Mount Marathon - Race

From the Mount Marathon Trailhead at 1st Avenue and Monroe Street, the route climbs directly into a steep gully. Near the base, several braided lines diverge: a line on the right called "The Roots" climbs a tangle of exposed root systems, a center-gully option called "The Cliffs" scrambles up short, steep rock steps, and a lower-angle line on the left avoids both. All three merge in the trees around 0.3 miles and continue through brush toward treeline. Above treeline, near 1 mile, the route opens onto steep, loose scree climbing across the mountain face — footing is unstable and the exposure is real. Climbing continues to Race Point, this route's high point at roughly 1.8 miles, marked by a stone marker. For the descent, drop off the north side and angle left 50 to 100 feet before picking a line down the scree. Around the midpoint, the descent crosses the ascent route on a short stretch of singletrack before returning to scree. Lower down, exit the gully left or right below treeline — avoid riding the gully all the way down, where it narrows into polished, near-vertical rock.