Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run

Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend and the lighting of Christmas Mountain in Salida with a 5 mile and 1 mile race!  The 5 mile course begins and ends by Riverside Park in downtown Salida. Race course is very scenic and mostly flat (around 160 feet of elevation gain) and takes place on city and county roads and gravel or concrete pedestrian paths. This event is designed for all runners, and we encourage all ages and abilities to come out!  Packet pickup, post race drinks and snacks, and awards will also take place in Riverside Park in downtown Salida.  

Race begins at 10am, giving participants time to sleep in after Thanksgiving, and then relax with friends and family before heading back to downtown Salida for the lighting of Christmas Mountain.  Festivities in town associated with this event include the annual Christmas Mountain parade, beginning at 6pm, followed by fireworks.  This is one of Salida's biggest and most celebratory nights each year.  

The goals of this event are to encourage health, fitness, fun, and community connection around the Thanksgiving holiday; to offer another competitive racing opportunity in Chaffee County; and to raise money during the holiday season for the Chaffee County Community Foundation.  Prize money will be offered to the top finishers:  top 3 M/F overall ($150/$100/$75), along with the first place M/F masters runner ($100).

There will also be a one mile run, which will begin at approximately 10:05am.  Participants will run down Sackett Avenue, turn around after 1/2 mile, and head back to the finish line.  This race will be timed, all competitors will receive a participant ribbon, and post race snacks are included. 

For more information or if you're interested in sponsoring or volunteering at this event, please contact Kristy Falcon at christmasmountainrun@gmail.com.

Race course is a 5 mile loop (closer to 4.9 miles) that begins and ends on Sackett Avenue in downtown Salida by the front of the Scout Hut.  This is a mostly flat and scenic course with 158 feet of elevation gain/loss.  There may be a few snowy or icy spots on the course.  Runners will head west on Sacket Ave, then continue onto the Salida river trail and path. Continue on the river trail, cross CR 175,  and continue to head west on the river trail. Head up a short uphill to the road towards Franz Lake, follow the paved road, and then head all the way around Franz Lake on gravel paths, coming back to the Franz Lake parking area.  Head uphill on the pedestrian path to Crestone Avenue.  Cross Crestone Avenue, and head east on the Salida Trail System (paved bike path), then continue east on Crestone Avenue past the county courthouse.  Cross the street to the sidewalk, then cross the street again by Safeway to return to the bike path, following it to Sackett Ave.  Turn right and return east towards the Scout Hut.  Race course is a mix of paved roads, dirt or gravel paths, and paved bike paths.  All roads and other paths will be open to other users, including vehicle traffic, throughout the event.

Prize money ($150/$100/$75) will be offered to the top 3 M/F overall, along with the first place M/F masters runner ($100 - ages 40+).

Christmas Mountain themed awards will be given to the top 3 men and women overall, plus the top 3 F/M in each age group (12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, etc). 

Awards ceremony will take place at the Salida Scout Hut following the race, at approximately 11:15am.

Course Records

Overall Female: Devon Yanko - 30:48 - 2022 (Howard, CO) 

Overall Male:  Taylor Stack - 25:20 - 2025 (Fort Collins, CO)

Female 12 and Under:  Leah Paschall - 44:25 - 2021 (Salida, CO)
Female 13 - 19: Haley Heironimus - 35:27 - 2021 (Annandale, VA)
Female 20 - 29: Sydney Petersen - 30:53 - 2025 (Crested Butte, CO)
Female 30 - 39: Imogen Ainsworth - 31:33 - 2025 (Poncha Springs, CO)
Female 40 - 49: Devon Yanko - 30:48 - 2022 (Howard, CO)
Female 50 - 59: Sarah Hudelson - 41:24 - 2021 (Salida, CO)
Female 60 - 69: Kathy Duryea - 42:41 - 2025 (Salida, CO)
Female 70 - 79: Donna Nicholas Griesel - 76:38 - 2021 (Coaldale, CO)

Male 12 and Under: Max Swenson - 35:23 - 2024 (Breckenridge, CO)
Male 13 - 19: Elijah Wilcox - 27:54 - 2022 (Salida, CO)
Male 20 - 29: Taylor Stack - 25:20 - 2025 (Fort Collins, CO)
Male 30 - 39: Morgan Elliot - 26:40 - 2022 (Salida, CO)
Male 40 - 49: Michael Kettler - 28:02 - 2021 (Boulder, CO)
Male 50 - 59: Bryan Boyle - 36:04 - 2025 (Salida, CO)
Male 60 - 69: Keith Cooper - 35:57 - 2022 (Poncha Springs, CO)
Male 70 - 79: Dave Goodrich - 46:28 - 2021 (Poolville, TX)
Male 80 - 89: Ross Westley - 84:03 - 2022 (Arvada, CO)

The lighting of Christmas Mountain is a special event that takes place every year in Salida on the day after Thanksgiving.  The annual Parade of Lights will take place at 6pm.  This year's parade is sponsored by High Country Bank and this year's theme is Gingerbread Village.  The Salida Fire Department will light off the fireworks display after the parade.  Holiday Park, located in Riverside Park, will open around 6pm.

