⚠️ 2026 AC100 Course Update & Hwy 2 Closures
The 2025/2026 Winter Storm caused significant damage to Hwy 2 in two key areas:
- Between Vincent Gap and Islip Saddle
- Near Mt Waterman Ski Area
As a result, Hwy 2 is currently closed:
- Between Three Points and Cloudburst
- At Big Pines near Wrightwood
🚫 You cannot drive from La Canada to Wrightwood via Hwy 2.
✅ However, Wrightwood remains accessible from the east via Hwy 138/2.
🏁 Race Format Change – Start & Finish in Altadena
Due to these closures, the 2026 AC100 will not be a point-to-point race.
👉 This year’s race will Start and Finish at Loma Alta Park in Altadena —
the first time in race history we will start in Altadena.
In past reroutes, we always started in Wrightwood. However, the Mt Waterman damage and extended Hwy 2 closures make that impossible this year.
While we’ve managed closures before (typically between Vincent Gap and Islip Saddle),
this year presents a much larger challenge.
📜 Historical Context
From 1986 to 2006, the race experienced:
- No Hwy 2 closures
- No forest fire disruptions
In contrast, the past 20 years have brought:
- 🔥 Forest fires
- 🌧️ Storm-related Hwy 2 damage
🗺️ 2026 Course Overview
The 2026 AC100 Course/Profile and updated Cut Off Table are now available on the website.
Outbound Route:
- Loma Alta Park → Clear Creek → Mt Josephine → Red Box → Newcomb → Shortcut → Chilao
- 🔁 Turnaround at Mt Hillyer
Return Route:
- Mt Hillyer → Chilao → Shortcut → Newcomb → Chantry → Mt Wilson → Sam Merrill → Millard → Loma Alta Park
⚠️ Note: Hwy 2 remains closed between Three Points and Cloudburst
🚧 After Chantry, the course avoids the Eaton Fire Closure Area
(created by the 2025 Eaton Fire) via:
- Eaton Saddle tunnel
- Chaney Truck Road
🛠️ Overcoming This Year’s Challenges
Despite major obstacles, we’ve secured a viable course thanks to:
- ✅ Access to Mt Hillyer
- ✅ Reopening of Chantry
- ✅ A safe reroute around the Eaton Fire closure
- ✅ Loma Alta Park accommodating both Start and Finish
🌿 Trail Work & Preparation
With winter behind us and the course holding up well:
- 📅 Trail Work begins in April
- 🚶 Trails are expected to be in good condition due to regular use
- 🏁 Trail prep will likely be completed by May
We are now officially moving into race setup mode — and look forward to a successful 2026 AC100!
One Response
The point about this being the first Altadena start in the race’s long history really puts this year’s unique challenge into perspective. Adapting the course via the Lower Winter Creek Trail is a clever solution to the fire closure. It’s impressive to see how the route evolves with the landscape.