Saturday, April 1, 2023 • Carson City, NV • Course Map
Experience the feeling of running an ultramarathon — complete with very difficult and rocky terrain, steep hills, and narrow mountain trails — without running an ultramarathon distance at the Escape from Prison Hill Trail Half Marathon.
It’s 13.1 miles that race organizers say will linger in your mind long after you’ve completed the race. Filled with lots of up-and-down hills and severe changes in elevation, this race is one that will test your mettle along with Nevada’s sunny skies.
From the starting line at Silver Saddle Ranch on Carson River Road, the race begins easily enough, but it’s misleading. After the first three-quarters of a mile, which takes runners around the ranch property, the race course then begins its march upward into the hills toward Prison Hill.
From the 1 mile marker to the 3 mile marker, the course gains about 800 feet in elevation as the course takes runners up the hills, followed by plentiful hills between miles 3 and 5, when the race course begins a steady steep drop in elevation.
By the time runners reach miles 6 and 7, they’ve lost 600 of the 800 feet they gained.
After the mile 8 marker, runners then begin their steepest ascent yet, gaining more than 800 feet in elevation along the course as they make their way to the top of Prison Hill (elevation 5,675 feet).
Then, as organizers describe, it, the “escape” begins. The course then begins its steep descent down the southeastern slope of Prison Hill toward the Carson River, a spectacularly scenic run that makes all the up-and-down changes and the tough, challenging terrain worth the price of admission.
All runners (and all participants are runners on this course) are strongly encouraged to carry water bottles with them, as there are aid/refreshment stations along the course, but the potential heat and sun — there are no trees or foliage along the course to shield you from the sun — require that runners come prepared.
Race Weather & Climate
Located just a few miles east of Lake Tahoe in the shadow of the Sierra Mountains of California and Nevada, Carson City tends to experience mild to cold weather in the spring. The area is also very dry this time of year (and year-round), as rainfall amounts average about 0.42 inches for the month.
On race day (April 1), the average low is 34ºF and the average high is 57ºF.
Past Results
- 2022 Results
- 2019 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2018 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2015 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2012 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
- 2011 Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 8:00 AM – half marathon
- 8:30 AM – 10K
- 8:45 AM – 5K
Fees
- $60 and up – half marathon
- $40 and up – 10K
- $30 and up – 5K
Registration
To reserve your spot in any of the race distances at the 2023 running of Carson City’s Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon or 10K, register online at Ultrasignup.com here.
Official Race Website
Comments
Ever run in the Escape from Prison Hill Trail Half? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.
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