TL;DR: I’ve been eyeing this FKT for a while, and even though the attempt didn’t go entirely as planned, I’m really glad I went for it.
I first ran this trail on October 5, 2025, while recovering from an ankle injury and just easing back into running. Although I’ve spent plenty of time running around the American River, this trail immediately stood out. Between the sweeping canyon and river views, the fun mix of technical and runnable terrain, the well-maintained trail, and the bonus of a refreshing river dip, I was hooked. Before long, I started wondering whether it might be possible for me to hold the Female Unsupported FKT on this route.
I returned on December 18, 2025, mainly to recon the route and see if an FKT effort was even realistic. Maybe it was the cool temperatures, the quiet trail, or the slight edge of nerves as dusk approached, but I ran well and finished in 1:17:22. Unfortunately, I turned around just before the final creek crossing and missed the last quarter mile of trail, which made the effort ineligible for an FKT.
I came back on January 18, 2026, to make an official attempt. At first, it seemed like an ideal day: a weekday to avoid crowds and a clear weather window after a week with no rain. The catch was the heat - a high of 69°F, which was sure to feel warm after months of cool-weather running. I started the attempt at 11:00 am (too late), pushed down to the river (probably too fast), turned around at the designated point marked on the AllTrails map linked in the FKT description (rock scrambling by the river was quite slippery), then started the climb out of the canyon. Despite fueling and hydrating on the way down, the climb out of the canyon was a grind. I'm not sure whether it was due to the heat or accumulated fatigue, but I could barely run without my heart rate spiking.
I made it back to the trailhead in 1:14:45, taking three minutes off Margaux’s time. It wasn’t as fast as I’d hoped, but I’m proud of myself for pushing through and seeing it to the end.