Course map, elevation profile & surface
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Follow the route over 3D terrain, mile by mile.
Climbs
7 climbs · 11,053 ft totalbiggest firstAid stations as published on the course file
| Aid station | Mile | km |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| A Spring | 4.0 | 6.5 |
| A Bowlens AS 1 | 7.3 | 11.7 |
| A Spring | 14.9 | 24.0 |
| A Colberts AS 2 | 17.9 | 28.9 |
| A Buncombe AS 3 | 20.4 | 32.8 |
| A Spring | 22.3 | 36.0 |
| A spring | 24.7 | 39.8 |
| A Mt Mitchell AS 4 | 26.7 | 43.0 |
| A spring | 29.0 | 46.7 |
| Finish / pre race shuttle pick up | 34.4 | 55.3 |
Badge colours match the markers on the map above — always confirm locations and cutoffs with the race organizer.
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Race almanac the sky on race day
Next race day Sat, May 15, 2027
First and last light are civil twilight, the sun 6° below the horizon. The moon is lit as at midnight after the start; headlamp hours count a typical finish from the start while the sun is below civil twilight. Worked out for the start line.
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About this course
Quest for the Crest 50k covers 34.4 mi (55.3 km) with 11,466 ft of elevation gain through North Carolina, United States. That is about 334 ft per mile of climbing, and 11,304 ft of descent. The course tops out at 6,657 ft and bottoms out at 2,848 ft. The surface is 85% trail, 12% gravel and 3% paved. There are 9 aid stations on course; the longest stretch between aid is 7.6 mi. The profile has 7 sustained climbs; the biggest is the climb to Mt Mitchell AS 4, +3,543 ft over 5.5 mi at 12.2% on average (steepest stretch 38%). The interactive map above shows the full route with its elevation profile and aid stations, built from the course's GPS file.
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Course history
- Jul 22, 2026Added to the catalog
Races like this one close in distance, climbing, terrain, altitude, weather and season
- Quest for the Crest EARLY START 50k Option — 2027May · 34 mi · 334 ft/miSame distance · Similar climbing · High altitude
- Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB PAGODA 50-DAY 57K — 2026Nov · 35 mi · 332 ft/miSame distance · Similar climbing · High altitude
- Val d Aran by UTMB PDA33 mi · 326 ft/mi · CatalunyaSame distance · Similar climbing · Mostly trail
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