Not all spectating locations are created equally so here are some of our favorite places to watch. 

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XC Race, 10-2 PM

• Don't miss the mass start on main street. Watching the entire field charge off the line is one of the most exciting moments of the weekend. Grab a spot along Main Street near Donny Kilpela Park and cheer the riders on as they begin their race.

• Summer School: Long XC racers hit Summer School around 11:00 AM and will be moving FAST!  There are plenty of opportunities to watch racers through this trail, which is easily accessed off of the East Bluff access road (walking or biking only, no driving).  

• Dueling Banjos (upper portion): On their way down East Bluff, all Long XC racers will rip down Flo’Rion before turning onto the upper portion of Dueling Banjos beginning around 11:00 AM.  There are a couple of rollable jumps, as well as a few big berms.

• Paul’s Plunge: All racers descend the lower portion of Paul’s Plunge beginning around 10:30 AM and continue consistently for another ~2.5 hours.  This is THE signature place to watch as racers traverse the unimaginable hellscape of this chunky, rooty, and often muddy trail.  Access the trail from the two-track off of Manganese Road or carefully along the Keweenaw Point Trail if Short XC racers are finished racing (don’t get in the way of racers!).

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DOWNHILL, 3-5 PM

• The race will be held on our biggest, baddest trail, Overflow.  There are spectator spots throughout the course. 

  • The Gap Jump near the top is a signature spot as riders fly over the Flow trail at top speed.  Access this location via Brockway Mountain Drive (do not park near the race start).  Speedy berms and rock rolls can be found in the middle stretches of the trail, best accessed via the Flow trail. 

  • Near the bottom, Dinosaur Rock and the last big rock roll are the biggest draws and see huge crowds.  Watch as riders careen over lengthy rock slabs before jettisoning off a literal cliff!  Park along the road to Hunter’s Point and hike in via the spectator trails or The Flow. 

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JUNIOR XC, 4-5 PM

• Our youngest racers need a boost!  They’ll be zooming around the Orchard Trail at the Trails End Campground.  The trails here are easy crushed gravel routes with minimal elevation change.  It’s easy to pop over here during the Downhill race (above) to give some whoops to our young rippers.

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10K TRAIL RUN, 8-10 AM

• Runners will begin climbing uphill on the lower part of Paul’s Plunge around 8:05 AM.  Prepare to watch some epic scrambling and mud-dodging!  This trail is steep, rugged, and full of chunky roots and rocks. Access this area off of Manganese Road or the Keweenaw Point Trail.

• After zooming around Kamikaze and Black Bear, runners will hoof it back along a couple miles of the Keweenaw Point Trail from 9:00 AM onwards.  The trail is rocky and meandering, with plenty of scenic spots to watch with Fort Wilkins in the background.

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ENDURO 

• In this race, riders are only timed during the downhill portions.  Uphill riding to each stage (listed below) is not timed like in the XC race.  Position yourself in an exciting place and watch some of the fastest action around! 

• This year we're unleashing a brand-new race-only trail for the Expert Enduro: Speed Trap. A true rake and ride at East Bluff Bike Park, it ends with a loamy, loose, and steep drop straight away into East Bluff Driveway — easy to access and an 11/10 spectator view.

• Looking for a spot to catch all classes race? Take the machine track off East Bluff Driveway up to the Bermasaurus Flyover Bridge. Be cautious of racers coming down for their transfer, as well as Expert riders racing on Thunderbolt.

Note:  Some viewing areas require a short hike. If you're walking to a spectator spot, stay alert for riders, remain off the race course, and always follow directions from volunteers and event staff. Gather some friends and come provide a fun atmosphere for our racers! As long as you keep it clean and don’t actually impact our racers, you’re welcome to be as goofy as you want out there.  We love to see what people come up with!