Key dates for 2027
The 2027 lottery was held in May 2026 and the 250 is full. If you are on the waiting list, these are the dates that matter.
- Second price tier ends
The 250 rises from $2,045 to $2,095 after this date.
- Around the last day for a 75% credit
Our calculation: withdraw more than 60 days before the race for a 75% credit. It is 50% from 30 to 60 days and nothing after.
- Registration closes
For runners joining from the waiting list.
- Check-in and briefing
1 to 5 p.m. at Deep Canyon Ranch, with the briefing at 5:30 p.m. There is no race-morning pickup.
- Race start
5:00 a.m. Water capacity is checked and trackers are handed out from 3:45 a.m.
- Final cutoff
10:00 a.m. in Flagstaff, with a celebration for the last finisher.
Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
How to get a place and what it costs
For 2027 the Cocodona 250 moved to a lottery for the first time. 1,985 people applied and 475 were drawn, about one in four. Another 300 went on to waiting lists, 150 women and 150 men, and a place freed by a woman goes to the women's list and the same for men.
There is no qualifier. The organiser recommends having finished a 100-mile race or having equivalent thru-hiking or multi-day experience, and you must be 18 or over. Elite places are chosen separately.
How the lottery tickets work
- Everyone gets one ticket.
- Add one ticket for each previous year you finished any Cocodona distance, up to three.
- Core volunteers at the previous year's Cocodona can earn one or two more.
- When women make up less than 43% of applicants, their share of the draw is raised by up to 7 points. For 2027 women were 27% of applicants and 34% of those drawn.
What it costs
With tax and fees the current price came to $2,294.03 at checkout. Charity places through The Wander Project need at least $8,000 in fundraising, and Aravaipa and UltrAspire each fund one scholarship entry.
There are no refunds, transfers or rollovers. Withdraw more than 60 days before the race for a 75% credit, or 30 to 60 days before for 50%. Within 29 days there is nothing. Pregnancy allows a two-year deferral.
| Until | Fee |
|---|---|
| 31 August 2026 (lottery price) | $1,995 |
| 28 February 2027 | $2,045 |
| 25 April 2027 | $2,095 |
The course
The route uses the Black Canyon Trail, the Prescott Circle Trail, Sedona's single-track, the Arizona Trail and the Flagstaff Loop Trail. It is 45% single-track, 46% double-track and 9% pavement, and runs through the main streets of Crown King, Prescott, Jerome, Clarkdale, Sedona and Flagstaff. The lowest point is 1,996 feet and the highest 9,241 feet, on Mount Elden near the finish.
Desert to Prescott (miles 0 to 76)
The race starts in the Sonoran Desert among saguaro and ocotillo. From Cottonwood Creek, where you must leave carrying at least 4 litres, it is 25.1 miles to Lane Mountain, the longest gap on the course: steep, rough, hot and covered in loose gravel. Crown King's saloon is, the race says, the oldest continuously operated saloon in Arizona. The trail then climbs through the Bradshaw Mountains, past an old wildfire scar, to Prescott, where the aid station is on Whiskey Row and pacers can join.
Prescott to Sedona (miles 76 to 159)
After the granite slickrock of the Dells, the course climbs Mingus Mountain, where day and night temperatures can differ by 40°F, then descends steeply to the old mining town of Jerome and the halfway point. Runners wade knee-deep across the Verde River near Clarkdale before about 30 miles of almost continuous single-track into Sedona.
Sedona to Flagstaff (miles 159 to 253.5)
From Sedona the Hangover Trail crosses exposed slickrock before the climb onto the Mogollon Rim and the Coconino Plateau, through what the race calls the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest. Nights here drop into the 30s°F. The last big obstacle is Mount Elden, climbed to over 9,000 feet then descended 2,000 feet in two miles of steep switchbacks, where nights can be around 25°F. The race finishes in downtown Flagstaff after the famous left turn on Birch.
Aid stations, sleep stations and cutoffs
There are 21 aid stations. Eight have places to sleep, from heated indoor bunks to unheated tents, and three have showers, though you bring your own towel and soap. Crews first meet runners at Crown King, mile 36.6, after waiting at a holding area at Bumble Bee Ranch. Pacers can join from Whiskey Row at mile 75.6.
At Fort Tuthill, mile 211.1, medics check every runner's mental state. Anyone who does not pass must sleep there until they do.
