Chihuahua by UTMB®
Chihuahua by UTMB® – Komakali 38K
Parque Barrancas, Divisadero
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Komakali 38K is the marathon-plus option at Chihuahua by UTMB, a high-altitude loop out of Parque Barrancas in Divisadero, in the heart of Mexico's Copper Canyon. Across 38 km it climbs 1,391 m and reaches a high point of 2,483 m, starting and finishing at around 2,254 m on the canyon rim. What makes Komakali distinctive is that its high point sits higher than any of the longer Chihuahua distances share — the route touches 2,483 m at Huerachi. This is a shorter race by ultra standards but an unrelentingly high one, run entirely in thin air on rocky, exposed rim terrain. It suits runners who can climb steadily and stay controlled at altitude over a compact but demanding distance.
The course and terrain
Komakali starts at Parque Barrancas (2,255 m) and, unlike the longer Akáa route, heads out to Panorámica early at just 5.8 km (2,219 m). From there it drops to Estación B at 12.6 km, the low point of the day at 1,874 m, before the long defining pull up to Huerachi at 24.8 km, the roof of the course at 2,481 m. It then eases down to Mogotavo at 28.5 km (2,298 m) and returns to the finish at Parque Barrancas (37.8 km, 2,254 m). The terrain is classic Copper Canyon rim: rocky, technical trail with open exposure and expansive views over the barrancas. With 1,391 m of climbing packed into 38 km, the profile is front-loaded with a descent and back-loaded with a big sustained climb, so there is very little flat, easy running. Confident footing on stony ground and efficient uphill hiking will serve you better here than flat-road speed.
Where the race is decided
The pivot of the Komakali is the long climb from Estación B up to Huerachi. Having dropped to the day's low of 1,874 m at 12.6 km, you then gain roughly 600 m over the next 12 km to reach 2,481 m at Huerachi (24.8 km) — the single sustained effort that shapes the whole race, and the point where the high point of 2,483 m makes the thin air most punishing. Managing that climb is the entire tactical question. Runners who spend too much on the early rolling section to Panorámica and the descent to Estación B arrive at the foot of the Huerachi climb without the legs or the breathing to sustain it. Get to Estación B controlled, settle into a sustainable hiking rhythm on the long ascent, and you will pass people all the way up. After Huerachi the run down through Mogotavo to the finish is comparatively forgiving, so the race is effectively won before the final descent.
Pacing and fuelling
There is a single timed intermediate gate: Huerachi at 24.8 km closes Saturday 13:15, and the finish at Parque Barrancas closes Saturday 16:00. Because the cut-off sits at the top of the day's biggest climb, you cannot afford to dawdle on the early rolling kilometres — bank a modest cushion before the descent to Estación B so the long ascent to Huerachi does not become a race against the clock. Aid stations are spaced at Panorámica, Estación B, Huerachi and Mogotavo. The longest carry is the roughly 12 km climb from Estación B to Huerachi, exactly the hardest part of the course, so leave Estación B with full fluids and enough calories to fuel a sustained hour-plus effort. At altitude your stomach tolerates less, so favour steady intake of easily digested carbohydrate over big infrequent feeds, and drink to thirst-plus on the exposed, shadeless climb.
Conditions to expect
Komakali is the highest-topping of the shorter Chihuahua distances, reaching 2,483 m, and it never drops below about 1,874 m. Altitude is therefore the dominant condition: expect harder breathing, a reduced sustainable pace and slower recovery, particularly on the long Huerachi climb. Arriving early to acclimatise, or at minimum starting conservatively, directly protects your race. The Copper Canyon rim is exposed high-desert terrain with full sun and no tree cover between checkpoints, so daytime heat and glare are real factors on the open trail. With the finish cut-off at Saturday 16:00 most runners will complete the loop in daylight, but the strong high-altitude sun makes shade management, sun protection and consistent hydration priorities from the first kilometre to the last.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 2255 m · —
5.8 km · 2219 m · —
12.6 km · 1874 m · —
24.8 km · 2481 m · Sat 13:15
28.5 km · 2298 m · —
37.8 km · 2254 m · Sat 16:00
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