Dalton Canyon Ultra

Welcome to the Dalton Canyon Ultra, a trail race made by wildland firefighters, for wildland firefighters. This event is right in the backyard of the Dalton Hotshot Camp on the Angeles National Forest in Glendora California. It’s an extremely challenging 32 mile course with about 6,000-7,000 total feet of elevation gain and loss on dirt trails with sections of pavement. There is a 50K solo race, a 50K 4 person open relay race, and a 10K solo option.

The mission of our organization and this event is to bring the wildland fire community together, honor, share and preserve hotshot history, and raise money to take care of our fellow wildland firefighters in times of hardship, illness, injury or death. All profits and donations for this first year of the event will be donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to support their mission and all the good work they do.

The event is scheduled to take place February 6, 2027 rain or shine.

Course Description:

50K Course: Starting at Big Dalton Campground, going out the canyon to the Dalton Fire Station and up the Colby Garcia Trail where you will finish and pop out on Glendora Mountain Road for a few miles until you hit the first aid station. You will touch that station then go back down the hill along Glendora Mountain Road until you reach Lower Monroe Trail then you will head down Mystic Canyon Trail, go down Big Dalton Canyon, make a right and go up Poop Out Trail, continue up and take Truck Trail all the way up to Glendora Mountain Road where you will find the second aid station. Touch this point and head right back down truck trail, then down mystic canyon trail. At the bottom of Mystic you will take Big Dalton Canyon Trail all the way down to the dam gate and hop across to the Keiser Trail system where you will pop out to Big Dalton Canyon road, then go down to the Wren Meacham Trail, pop out and head to the Eqestrian Area, back out onto GMR, then up Big Dalton Canyon to the Start/Finish line in Big Dalton Campground.

50K Relay Course: The relay course will use the exact same route as the 50K Solo. Each team must have 4 members, if for any reason the team loses a member they will be allowed to sub in up until the day of the event. If any team member is injured or can’t finish their section it’s up to their teammate to pick up where they left off and finish out that leg. 

-Leg 1 is from the start of the race to mile 7 (Aid station 1)  -Leg 2 goes from mile 7 to mile 14.5 (Aid station 3)  -Leg 3 goes from mile 14.5 to mile 21 (Aid station 4)  -Leg 4 is from mile 21.5 to the finish line at mile 32.  Map for the aid station and relay points is posted on the website and on the instagram page.

10K Course: 7.2 Mile loop Starting at Big Dalton Campground in Big Dalton Canyon, up Glendora Mountain Road to Lowe Monroe Trail, down Mystic Canyon, up Big Dalton Canyon trail to the dam gate and across to the Keiser Trail system, down and out back to Big Dalton Canyon Road, up Wren Meacham Trail, out to the Equestian Area and back up GMR and back to Big Dalton Campground to Finish.

-All runners will be required to have a refillable water bottle or running vest with hydration on their person during the race and are strongly encouraged to bring gels/nutrition with them

-Time cap will be at 1600 for all 3 events

Aid Stations:

-There will be a total of 5 aid stations throughout the course. Aid stations will have water, electrolytes, and snacks. Aid station 2 and 3 will be water only stations. Drop bags must be handed off on 2/5/27 with your name and which aid station you’d like it to live at.

Aid station 1: @ mile 7,  Aid station 2 (Water only): @ mile 11,   Aid station 3 (Water only): @mile 14.5,  Aid station 4: @ mile 21.5,  Aid station 5: @ mile 26.

For general information, donation or volunteer inquiry please email daltoncanyonultra@gmail.com, or check out our instagram @DaltonCanyon50k.  Race Director: Matt Fraga