| Aid station | Mile | Km | Cutoff | Crew | Pacer | Drop bag | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek | 7.4 | 11.9 | Sun 9:50am | No | No | No | No |
| Lane Mountain Medical | 32.5 | 52.3 | Sun 10:45pm | No | No | No | No |
| Crown King Medical | 36.6 | 58.9 | Sun 11:55pm | Yes, via Bumble Bee hold | No | Yes | No |
| Arrastra Creek | 51 | 82.1 | Mon 7:00am | No | No | No | No |
| Kamp Kipa Medical | 60.8 | 97.8 | Mon 2:00pm | No | No | Yes | Indoor |
| Camp Wamatochick | 67.4 | 108.5 | Mon 4:45pm | No | No | Yes | Indoor, shower |
| Whiskey Row (Prescott) Medical | 75.6 | 121.7 | Mon 10:00pm | Yes | First pickup | Yes | Indoor |
| Watson Lake | 82.8 | 133.3 | Tue 3:30am | Yes ($5 entry) | Yes | No | No |
| Fain Ranch | 96.5 | 155.3 | Tue 6:00am (check) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mingus Mountain Medical | 107.2 | 172.5 | Tue 1:00pm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Indoor, shower |
| Jerome | 124.2 | 199.9 | Tue 8:30pm | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dead Horse Ranch Medical | 132.9 | 213.9 | Wed 12:00am | Yes | Yes | Yes | Outdoor tent, shower |
| Deer Pass | 146.9 | 236.4 | Wed 4:45am | No | No | Yes | No |
| Sedona Posse Grounds Medical | 159.1 | 256.0 | Wed 12:00pm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Indoor |
| Schnebly Hill Medical | 175.7 | 282.8 | Wed 9:00pm | Yes | No pacing to Munds Park | Yes | No |
| Munds Park Medical | 190.1 | 305.9 | Thu 2:45am | Yes | Yes | Yes | Outdoor tent |
| Kelly Canyon | 202.8 | 326.4 | Thu 8:00am | No | No | No | No |
| Fort Tuthill Medical | 211.1 | 339.7 | Thu 12:45pm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Indoor |
| Walnut Canyon Medical | 227.2 | 365.6 | Thu 7:45pm | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wildcat Hill | 234.2 | 376.9 | Thu 10:45pm | Yes | No pacing to the finish | Yes | No |
| Trinity Heights | 249.5 | 401.5 | Fri 8:15am | No | No | No | No |
| Heritage Square (finish) Medical | 253.5 | 408.0 | Fri 10:00am | Yes | No | Yes | No |
From the 2027 runner guide. Times are Arizona time, which matches Pacific time in May. The guide prints a Fain Ranch cutoff of Tue 6:00am, only two and a half hours after Watson Lake for 13.7 miles, which looks like an error: check the latest guide. The two water stops before Lane Mountain allow one litre each. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Heat and cold
The race warns that the low sections, between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, can be extremely hot by day, and the high sections, between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, extremely cold at night. You will probably meet both in the same race. In 2025 a late spring storm brought rain, hail and freezing temperatures. In 2026 there was cold rain on the second night.
Rules that shape your plan
Pacers and crew
- One pacer at a time, from Whiskey Row onwards, swapping at pacer-access aid stations. Pacers must be 18 or over and on foot.
- No pacers between Schnebly Hill and Munds Park, or from Wildcat Hill to the finish, to protect Mexican spotted owl habitat.
- No muling. Pacers cannot carry anything for their runner.
- Outside help only within a quarter of a mile of a crew station. One crew vehicle per runner, no longer than 25 feet.
Mandatory kit
- A phone, a GPS device with the course loaded, a headlamp, spare power, a collapsible cup, a space blanket and a whistle, for runners and pacers.
- Cold-weather layers, checked at six aid stations: gloves, a warm hat, a long-sleeved top and an insulating layer, plus a waterproof jacket in rain or snow.
- 4 litres of water capacity at the start, and at least 4 litres carried out of Cottonwood Creek.
On the course
- The race is cupless for cold drinks.
- Poles are recommended, and the course notes repeatedly say to start with them.
- You may leave the course, for example to a hotel, only from a crew station, and you must restart there before its cutoff.
- Any IV means a DNF.
- There is a no-passing zone after Dead Horse Ranch to protect an endangered plant.
How many people finish?
Roughly two out of three starters finish. In 2026 a record 400 started and 266 finished, 66.5%.
Show every year as a table
| Year | Starters | Finishers | Finish rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 400 | 266 | 66.5% |
| 2025 | 293 | 193 | 65.9% |
| 2024 | 279 | 204 | 73.1% |
| 2023 | 193 | 139 | 72.0% |
| 2022 | 224 | 150 | 67.0% |
| 2021 | 173 | 108 | 62.4% |
Rates calculated by Running for Good Ultra from the published starters and finishers. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Records and results
In 2026 Rachel Entrekin became the first woman to win Cocodona outright, in 56:09:48, more than two hours under the previous record. It was her third win in a row. Kilian Korth set the men's record of 57:28:36 in second place, and Courtney Dauwalter was second woman in 61:58:35. Records on the current course count from 2023.
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rachel Entrekin, 56:09:48 | Kilian Korth, 57:28:36 |
| 2025 | Rachel Entrekin, 63:50:55 | Dan Green, 58:47:18 |
| 2024 | Rachel Entrekin, 73:31:25 | Haroldas Subertas, 59:50:55 |
| 2023 | Sarah Ostaszewski, 72:50:27 | Michael McKnight, 69:41:31 |
| 2022 | Annie Hughes, 71:10:22 | Joe McConaughy, 59:28:54 |
| 2021 | Maggie Guterl, 85:30:38 | Michael Versteeg, 72:50:25 |
| Record | Runner | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall and women's record | Rachel Entrekin | 56:09:48 | 2026 |
| Men's record | Kilian Korth | 57:28:36 | 2026 |
| Fire reroute course, men (2022) | Joe McConaughy | 59:28:54 | 2022 |
| Fire reroute course, women (2022) | Annie Hughes | 71:10:22 | 2022 |
Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
The 2026 race
More than 1,300 runners took part across five distances in 2026. Dauwalter, who dropped out at mile 108 in 2025, finished second despite losing about 50 minutes to a wrong turn in Prescott.
