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.

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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.

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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.

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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