Sunday, April 2, 2023 • Littleton, CO • Course Map
Runners follow the tree-lined trails along the South Platte River for nearly the entire race at Littleton’s Platte River Half Marathon & Buckhorn Exchange Relay, a point-to-point race that brings more than 2,000 runners out each spring, and marks its 18th annual running this year.
After stretches that take the field along city streets at the start and near the end of the race, most of the rest of the course is run along greenway trails and through city parks along the river as it winds its way northward to the finish line at the Buckhorn Exchange.
The race starts downtown at the intersection of Alamo Ave. and Prince Street, next to the Littleton Light Rail Station, and then takes runners along the first two miles through downtown’s streets before meeting up with the Platte River Trail.
This starts a 10-mile stretch of riverside trail, taking runners past Centennial Golf Course, Centennial Park, and up to the edge of Englewood Municipal Golf Course, where runners cross over the bridge to the river’s eastern bank and continue running northward along the trail.
Once they reach the stretch of the course that nears Frontier Park, runners cross over the bridge again and follow the eastern side of the river as it passes by Overland Park and Golf Course.
There are a couple more bridge crossings over the last few miles of the race, which take runners along South Platte River Drive up to 8th Avenue, to the finish line at the Buckhorn Exchange at 10th Avenue & Osage Street.
Over the course of the race, runners can expect an elevation change of about 120 feet, with a single uphill section near the end of the race at the 8th Avenue viaduct. Throughout the race course, the surface is paved, with occasional sections of dirt and crushed gravel.
Organizers note that the race is limited to the first 2,900 entrants in the individual half marathon, and the first 100 teams that sign up for the half marathon relay.
Race Weather & Climate
Located along the front range of the Rocky Mountains in central Colorado, about 25 miles south of downtown Denver, Littleton typically sees plentiful snow in the late winter and early spring months, and April has brought record temperatures here as low as 10 degrees below zero (in 1975) and as high as 88 degrees (in 1989).
- April 2 average low temp: 34ºF
- April 2 average high temp: 61ºF
Past Results
- 2022 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2020 Platte River Half Marathon Results (Virtual)
- 2019 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2018 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2015 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2012 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2011 Platte River Half Marathon Results
- 2010 Platte River Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Platte River Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
8:00 AM
Fees
- $45 and up for the virtual half marathon
- $95 and up for the virtual relay (per team)
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of Littleton’s Platte River Half Marathon or Buckhorn Exchange Relay, register online at the race website below.
Official Race Website
Comments
Ever run in the Platte River Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.
Hi by any chance are there shuttles to take you back to Littleton
Hello,
I signed up for the Platte River 1/2 Marathon, but was assigned to work this day and cannot get out of the work requirement. I already paid my entrance fee. Can I please apply this entry fee to next years run instead of this year? Thank you very much.