Pikes Peak APEX
The Pikes Peak APEX continues to evolve! For 2026, we’re excited to introduce a new format – two separate one-day off-road adventures!
Next year’s event will take place the second weekend in June (June 13–14, 2026) and will feature two unforgettable days of riding, both starting and finishing at the beautiful Penrose House in Colorado Springs.
On Saturday, riders will take on the Queen of the Canyons Gravel event, featuring the same epic route that travels dirt roads to Cañon City and back, conquering Gold Camp Road, Shelf Road, and Phantom Canyon. A shorter course option will also be available, and timed segments will ensure racing takes place only where it’s safe to do so.
On Sunday, it’s all about the mountains with the APEX Mountain Bike Marathon, an endurance challenge climbing through the rugged backcountry of the Pikes Peak region. A shorter version will be offered for those seeking a more approachable ride.
The terrain will be demanding yet rewarding, offering dirt roads, jeep trails, and alpine singletrack that showcase the best of Colorado’s mountain riding. Expect a fully supported, scenic, and professionally produced experience.
$20,000 in cash prizes between both days, evenly split between men and women.
Event date
Event location
MTB Info Rider Guide
Course Maps Below
2026 Event Schedule
Event Schedule
Details coming soon!
Friday, June 12
- Packet Pick-Up
Saturday, June 13
- Gravel
Sunday, June 14
- MTB
Start Times
Details coming soon!
Get Support At the Apex
Our goal is to provide riders limited emergency mechanical support and the ability to refuel during the race, without having to carry all of their food and drink with them throughout the day.
Medical Support: Medical operations will be overseen by Orthopedic Centers of Colorado. We will have first aid personnel at each aid station and water station in addition to the start finish.
Tech Support: All riders should be self-reliant. There are remote areas on the courses where access to support will be difficult to provide.
We will have some level of tech support at all aid stations on all courses to help with emergency mechanical support.
Outside Support: Outside Support (food and water handups) will be limited to one location on Saturday—our longest day. Team and support staff should stay within these designated areas ONLY. This location is at the water station at the far west side of the course at mile 14.9, halfway through the stage.
Aid Stations: Fully stocked aid stations will be located along the courses.
Apex Gravel
Sunday June 13, 2026
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Both distances feature fully-stocked aid stations and a unique timed-section format for competitive fun.
Please see 2026 event schedule below under “SCHEDULE.”
Queen of the canyons
Queen of the Canyons, a one-day, 135-mile gravel race with 11,000 feet of climbing. This breathtaking ride follows much of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway, taking riders from Colorado Springs through Cripple Creek, Cañon City, Victor, and back.
The race features two iconic climbs: Gold Camp Road, a historic mining railroad bed through Cheyenne Canyon, and Phantom Canyon Road, a winding ascent to Victor, Colorado, with sweeping views and a mining legacy. Riders will also tackle a thrilling descent down Shelf Road, famed for its rugged beauty.
Mini Majesty
Prefer a shorter challenge? The Mini Majesty offers a scenic 65-mile out-and-back riding the entirety of Gold Camp Road.
Apex Gravel Support
Aid Stations
On the 135-mile Queen of the Canyons, there are four rest stops as well as two water spots, and the 65-mile ride will have one aid station and two water spots. We will have water and Flow Formulas mix at the intersection of Gold Camp Road and Old Stage Road, mile 12.4. The first full aid station is at the end of Gold Camp Road at mile 32.7. At this point, the 65-mile Mini Majesty will turn back, hitting the water spot again before finishing at tunnel #3. The 135-mile ride will continue on to Cripple Creek where there will be a rest stop in town at mile 38.8. After descending down Shelf Road, we will have another aid station in Canon City around mile 65—be sure to fill up there because it is a LONG climb up to Victor. The 4th aid station will be at the top of Phantom Canyon Road on the edge of Victor at mile 99.5. The aid station at the end of Gold Camp WILL NOT be in place on the way back—but the water stop at the intersection of Gold Camp and Old Stage will be at mile 123, and the timing will end at mile 130.8. Since this is a timed section race, you are also welcome to grab food/drinks at the convenience stores in Cripple Creek and Canon City since those are outside of those timed sections, but we should have enough provisions for you at the aid stations. We will have Flow Formulas drink, bars, gels, and other snacks along with soft drinks. We will have limited technical support at the aid stations—this may just consist of some tools and tubes, so please be prepared to fix your own bike!
Course Descriptions
Both the Queen of the Canyons (135-mile distance) and the Mini Majesty (65-mile distance) will start and finish at the Penrose House in Colorado Springs. The Queen of the Canyons is not for the faint of heart—we will ride 135 miles of mostly dirt road to Canon City and back, climbing more than 11,000 feet of elevation. You will have to average 11 miles per hour to make the cutoff point in Canon City, so if you don’t think you can do that, please enter the shorter Mini Majesty! The roads are bumpy in spots, but proper gravel the whole way. The ride starts with a paved climb up North Cheyenne Canyon Road and then a short bit of singletrack as Gold Camp rides over collapsed tunnel #3. After that the ride goes up Gold Camp to the intersection with Old Stage Road and rides toward Victor. At the end of Gold Camp, the Mini Majesty 65-mile route will turn around and go back the same way. The 135-mile Queen of the Canyons continues on pavement to Cripple Creek and then down Shelf Road to Canon City. After that riders will head up Phantom Canyon Road back to Victor, and then back to Colorado Springs on Gold Camp Road. See the map links below to see the courses on Ride with GPS.
Entry Fees Include
Entry into either the Queen of the Canyons (135 miles) or the Mini Majesty (65 miles)
Custom APEX hat (as supplies last)
APEX/Heuberger Subaru gloves (as supplies last)
Fully stocked aid stations on-course with help from Flow Formulas
Lunch after the ride
Beer or N/A beverage of choice
Packet Pickup
- Friday, June 12, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 PM; location TBD
- Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Start Line.
- Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Start Line.
Prizes for the Gravel Races
Cash prizes for the top five riders in both the men’s and women’s races. $10,000 each day with a top prize of $2,500 for the top male and female rider.
Timing and scoring
This is a “timed sections” race. We will not time the event start to finish, rather we will have three timed sections (two for the Mini) and we will add the times up to create a finish time for ranking. This format allows riders to NOT blow through stop signs or take left turns without the right of way. These are open roads and we will only time the sections where we can create safe racing. None of our aid stations will be inside the timed sections, which means you can stop, fill up your bottles, get a snack, and rest up for a few minutes. Feel free to wait for friends, give them a hard time about how you dropped them on the climb, and continue on as a group so that you have a group to work with. Keep in mind that there is a time-cut in Canon City, but you are NOT racing in between sections so you can go a bit easier.
The first timed section will start at the start line and will end at the end of Gold Camp at the aid station (32-mile section). The second timed section will be the entirety of Phantom Canyon Road starting just after the Landfill outside of Canon City and finishing right before the intersection on the edge of Victor. The final timed section will be the end of Gold Camp Road down to collapsed tunnel #3 on Gold Camp. Mini Majesty riders will just do the first and last timed sections. After reaching the “end of timing” at tunnel #3 riders will just roll back to the finish line to gather awards, a meal, and a drink.
Schedule
Coming soon!
Parking
Please park at The Penrose House Conference Center parking lot – 1661 Mesa Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, 80906
Volunteer for the Pikes Peak APEX!
See all volunteer opportunities.
Lodging Partners
information & FAQs
Thank you to our generous sponsors
Founding partners
Gold RMSG sponsors
