8 running events in Moab, Utah

Moab’s Red Hot takes place northwest of Moab, Utah, just west of Arches National Park. Runners enjoy majestic views of the La Sal Mountains to the southeast and breathtaking panoramas of Canyonlands National Park to the west. The race begins with a climb up a jeep road, offering stunning views of Arches National Park. With a mix of jeep trails and singletrack, this event is sure to become one of your favorite winter challenges. A course worthy of the Triple Crown of Moab, runners will be treated to amazing views and impressive rim trails. This may be one of the best trail race courses in Moab, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

The Up For Air Series is a collection of endurance events created to support improved air quality, while having fun hiking and running on great trails with good people. Proceeds from Up For Area events are donated to non-profit groups; the event directors receive no payment.

Salt Lake City resident Jared Campbell started Running Up For Air on Grandeur Peak in 2012, when he became painfully aware of the terrible pollution in the Salt Lake valley, and that the air quality improved when he ran up higher. He became passionate about bringing attention to this problem and raising funds to improve it. Run Up For Air, Inc. is a 501(C)3, and overseas seven RUFA events in Utah, Colorado, and Washington, all which contribute to this cause.

Running Up For Air - Moab is the newest! Unique in the Series, the 3rd annual will be on April 4, 2026, springtime in the desert, so participants can expect sunshine and dry rock. It is a short and steep course, allowing people to see each other and socialize regularly, with refreshments and support close at hand. Participants will challenge themselves in one of the 3, 6, or 12 hour timed events, completing as many laps of the looped course as possible in the allotted time.

Starting at the Moab Rim Trailhead, participants will hike or run up the Stairmaster Trail, to reveal an expansive view of the Moab valley and the snowy La Sal mountains in the background. Stairmaster is a rocky singletrack, gaining 890 feet in .95 miles. Runners immediately turn around and descend the adjacent Moab Rim Trail, which is a 4WD track on pure slickrock, the bare sandstone Moab is renowned for. This is the same distance so is equally steep; RUFA Moab is an excellent course to see how much vertical gain you can accomplish in a set time.

The course is open, and race entrants do not have the right-of-way, so please be respectful and courteous to all other users. Because they descend on a different trail, participants can go as fast or slow as they like and not get in each others way. Jeeps may be slowly grinding up the Moab Rim Trail, but they are moving slower than you, the track is quite wide, so they can be readily avoided.

50% of the proceeds from RUFA Moab will go to RUFA Inc, and 50% will be given to Youth Garden Project, a Moab 501(C)3 that engages high school students in a beautiful organic garden on school grounds, and provides weekly free dinners for the community, prepared from the garden. Have faith: your entry fee will be put to very good use! When you collect donations for your fundraiser, donors will be able to choose if they want their donation to go to the Youth Garden Project, Clean Air Utah, or the Running Up For Air Series.

NOTES:

• All events are conducted with a minimal footprint philosophy.

• This is cup-free: bring your own!

• The aid station is the Start/Finish at the bottom, which is passed every 2 miles

• Water, sports drink, and basic food will be provided; If you have special food, bring it and leave it at the aid station

• There is NO cell phone reception at the base, but good reception at the turnaround on top

• Temperatures will be cool in the morning, likely becoming quite warm by Noon

• The Map correctly identifies the Start/Finish, but note there is no parking at this location

RULES:

• There is NO PARKING at the event site, or anywhere along Kane Creek Blvd

• Take the free shuttle (preferred), or bike or run 2 miles from town

• Shuttle will depart from the Helen M Knight Elementary School; exact timetable and directions will be sent one week prior

• No pets

• Trekking poles are allowed but not recommended; they don't grip on slickrock