Copper Canyon hosts Chihuahua by UTMB from 1 to 3 October

Chihuahua by UTMB will use Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) as a race and programme setting from 1 to 3 October 2026, with key activities in Divisadero and Cerocahui. The event gives travellers in Creel a specific date for trail running and cultural activity in the Chihuahua region.

Chihuahua by UTMB brings races to Copper Canyon from 1 October

The official programme runs from Thursday 1 October to Saturday 3 October 2026. Its venues include Copper Canyon Adventure Park in Divisadero, while the longest races start in Cerocahui and continue through the Sierra Tarahumara.

The organiser lists several races across the three-day programme. The Rarámuri 100M starts in Cerocahui on 2 October, while the Norawa 9K starts at Parque Barrancas in Divisadero on 3 October. The official Norawa 9K page gives the course length as 9 kilometres and the positive ascent as 200 metres.

The official schedule also places the Ultra Trail Village at Copper Canyon Adventure Park on 1 and 3 October. It lists race briefings, starts and finishes there, together with a cultural programme called La Integración Musical on 3 October.

Copper Canyon links a trail event with Rarámuri heritage

The canyon region lies in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Chihuahua. It is a system of ravines associated with the Rarámuri people, whose cultural presence is part of the region's identity and is referenced in the race programme.

The Chihuahua state tourism authority describes the area as a large canyon system with viewpoints, waterfalls and access by the Chihuahua-Pacific railway. The railway is commonly known as Chepe, and the authority's regional Copper Canyon guide identifies Creel and Divisadero among the principal places in the area.

This creates a clear connection between the October programme and the landscape itself: the event uses trail routes, a canyon park and settlements on different levels of the Sierra Tarahumara rather than a single urban venue. For visitors based in Creel, the race weekend therefore concerns the wider canyon region, not just the town.

Visiting Copper Canyon: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Chihuahua by UTMB takes place from 1 to 3 October 2026, with venues including Copper Canyon Adventure Park in Divisadero and race starts in Cerocahui.
• The Norawa 9K starts at Parque Barrancas in Divisadero on 3 October 2026; the official race page lists a 9-kilometre course and 200 metres of positive ascent.
• Travellers staying in Creel should distinguish the town from the race venues at Divisadero and Cerocahui. The regional tourism authority identifies the Chihuahua-Pacific railway, or Chepe, as a way to tour part of the canyon.
• The terrain includes canyon walls, viewpoints, mountain trails and changes in elevation. Trail events require attention to uneven ground and steep sections, while the official Norawa 9K page lists 200 metres of ascent.
• Spanish is the language used in Mexico, and the national currency is the Mexican peso.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Copper Canyon

When does Chihuahua by UTMB take place at Copper Canyon?

Chihuahua by UTMB runs from 1 to 3 October 2026, with activities at Copper Canyon Adventure Park in Divisadero and races beginning in Cerocahui.

What is Copper Canyon?

It is a canyon system in Chihuahua's Sierra Madre Occidental, associated with the Rarámuri people, viewpoints, waterfalls and the Chihuahua-Pacific railway.

Where is Copper Canyon and how do you get there?

Creel and Divisadero are principal places in the canyon region. The Chihuahua state tourism authority identifies the Chihuahua-Pacific railway, known as Chepe, as a way to tour part of the area.