Cirque Series - Mt Baldy, CA

Join us for inaugral year of Cirque Series at Mt Baldy.  9.1 miles featuring 3,926' ft vert.

Prizes
Prizes will be distributed at the end of each race and for the overall series winners. There are three categories in which the prizes will be given out: Sport, Expert and Pro.  Prizes for each race are as follows:

Pro 
1st place - $2000 cash
2nd place - $250 cash 
3rd place - $150 cash 

Expert 
1st - $400 in Gear 
2nd - $250 in Gear 
3rd - $150 in Gear 

Sport 
1st - $300 in Gear 
2nd - $200 in Gear 
3rd - $100 in Gear

Grom Award - youngest competitor will be recognized.

OG Award - wisest competitor will be recognized.

Lexie Award - the "unofficial MVP" of the race will be recognized.

Middle of the Pack Award - the person that finished exactly middle will be recognized.

Overall 2026 Season Winner + Points
The racers with the most points at the end of all races will be declared the overall 2025 winner.  The top 20 racers of each event will obtain points. The following is the per stage breakdown as a function of place:

1 - 50pt    6 - 30pt    11 - 20pt 16 - 10pt 
2 - 40pt    7 - 28pt    12 - 18pt 17 - 8pt
3 - 36pt    8 - 26pt    13 - 16pt 18 - 6pt
4 - 34pt    9 - 24pt    14 - 14pt 19 - 4pt
5 - 32pt    10 - 22pt    15 - 12pt 20 - 2pt

PRIZE MONEY 2026 OVERALL SEASON STANDINGS   **Men's & Women's
PRO
PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season
PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season
PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season

EXPERT
1ST - PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season 
2ND- PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season 
3RD- PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season

SPORT
1ST - PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season 
2ND- PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season 
3RD- PEAK FREAK Belt Buckle - Overall 2026 season

**Everyone that runs six 2026 Cirque Series races will receive a Cirque Series 2026 PEAK FREAK belt buckle

Registration
We are capping the race at 700 entries, we encourage to sign up right away.

Bibs / Timing Chips
Cirque Series will utilize Competitive timing to time the event with a disposable chip placed on the back of your bib. Please do not fold, crush or remove the chip from the bib. You may dispose of the chip/bib after the race is over.

Rules / Guidelines
Please help us preserve the beauty of our mountains and assist in maintaining an enjoyable, safe event for everyone involved.

Please respect private property near the trails. Do not trespass. 
No littering: Participants are encouraged to carry water and food during the event. 
Please dispose of all waste and recyclables in the proper containers. 
Please be respectful of all Forest Service officials. 
Do not impede another runner. 
Leave no trace: Pack-in pack-out.

We will provide hydration at two aid stations on course, summit water station & finish line hydration.

LODGING - Mt Baldy Lodging 

Contact:

Race Director: steve@cirqueseries.com

Founder: julian@cirqueseries.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course begins at 6,400 feet in the ski area parking lot, immediately pointing runners skyward toward Mt. San Antonio at 10,064 feet. From the start, the route wastes no time gaining elevation as runners climb the ski area service roads en route to the Notch. The early ascent is steady and unrelenting, quickly spreading the field as the developed base area gives way to high-alpine terrain and expanding views across the San Gabriel Mountains.

Upon reaching the Notch, runners transition onto the legendary Devil’s Backbone Trail — a dramatic ridgeline traverse known for its exposure and breathtaking sightlines. With steep drop-offs on either side, this section demands focus and sure footing as the summit block rises ahead with every step along the spine. The final push to the top of Mt. San Antonio is both grueling and inspiring. At 10,064 feet, runners are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views that can stretch from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific Ocean on clear days — a true summit in every sense.

After tagging the peak, the course descends across the Baldy Bowl via the Ski Hut Trail. This rugged alpine drop loses elevation quickly over technical terrain, delivering runners to the historic Sierra Club Ski Hut tucked beneath Baldy’s imposing north face. From the hut, the route continues downhill along forested single track before reconnecting with Falls Road. Legs will already feel the impact of the descent, but efficiency here is key as runners prepare for the final transition.

A short but notable climb leads runners up to Manker Cutoff — the last upward push on the course. From there, the race turns decisively downhill for the finishing run back toward the ski area. What follows is a fast but quad-testing descent where gravity takes over and runners empty the tank on the return to 6,400 feet.

The finish line awaits back at the parking lot where the loop began — completing a true cirque route showcasing Baldy’s most iconic terrain: ridge, summit, bowl, forest, and mountain road. A course as beautiful as it is demanding — and unmistakably Mt. Baldy.

SAFETY LANGUAGE
The course is steep, rocky, & extreme at times. Summit is high eleveation, potentially wet & slippery with potential exposure. You will be pushing hard for the summit, putting yourself to your capacity, lungs, grit, & strength. Please note, we will have the course well marked, it is imperative, for your safety, you follow precise path of flagging. Please be mindful of other competitors, if you encounter an injured competitor please inform the nearest course Marshall, EMT, Mt Baldy Patrol, or Rescue Services.  Course is well marked with orange flagging, if you suddenly find yourself on a path without immediate orange flags to indicate the route, please turn around, go back the way you came until you get back on trail with orange flags. 

**Every competitor is subject to a strict cut-off time at Aid Station #1 of 1 hrs 30 minutes (competitor will take walk back down). We typically see 2-10 people not make cutoff

**Course subject to be adjusted as necessary

**The race course is located in Angeles National Forest

We will provide hydration for all participants at two aid stations on course, summit water station, & finish line hydration station.

Cancellation / Refund Policy:  the race organizers reserve the ability to cancel the event due to unsafe weather, any variety of circumstances, etc. Race organizers will make the best decisions when it comes to protecting the safety of all runners. This means we reserve the right to adjust, cancel, reroute, or reschedule as we see fit.

Because the bulk of our costs come before the event even occurs we will not be able to extend refunds to those who wish to cancel their registration. We will assess things appropriately & fairly, to the best of our abilities. If the race is popular enough to create a waiting list, we will also treat your entry fairly with specifics TBD.

Race registration is non transferable & cannot be rolled over to subsequent races. We will always treat our community fairly but also ask that you be sympathetic about the realities of putting on a great event. Anyone running under a bib assigned to another athlete will be banned from future Cirque Series Races, we take this very seriously because it creates a safety issue.

CATEGORIES
*SPORT: This category is for people that don't have a ton of mountain experience, and wouldn't call themselves strong runners. But are ready to test themselves.

*EXPERT: This category is for people with a lot of mountain experience, consider themselves strong hikers with competent running skills.

*PRO: This category is for professional & sponsored athletes.

Average Race Category Stats Across Our Other races:
Sport Registrations: 71% of runners

Expert Registrations: 22% of runners

Pro Registrations: 7% of runners

Results will be posted here 48 hours after the event.

By signing up, you have opted-in to potentially receive digital marketing from our sponsors.

julian@cirqueseries.com 

Friday, Oct 2, 2026:  3pm-6pm - early bib pick-up: Mt Baldy Brewery, 2120 Porterfield Way, Upland, CA 91786

Saturday, Oct 3, 2026: 8:00am-9:30am - Bib pickup available at the race venue. Please arrive early enough to pickup your packet and get ready. We will start promptly at 10AM.