Canyons 100K — Hans Troyer's Golden Ticket Race
The Race That Opens the Door to Western States
Canyons 100K runs through the same Sierra Nevada foothills and American River canyon system as Western States 100. The course shares trail with the most famous 100-miler in America — which is both the point and the appeal. If you want Western States, Canyons is one of the cleanest paths to get there.
Top two male and female finishers receive Golden Tickets to Western States 100. That designation turns late April in Auburn, California into one of the most competitive ultrarunning weekends in the sport.
The Course
The course runs from Foresthill — the mile 62 checkpoint of Western States — and covers the canyon system in both directions. Runners descend deep into the American River canyons, climb out, cross ridgelines, and repeat the pattern across 62 miles and 22,500 feet of vertical.
The Canyons: The American River canyon system is not dramatic by Rocky Mountain standards. Elevations top out around 4,000 feet. But the canyons are deep, the descents are technical, and the climbs out are quad-destroying. The terrain punishes runners who don’t have specific canyon training in their legs.
April heat: Late April in the Sierra foothills can be mild and perfect or hot and exposed. Temperatures in the canyons regularly reach the 80s by midday. Shade is limited on exposed ridgelines. Heat management is a genuine race factor.
Western States trail: Running on the same trail as Western States carries its own psychological weight. Every step is familiar to anyone who has studied the iconic race — and unfamiliar to everyone until they run it.
Hans Troyer’s Race
Hans Troyer finished 2nd at Canyons 100K in 2025. That result earned him a Golden Ticket to Western States 100 — automatic entry, no lottery. He went on to finish 8th at Western States in his first attempt.
His Canyons performance was the pivot point of his 2025 season: coming off his near-death experience at Black Canyon the prior year, fully recovered, running at the front of one of the deepest 62-mile fields in the country and taking second.
What Makes It Extreme
The 22,500 feet of gain in 62 miles is deceptively hard. Short, relentless canyon climbs and descents accumulate faster than the numbers suggest. The Golden Ticket pressure produces a fast front pack that makes the early miles risky — going out too hard chasing pros is one of the most common race-ending mistakes at Canyons.
The course is also a direct audition for Western States. Experienced runners use Canyons to test their readiness for the June 100-miler on the same terrain.
62 miles | 22,500 ft gain | Late April | Auburn / Foresthill, CA | Western States Golden Ticket qualifier