Utah to host Expedition Wild West adventure race in 2027

Expedition Wild West will debut in Northern Utah from June 19-26, 2027, as an Adventure Racing World Series demonstration race. The 4.5-day, 450-kilometer event is designed to attract international and U.S. teams while showcasing Park City, Salt Lake City and the surrounding mountains.

Why it matters: - Expedition Wild West gives the Adventure Racing World Series a new North American showcase event in Utah. - The race is positioned as a stepping stone for teams aiming to compete on the global adventure racing stage. - The course is built to highlight Utah’s mountains, canyons and alpine wilderness while using a “fly-and-race” format meant to reduce travel friction.

What happened: - Expedition Wild West is set for June 19-26, 2027, in the mountains of Northern Utah. - The event will run as a 4.5-day, 450-kilometer ARWS demonstration race. - GRIT Adventure Racing is organizing the event. - The route will run from Park City to Salt Lake City. - Race organizers say competitors will trek, mountain bike, packraft, canyoneer and navigate fixed-rope sections.

The details: - The course is described as one of the most singletrack-heavy in ARWS history, with nearly 90 miles of singletrack and 10,000 feet of flowing descents. - The route crosses the Uinta and Wasatch mountain ranges. - The race will include alpine ridgelines, mountain-bike trails, rivers, waterfall rappels and remote wild country. - The course design uses shorter, fast-moving stages and mini-adventures within the larger expedition. - The event returns major expedition racing to Utah 21 years after Primal Quest raced there in 2006. - Teams will fly into Salt Lake City International Airport and take race shuttles to Race HQ and the host hotel in Park City. - Pre-race lodging is provided in Park City the night before the race. - Race buses will take teams to a secret start location on Monday morning. - The finish is in Salt Lake City, where hotel rooms will be available for recovery. - After Friday’s finish, teams will have Saturday breakfast and an awards ceremony before free shuttles take them back to the airport. - A family guide with sample itineraries will be released for spectators who want to follow the race. - The event is open to teams of two to four racers. - Disciplines listed for the race include trekking, mountain biking, packrafting, canyoneering, rappelling, fixed ropes, zip line, navigation and mystery challenges.

Between the lines: - The logistics package is meant to make the race easier for international teams and reduce the need for rental cars and extra hotel planning. - Race Director Nick Hurff is leaning on Utah’s outdoor reputation and the legacy of Primal Quest to frame the event as both a tribute and a new chapter. - GRIT Adventure Racing is also signaling that athlete safety and event management will be central selling points. - The “European flair” described for the route suggests a more segmented, fast-paced race style than some traditional expedition formats.

What's next: - Registration is open through the official event website: more information. - Organizers plan to release the family guide before the race. - Teams will race from Monday, June 21, 2027, through Friday, June 25, 2027, with travel and awards activity wrapping that weekend. - GRIT Adventure Racing will continue building out the athlete and travel logistics ahead of the 2027 debut.