A runner, a woman in her 40s, collapsed and died southeast of Prescott on the second day of the race. Her name was not released, and the race continued in her honour.
History
Aravaipa founder Jamil Coury wanted a route from the edge of Phoenix to downtown Flagstaff, and the first race ran in 2021. In 2022 a wildfire forced an 85-mile reroute, with the start moved to Prescott. The organiser calls 2023 the year the course found its final home. The 2027 race is the seventh, and the first with a lottery.
Finishers of the 250 receive buckles handmade in Arizona from Arizona-mined copper. Four finishes earn a 1000 Mile Club buckle.
Watching the live stream
Cocodona is known for its broadcast. In 2026 Mountain Outpost streamed more than 125 hours of continuous coverage on YouTube from a studio in Flagstaff. Every runner in the 250 also carries a SPOT tracker on TrackLeaders, and the 2027 tracking link is published nearer the race.
Training for Cocodona
You need to be ready for heat, cold, long climbs and very little sleep, all in one week. Practise long back-to-back days, walking strongly with a loaded pack, and moving well at night when you are tired. Heat sessions help for the desert start, and time at altitude helps for the high final third around Flagstaff, which sits at about 7,000 feet.
Work out your sleep plan early. With eight sleep stations you have choices, and the 125-hour limit leaves room for rest, but only if you keep moving between them.
Running for good at Cocodona
The race acknowledges that its route crosses the ancestral lands of the Akimel O'odham, Hohokam, Yavapai Apache, Western Apache, Jumanos and Hopi peoples, in words written with Rising Hearts. Around 100 staff and more than 1,000 volunteers make it happen.
It is cupless for cold drinks, recycles wrappers through TerraCycle, composts, offsets staff travel and donates used shoes. The owl and plant protection zones come from Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife rules. Charity places raise money through The Wander Project, and the 2026 trivia night supported Runners for Public Lands.
Questions people ask
When is the 2027 Cocodona 250?
The mass start is at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday 2 May 2027 in Black Canyon City. The 125-hour cutoff is 10:00 a.m. on Friday 7 May in Flagstaff.
How long is the Cocodona 250?
253.5 miles, with 38,943 feet of climbing and a high point of 9,241 feet on Mount Elden.
How do you get into the Cocodona 250?
By lottery. For 2027, 475 places were drawn from 1,985 applicants, with 300 more on waiting lists. Charity places and two scholarships are the other routes.
Do you need a qualifier for Cocodona?
No. A previous 100-mile finish or similar experience is recommended, and you must be 18 or over.
How much does the Cocodona 250 cost?
$2,045 until 28 February 2027, then $2,095, plus 6.35% tax and UltraSignup fees.
What is the Cocodona 250 record?
Rachel Entrekin's 56:09:48 from 2026 is the overall and women's record. Kilian Korth's 57:28:36, also from 2026, is the men's record.
Where are the sleep stations?
Kamp Kipa, Camp Wamatochick, Whiskey Row, Mingus Mountain, Dead Horse Ranch, Sedona Posse Grounds, Munds Park and Fort Tuthill.
Can you have a pacer at Cocodona?
Yes, from Whiskey Row at mile 75.6, one at a time. There is no pacing from Schnebly Hill to Munds Park or from Wildcat Hill to the finish.
How can I watch the Cocodona 250?
On the Mountain Outpost YouTube channel, which streamed more than 125 hours in 2026, with live tracking on TrackLeaders.
What does Cocodona mean?
It combines Coconino, the county and national forest where the race finishes, and Sedona.
Sources
Race details come from Aravaipa Running's Cocodona page, the 2027 runner and crew guides and section descriptions, checked on 19 October 2026. Lottery figures are from the official lottery results site. Starters and finishers are from UltraSignup, which differs by a few runners from the organiser's own history for some years, and finish rates are our own calculation. Running for Good Ultra is independent and has no connection with Aravaipa Running.
- Aravaipa Running: Cocodona race page checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: 2027 runner guide checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: 2027 crew and pacer guide checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: 2027 section descriptions checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: lottery and waiting list checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: Cocodona moves to a lottery checked 19 October 2026
- RaceLottery: 2027 lottery results checked 19 October 2026
- UltraSignup: 2027 registration checked 19 October 2026
- UltraSignup: 2026 results checked 19 October 2026
- Aravaipa Running: Cocodona live checked 19 October 2026
- iRunFar: 2026 Cocodona results checked 19 October 2026
- iRunFar: 2025 Cocodona results checked 19 October 2026
- AZFamily: runner dies during 2026 race checked 19 October 2026
- CalTopo: official course map checked 19 October 2026
Found something that needs correcting? Let us know.