Goblin Valley Trail Marathon

Elevation Culture's Goblin Valley weekend pairs Saturday trail runs with a Sunday gravel ride, and the marathon is the longest run apart from a 50K. The draw is the setting: thousands of squat hoodoo formations spread across a remote stretch of desert south of Green River, far from any city-race atmosphere.

The marathon runs singletrack and desert trail in and around Goblin Valley State Park, with the hoodoo valley as the visual centerpiece. Footing shifts between sand, rock, and packed trail, so road speed translates loosely and trail pacing habits matter more than splits.

Early November in the San Rafael desert usually means a freezing or near-freezing start, dry air, and afternoon sun in the 50s. There is little shade, and wind can pick up across open ground, so exposure is the theme in both directions.