Registration opens for 2026 Owl Creek Chase cross-country ski race

Registration has opened for the annual Owl Creek Chase, one of the longest-running Nordic ski races in Colorado, with origins extending back to the mid-1980s and the opening of the Owl Creek Trail.

Scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, the race is organized jointly by the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and the city of Aspen. Part of the Ute Series of local races, this year’s Owl Creek Chase offers a $5,000 cash pot. The course links Snowmass and Aspen via “winding trails, aspen groves, and snowy meadows with stunning mountain backdrops.”

“The Owl Creek Chase is one of the most beloved events in the Nordic community here and a favorite stop for Nordic racers across the state,” said AVSC Nordic Program Director Sophie Hamilton in a press release. “There are few point-to-point races of this length in the United States that cover such beautiful terrain, and it’s a race that captures the spirit of Nordic skiing in this valley — challenging, stunning, and a community coming together behind the scenes to make it happen.”

The main event is 25 kilometers, a timed, point-to-point race. There is also a “relaxed, untimed” 15k Owl Creek Tour, as well as the Owlet race, a fun event for the kids at the AVSC Clubhouse.

Early bird registration goes through Dec. 17. Registration is $50 for juniors and $60 for seniors for the Owl Creek Chase; $30 for juniors and $40 for seniors for the Owl Creek Tour; and $15 for the Owlet kids race.

Online registration is found at teamavsc.org/Owl-Creek-Chase.