
Records and field
- Men's course record
- 1:05:46 (Lawrence Kipkoech)
- Women's course record
- 1:12:30 (Rachael Rudel)
- Field size
- Capped at 2,600 registrants.
- Field cap
- 2,600
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
- Cut-off
- Four-hour time limit to complete the course (8:00 AM start).
- Qualification status
- Not a Boston qualifier; open tiered registration with no qualifying standard.
Race day logistics
- Aid stations
- 5
- Expo / packet pickup
- Packet pickup Saturday, April 18, 2026 Noon-6pm at Raintree Athletic Club, plus race-morning pickup 6:30-7:45am south of Maxwell Natural Area on Dixon Canyon Drive.
- Medal
- Finisher medal included with registration.
- Finisher tee
- High-quality sublimated Headsweats race tee shirt included with registration.
Access and course status
- Start
- Dixon Canyon Drive (CR 42C) near Maxwell Natural Area, at 5,195 feet elevation; 8:00 AM start.
- Finish
- New Belgium Brewing in Old Town Fort Collins.
Course facts
- Course type
- Point To Point
- Surface
- Mix of paved roads and recreational trail, including the Cache la Poudre recreational trail for the final descent.
- Landmarks
- Maxwell Natural Area, Horsetooth Reservoir, Monster Mountain, A Hill, North Dam Hill, Bingham Hill, Cache la Poudre recreational trail, New Belgium Brewing
- Notable features
- Race owned by the Fort Collins Running Club and managed by Gnar Runners
- presented by Fort Collins Connexion
- Entry includes a Horsetooth pint glass, a free beer from New Belgium Brewing, post-race food and vendor expo, and a bus shuttle back to the start
- Challenging but net-downhill point-to-point course that climbs to 'Monster Mountain' at mile 1.7 before running the eastern shoreline of Horsetooth Reservoir, tackling A Hill, North Dam Hill and Bingham Hill (mile 6.4), then descending the Cache la Poudre trail to finish at New Belgium Brewing
- Five aid stations at miles 2.8, 4.8, 8.5, 10.3 and 12.1
- chip timing with split mats at mile 1.8 and mile 8
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 8°CTypical temperature
- 21 kphTypical wind
- 2 mmTypical rainfall
- 86Favourability /100