Vertical Slam Ultimate Challenge Beatton River Valley 2026

The Vertical Slam Ultimate Challenge — Beatton River Valley takes place on June 6 (early June) in the Peace River / Cecil Lake area and is organized under the Vertical Slam Beatton River Valley banner. This one-day trail challenge serves as a local fundraiser supporting school food programs in the region and carries a strict no-refunds policy.

Racers choose from three distances: a 5 km, a roughly 10 km, and a roughly 21 km route. Race day starts at 8:00 AM MST; bib pick-up is scheduled the evening before the race. The event labels the longer options as “ish” distances because routes use natural trails and rolling terrain rather than measured road loops.

What sets this edition apart is the combination of steep, sustained climbing and a community-first charity focus. Elevation gain is significant for each distance (about 150 m for 5K, 450 m for the 10K-ish, and close to 1,000 m for the 21K-ish), and organizers note the course is rolling with many run-or-hike sections — no time cutoffs allow participants to tackle it at their own pace. The 2026 race also flips portions of the usual routing: the 10K-ish follows the half of trail that the 21K typically runs in its second half, while the 21K finishes on the original 10K route.

Registration is open in advance with entry fees listed (CA$30 for 5K, CA$40 for 10K-ish, CA$50 for 21K-ish) and the registration window shown through early June. Runners looking to support local school food programs and test themselves on a steep, trail-based course will find this a compact but challenging community event.

• Start/finish at Beatton River Valley Viewpoint Trail near Cecil Lake (coordinates 56.27069220, -120.65096770)
• Trail terrain across rolling, hilly single-day routes through the Beatton River Valley viewpoint area
• Elevation gain by distance: ~150 m (5 km), ~450 m (10 km-ish), ~1,000 m (21 km-ish)
• 2026 course routing includes a reversed segment: the 10K-ish uses the 21K's usual second half and the 21K finishes on the original 10K route
• No official time cutoffs; many participants run sections and hike others
• GPX/Strava route links provided by organizers for pre-race planning

• Charity fundraiser: Raises funds specifically for local school food programs in the Peace River area
• Significant climbing: Elevation gains of about 150 m (5K), 450 m (10K-ish) and close to 1,000 m (21K-ish)
• No time cutoffs: Course allows run-or-hike pacing so participants can finish without a strict cutoff
• Reversed routing in 2026: 10K-ish and 21K-ish courses run altered halves this year for a different finish experience
• Evening bib pickup: Bibs are available the Friday evening before the Saturday race start