CREW ACCESS TO COTTONWOOD REQUIRES A PAID SHUTTLE AND A METERED PARKING PASS - NO EXCEPTIONS

Access to Cottonwood (mile 31.5) is tricky, and parking is limited and metered. To accommodate the demand, runners are limited to only two (2) crew members at Cottonwood and crews cannot park at Cottonwood without receiving a “Cottonwood only parking pass” from the Start/Finish. The shuttle costs $10/person and is a fundraiser for a local four-wheel drive club. Tickets are purchased at the Start/Finish on Friday when you receive your parking pass. Crews must receive a “Cottonwood only parking pass” from the Start/Finish before they are allowed to park at Cottonwood. These passes are metered, meaning that crews have to wait until a certain time to leave for Cottonwood. Only one vehicle per runner. The shuttle parking area is several miles below the aid station and does not have cell service.

You must wait until your runner has left Antero to receive your release time. Once that time has been reached, crews can get their pass to Cottonwood. This math is automatically done for you, and is easily viewable in your runner’s effort page in OpenSplitTime (see screenshot below).

The release time for Cottonwood is calculated as follows: Once your runner has left Antero, OST will estimate their earliest arrival time to Cottonwood. We take that time and deducted 2 hours for travel and that is your release time.

Example: Your runner leaves Antero at 9:55am. OpenSplitTime estimates their earliest arrival time at Cottonwood is 1:54pm. Subtracting 2 hours from 1:54pm is 11:54am. This is your release time. You can pick up your parking pass any time after 11:54am.

Crews will have ample time to travel from the Start/Finish to Cottonwood, however you should begin the 30-40 minute drive to the Cottonwood parking area as soon as your release time has passed. Once parked, expect a 10-30 minute wait for a shuttle ride to the actual aid station. The shuttle ride is roughly 15 minutes. All together, crews in past years have averaged 75 to 90 minutes of travel from the Start/Finish to Cottonwood. Historic data shows that crews using the shuttle system usually arrive an hour before their runner does.

  • Foot or bike access to Cottonwood is not allowed

  • Parking passes are available from roughly 9:00am (CR pace) until 3:30pm (St. Elmo 1 cutoff)

  • The Cottonwood Parking Area coordinates are: 38.77601, -106.30720

  • The Cottonwood Aid Station cutoff is 6pm Friday

Google maps link to Start/Finish
Google Maps Link to cottonwood Parking

THE PROCESS

STEP 1 - WAITING FOR YOUR RELEASE TIME TO BE DETERMINED (SIGN UP FOR TEXT/EMAIL ALERTS)

Wait until your runner has left Antero.

Go to your runner’s profile in OpenSplitTime and view your release time. You may pick up your parking pass anytime after your release time.

STEP 2 - PICKING UP YOUR PASS AND SHUTTLE TICKETS

WE RECOMMEND WAITING AT THE START/FINISH. THIS HELPS TO PREVENT DELAYS FOR YOU TO LEAVE FOR COTTONWOOD.

Once your release time has passed, crews can pick up their parking pass and shuttle tickets from the Start/Finish line. Purchase your shuttle tickets. Crews are strictly limited to 2 tickets per runner, $10/each.

STEP 3 - DRIVE TO COTTONWOOD SHUTTLE PARKING, PARK, AND RIDE THE SHUTTLE

Once a crew has both a parking pass and their shuttle tickets, they can drive to Cottonwood and park. Follow the parking attendants’ instructions.

See below for driving instructions.

You may need to wait 10-15 minutes for a shuttle to arrive, especially for mid-pack crews. The shuttle ride is roughly 15 minutes and will drop you off at the aid station.

STEP 4 - CREW YOUR RUNNER AND RIDE THE RETURN SHUTTLE

Take care of your runner. Note that Cottonwood has a special area for crewing. Unless you are actively supporting your runner, please remain outside the aid station.

When you’re finished, ride the return shuttle back down to the parking area. Shuttles stop running at 6pm.

STEP 5 - PREPARE FOR HANCOCK CREWING

If you are crewing at Hancock, make sure to read the next section. Crews will use a similar process to get their “Hancock only parking pass” for Hancock.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM START TO COTTONWOOD – 40 MINUTE DRIVE TIME

From the start, turn right and head north on CR321 until it intersects Cottonwood Pass RD/West Main Street/306. Turn left (west) and drive about 6 miles and turn left onto CR344. You will see signs for Cottonwood Lake at the junction. Drive for about 4.9 miles, passing the lake until you reach a very large field on your left. Follow the parking attendant’s instructions.

PRO TIPS

  • We recommend waiting at the Start/Finish line for your runner to reach their checkpoint. We’ll have a food truck with coffee and breakfast waiting for you! We’re also hoping to have the livestream up on a projector so you can follow the race live.

  • Runners should pack 100% of their required gear in drop bags just to be safe. This is the first year of the crew metering, so while we think this will work well, some problems are inevitable.

  • Crews should go get their runner’s drop bags once they arrive at the aid station.

  • Don’t go to Cottonwood without a “Cottonwood only parking pass” or shuttle tickets. You will get sent back to the Start/Finish line and that delay could cause you to miss your runner.