Ponderosa Polar Challenge 2027

Ponderosa Polar Challenge: Choose Your Own Winter Adventure!

Ever wanted to see how far you could run in a weekend? Or maybe you just want to knock out a 5K, enjoy some beautiful scenery, and spend the rest of the weekend in a hot tub. Either way, we've got you covered!

Welcome to the Ponderosa Polar Challenge, where you can run anywhere from a 5K to 150 miles, make some new friends, eat some good food, and probably question a few of your life choices along the way.

Our race takes place at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, just outside Zion National Park. With beautiful trails, amazing views, and a home base you'll pass through approximately a million times (give or take), it's a pretty great place to spend a weekend.

And the best part? You get to choose your own adventure!

Your Race, Your Adventure

We've got three different loops to play with: 1 mile, 2 miles, and 3 miles. You can run them in either direction, mix and match them, or combine them into longer loops. It's basically a choose-your-own-adventure book, except instead of turning to page 47, you're heading back out on the loop of your choice.

Want to run a 5K? Awesome!

Want to walk a marathon? Go for it!

Want to see if you can cover 100 miles? We believe in you!

Want to run 150 miles? Well, we might have a few questions about your sanity, but we're excited to see what happens!

Most distances have a 52-hour time limit, while our 150-mile runners get a special evening start option if desired and 64 hours to finish. Whether you're running, walking, hiking, or doing some combination of all three, we want you to have the opportunity to reach your goal.

We're big believers that you don't have to be fast to do something incredible. Sometimes the biggest accomplishments come from simply refusing to quit, even when your feet have other ideas.

Bring Your Friends, Family, and Maybe Some Extra Socks

One of our favorite things about looped races is the community that develops. Everyone keeps coming back through the same home base, which means there's always someone to cheer you on, share a story with, or convince you that going out for just one more loop is an excellent idea.

We'd love for you to bring your friends and family along for the adventure! Just remember that while your race registration covers you, your personal cheering squad will need their own pass. Make sure to purchase a spectator or crew pass for each person when you register, unless they're booking their own camping or lodging through Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. We love a good cheering section, but unfortunately, we can't sneak the whole family in for free! :)

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort has plenty to do for those who don't feel like spending their entire weekend running in circles. There's a pool, hot tub, tennis, volleyball, pickleball, and other activities. Your family can have a little vacation while occasionally checking in to make sure you're still alive and moving forward.

Every runner's registration includes three nights of camping!  Not excited about sleeping in a tent in November? We understand. Some people enjoy freezing in the wilderness, and others prefer walls and a heater. Both are valid life choices.  After registering, you'll receive a discount code for 30% off upgraded accommodations, including glamping, cabins, and vacation homes at the resort.

Pacers, spectators, and other crew members will need their own day pass, camping, or lodging accommodations through Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. Meal upgrades are also available during registration if they want to join in on the food festivities.

Let's Talk About the Food!

If you've ever run an ultramarathon, you know that at some point the race becomes less about running and more about deciding what you want to eat next.  We take this part pretty seriously!

Our main aid station is located at the start/finish of every loop, so you'll never be too far from food, drinks, and people who will happily tell you how great you're doing even when you look a little questionable.  For runners tackling the 50K or longer distances, race weekend meals and aid station snacks are included. We're talking real food, not just an endless supply of gels and pretzels. Some of the things you can expect throughout the weekend include:

• Sandwiches
• Taco bar
• Hamburgers
• Breakfast foods
• Plenty of snacks and drinks to keep you moving 

We'll have a variety of options throughout the race because we know that what sounds delicious at mile 10 might sound absolutely disgusting at mile 80.  Have a favorite energy drink, special dietary needs, or something you absolutely cannot survive an ultra without? Bring it along! We're happy to keep special items in our kitchen for you.

For our marathon and shorter-distance runners, Saturday morning breakfast is included in your registration. You can also purchase an additional meal package, bring your own food, or grab something at the resort restaurant.

We want everyone to have what they need to enjoy their weekend and get across that finish line, even if that means eating a taco at 3 a.m.

Why We Howl

Howling Trails Adventure Company and the Ponderosa Polar Challenge were built around something bigger than running a bunch of miles.  This race honors two people who meant a great deal to us: Lois Krotz and Tom McCabe.  Lois was my best friend and had a huge heart for animals, including her own beloved Fei and Guan. In her memory, a portion of our proceeds goes to Arctic Rescue, helping dogs find the love and care they deserve. Tom was a friend who loved hiking, exploring, and bringing people together on the trails. He was also known to randomly howl while out on adventures. It might sound a little silly, but that was part of his magic. He found ways to connect people, make them laugh, and remind everyone that being outdoors is supposed to be fun.  In his honor, we also donate a portion of our proceeds to a volunteer trail maintenance group to help take care of the places we all love to explore.

So if you hear someone howling out on the course, feel free to howl back! In fact, we encourage it.

We hope this race reflects a little bit of what made both Lois and Tom so wonderful: friendship, adventure, kindness, and making the most of the time we get together.

So Why Run the Ponderosa Polar Challenge?

Because where else can you sign up to run 100 miles, eat tacos in the middle of the night, howl at strangers in the woods, and call it a great weekend?  But seriously, here's what makes this race special:

Pick your adventure. With distances from 5K to 150 miles and multiple loop options, there's something for just about everyone. Take your time. You'll have up to 52 hours to finish most distances, or 64 hours for the 150-mile evening-start runners. Come for the running, stay for the people. One of the best parts of this race is watching complete strangers become friends and cheer each other on. Camping is included. All registered runners get three nights of camping, with discounted lodging upgrades available if sleeping on the ground isn't your thing.
We feed you! Our ultra runners get weekend meals, and shorter-distance runners can join in on the food fun too. Your miles make a difference. A portion of our proceeds supports dog rescue and trail maintenance in memory of two pretty incredible humans. There's no wrong way to adventure. Whether you're chasing a PR, finishing your first ultra, or just enjoying a beautiful weekend outside, we're happy to have you.
At the end of the day, we want this to be more than just another race on your calendar. We want you to leave with some great memories, a few new friends, and maybe a slightly ridiculous story about something that happened at 2 a.m.

So grab your running shoes, your warm clothes, and maybe a little bit of questionable judgment. Come run some loops with us!

And don't forget to howl. 🐺