Once known as Pisgah Preparation, the all new Soldier Cutoff Hillduro probably comes closer to conveying how epic this race is. Is it challenging, yes. Is it worth it and totally accomplishable for a normal human, yes. But, come ready to climb hills like you’ve never seen in Iowa. If you have ambitions to ride climbs out west, this is great preparation for it.
The area around the Loess Hills State Forest is amazing and hilly and beautiful. The route for this race will swing around Preparation Canyon State Park and wind through the valleys of the Little Sioux River and Soldier River Cutoff (hence the name). The geography in this area is diverse and challenging. We’re estimating the elevation on this race will be over 4,000 ft. But, like we said, it will be worth it. Every climb opens up to another vista and every descent lets you discover a new and less travelled area.
Pisgah’s City Park has great facilities, including camping and showers.
Soldier Cutoff Hillduro
September 19th, 2026
| EVENT | 50 KM | 100 KM |
|---|---|---|
| Start time | 8:00AM | 7:30 AM |
| Start location | Pisgah City Park | Pisgah City Park |
| Distance | 50 km ~ 35mi | 100 km ~ 56mi |
| Climbing elevation | ~ 2000 ft | ~ 4000 ft |
Event Details
September 19th – Packet pickup available in the Pisgah City Park from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Great place to camp and hangout before and after the race.
September 20th
6:30AM – Packet pickup opens at Pisgah City Park
7:20AM – Line-up at starting line for last minute instructions
7:30AM – 100km race starts, group start
8:00AM – 50km race starts, group start
8:30AM – First aid station opens
9:00AM – Sweep starts on route.
9:30AM – Second aid station opens
10:30AM – First aid station closes
Noon – Second aid station closes
2:00PM – Route sweep complete, all racers still on the route are on their own for support.
Podium
Once the first three racers in the men’s and women’s divisions cross the finish line, we’ll take pictures of them on the podium.
Week of September 21st – Start looking for links to photos in your inbox!
2026 Route
Routes will be posted the Wednesday before the race and sent to your email inbox where you registered for the race. The weather and roads are kind of unpredictable in this area, so we send you the routes once we know what we can commit to. We always prepare a “wet” and “dry” route. The wet route avoids any muddy roads the would be unpassable after a rain. The dry route focuses on having as much variety of surface and fun as we can pack into them.
2025 Route
2025 Results
2024 Photo Gallery
More photos in the shared album.