A few notes about the history of Christmas Mountain, taken from the Salida Chamber of Commerce's website, are included below:

"This holiday symbol made up of 4,500 brightly-colored LED bulbs strung from Tenderfoot Mountain’s summit to base shines over Salida throughout the whole holiday season, from late November into mid-January.  The glowing effect is accomplished with green lights outlining the tree and its garland, while red, orange and white lights create ornaments to complete the picture. This giant Christmas tree is topped with a large sparkling star visible over the Arkansas River Valley for miles and miles.  Holiday Park also hosts the special annual display of Christmas trees. Decorated by local sponsors to commemorate loved ones or just celebrate the season, the trees line the walkways making for a heart-warming winter’s walk.

Tenderfoot Mountain, a.k.a. ‘S’ Mountain, has a major year-round presence in the heart of Salida. Prominently located at the end of F Street — the town’s main drag – it is normally adorned with white lights in the shape of “S.” This alternates with a red heart symbolizing the “Heart of the Rockies.” The lighting is occasionally changed to commemorate other special occasions, too – including special tributes and causes.

Originally, the idea for Christmas Mountain came from a local contractor. First he tried using floodlights to create a ‘tree’ effect, but the results didn’t quite inspire the magical effect he envisioned. So in 1990, he asked a surveyor to draw up a design for the display. Using these blueprints, volunteers carefully strung extension cords and lights in a zig zag pattern down the gently sloping 500-foot mountain. If stretched out, this strand of lights would cover a mile. The enchanting effect forever transformed Salida’s Christmas celebrations, making the town a true Christmas-in-Colorado destination. 

Every year since then, volunteers continue to take on this traditional task in early November."

Packet pickup will take place at the Salida Scout Hut (210 East Sackett Avenue) in downtown Salida from 8:30am - 9:45am.  

Online registration for the Christmas Mountain Run will close at noon on Thursday, November 27th.  Race day registration will be available, starting at 8:30am at the Salida Scout Hut.  Race day registration fees for the 5 mile are $50 for adults and $30 for kids 16 and under.  Race day registration fees for the 1 mile are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 16 and under.  We will accept credit cards this year.  Please plan to register by 9:45am.

Thank you for joining us for the Christmas Mountain Run!  Please note the following race rules and event safety considerations.  These have been designed for everyone's overall race experience, enjoyment, and safety.  Contact Kristy at christmasmountainrun@gmail.com with any questions.

• Foot travel only.
• Assist other runners in need.
• No dogs or other animals allowed on course in the 5 mile run, although leashed dogs are allowed in the 1 mile run.
• Per our insurance, we request that runners do not use earbuds with music during the race.
• Strollers are not allowed at this event in the 5 mile run, but they are allowed in the 1 mile run.  This is per our insurance, and due to the fact that the race course runs by the Arkansas River and a lake on pedestrian paths that might contain icy spots on race day.
• No littering or course cutting.
• Pedestrian paths will be open on race day to other users. Roads will be open to traffic throughout the race. Please be aware and respectful of other users, use common sense around vehicle traffic, and obey the directions of course marshals when crossing roads.
• No crewing or pacing of runners on course.
• To reduce waste, and because this race takes place during a colder time of the year, there will be no aid stations on course.  Plan to bring some type of hydration system and your own favorite race foods if you would like water or nutrition during the race.

Parking on the downtown streets in Salida is limited to two hours. Please pay attention to parking signs. Free all day parking may be obtained across the F Street bridge near the start/finish area, and in the parking lots on the west side of Safeway or west of G Street on 1st Street (291). If those lots are full, on street parking with no time limit is available starting at roughly 3rd or 4th streets.  The City of Salida has created a very informative, interactive map which shows Salida's downtown parking areas, along with ADA spaces and electric charging stations.  Check it out here!

The race finish will take place by Riverside Park, on Sackett Avenue in downtown Salida.  Riverside Park is Salida's most popular park, and is located right by the Arkansas River, with a very popular playground area.  This is also a great area to spectate, as you'll be able to see runners very clearly on the Sackett Avenue finish stretch.  Please note that dogs are not allowed in the park unless they're on the pedestrian paths.  In order to keep our permit in order with the City of Salida, we ask that everyone respects this rule.  Thank you!

Spectators are allowed out on course, and all roads and paths will remain open during the event.  If you want to be out on the course, another way to do that is to volunteer as a course marshal - your help is definitely appreciated! Please contact Kristy at christmasmountainrun@gmail.com for more info.