Schedule and packet pickup
Packet pickup
Pickup is at the Four Peaks Staging Area on Friday, January 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. and race morning from 6 to 7 a.m., followed by a 7 a.m. athlete meeting. Awards are at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Chasing the Sun 2027
- Date
- Saturday, January 30, 2027
- Start time
- 7:22 AM start (Phoenix)
- Location
- Fort McDowell, Arizona
Go to the race website
Fees rise at the end of September, November and December and again on January 24; solo entries currently start at $45 for 3 hours. Teams of two to four share one bib on a race belt. Laps finished after the time limit do not count.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chasing the Sun (sunrise to sunset, 10 h 42 min) | Ultra | Jan 30, 20277:22 AM | See registration | – |
| 6 Hour | Ultra | Jan 30, 20277:30 AM | See registration | – |
| 3 Hour | Other | Jan 30, 20277:40 AM | See registration | – |
Fees and dates are from the race's official website on the date shown below; confirm them there before you register.
Race day planning
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:24 AM, and the Chasing the Sun (sunrise to sunset, 10 h 42 min) starts at 7:22 AM.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Four Peaks Staging Area, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Race guide
What runners should know about Chasing the Sun, in brief, from the official race website.
Course
The loop
Each 4.1 mile lap links the Shallmo Wash, Pemberton, Scenic, Cinch and Escondido trails back to the staging area. Laps are chip timed with results posted live every five minutes.
Parking and travel
Parking and camping
Parking and camping at the staging area are first come first served, with crews able to set up from 8 a.m. Friday. Park entry is $10 a day, or $22 a night to camp. The gate is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Shirt and medal
What entrants get
Every entrant gets a long sleeve hoodie. Awards go to solo men and women and to men's, women's and coed teams in each format.
Facts on this page come from the race's official website (4peaksracing.com/events/chasing-the-sun-2027, 4peaksracing.com), checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and fees there before you travel.
Race details
- Where
- Four Peaks Staging Area, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264Map
- Course
- Trail
- Distances
- Ultra, Other
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Chasing the Sun?
- Saturday, January 30, 2027, starting at 7:22 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- See the registration page for current pricing.
- What distances can I run?
- Ultra, Other.
- Where does it start?
- Four Peaks Staging Area, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264.
About the race
A new timed trail race in McDowell Mountain Regional Park where runners loop a 4.1 mile desert course as many times as they can in 3 hours, 6 hours or from sunrise to sunset. Enter solo or as a relay team of two to four.