8-Mile Route
In the map, the 8-Mile route is marked in orange, with yellow arrows and mile markers. See the image farther below for elevation and check out this: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3059523.
As you can see in the map, the 8-Milers will do a single loop around the Old Tucson grounds, then go through town one more time before heading out to the desert for a 4-mile section, then a final 2-mile section, with a single track, then wide roadways , ending with a lap through town.
The route starts in front of the Bitter Creek film set, then heads south to the Rodeo Grounds. You'll turn back north and head on the smooth dirt of historic Main Street all the way up the Old North Church and Boot Hill. You'll follow the chunky wide trail across the train tracks, through the desert, until turning south again. After passing the High Chaparral set, you'll cross the finish line in front of Bitter Creek at the 1-mile mark.
The next portion of the course repeats this first lap -- then you head out into the Old Tucson Studios desert area, with a wide trail and the well-known Horse Poop Hill (see photo below).
At the 2-mile mark, head through the fenceline outside of Old Tucson grounds to do a 4-mile loop in the Tucson Mountain Park trails. Miles 3-4 include smooth single track and wide-open double-track on the Chaparral Trail with a gradual downhill, a very fast section of the race.
The stretch between Miles 4 and 5 includes very chunky single-track with a gradual uphill on Golden Gate Trail as you head towards Gates Pass. The last-mile before entering back into the grounds of Old Tucson is mostly a gradual downill on the Chaparall trail, before a half-mile single track back to the grounds of Old Tucson near the 6-mile marl.
Mile 6-7 is mostly a single track with rutted sections and beautiful views of the western desert.
The last 1.5 miles of the route include the wide-open dirt pathways near the outer parking lots, then a trip past the Rodeo Grounds, Main Street, Boot Hill, and through the desert until you head downhill back past the High Chaparral set to the finish line.
The race starts and ends at the Bitter Creek set.
The mile markers are approximate, but we think it's pretty close to 8-miles.
There will be a water stop at Mile 1 and Mile 5 and the start/finish.