Overview
LOTOJA has been running since 1983, when two Logan cyclists — a Utah State student and the owner of Sunrise Cyclery — decided they wanted a race that felt like a European one-day classic. They got what they wanted. At 202 miles, it's the longest single-day USA Cycling-sanctioned road race in America, and the combination of three mountain passes, desert-to-mountain terrain through three states, and the simple brutality of staying in the saddle for 10 to 13 hours makes a compelling argument that they understood exactly what they were building.
The course runs from Logan northeast through Cache Valley into southeastern Idaho, climbs over Strawberry Pass into Montpelier, crosses Geneva Summit and Salt River Pass into Wyoming's Star Valley, and rolls through Afton and Alpine before the Snake River Canyon delivers riders to Teton Village. The finish line sits at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with the Grand Teton framed overhead, which is either a beautiful sight or the cruelest possible landmark depending on how mile 190 treated you. About 2,000 riders start each year. Around 25% don't finish.
LOTOJA is not a race for riders who haven't done serious training. The cutoffs are real, the distances between feed zones are long, and the calorie math — an estimated 15,000 burned over the course of the day — demands a fueling strategy you've actually practiced. But it is, without question, one of the great American cycling experiences: a route that crosses genuine mountain geography, earns every one of its miles, and deposits you somewhere that feels appropriately far from where you started.
The Route
Starting from downtown Logan at Sunrise Cyclery, the course runs north into Cache Valley before heading east and northeast through three states over 202 miles.
Miles 0–29: Logan to Preston (Leg 1) The neutral rollout through Logan is brief. By the time the race is live, the field is already sorting itself. Leg 1 rolls through Cache Valley into southeastern Idaho — flat to gently rolling farmland, the kind of terrain that looks easy and is, except that riders who forget themselves here pay for it later. Preston, Idaho sits at mile 29. Don't overcook it. This is a warmup that requires discipline, not aggression.
Miles 29–77: Preston to Montpelier (Leg 2) This is where LOTOJA reveals itself. The Strawberry Pass climb begins well outside Montpelier and covers more than 20 miles of accumulated gradient — not a wall, but a sustained grind that tops out at 7,424 feet. The last three miles push into the 6–8% range. The peloton thins hard here in the race category. For cyclosportive riders, this is where pacing becomes everything: push the climb too hard at mile 50 and you won't have legs left for Salt River Pass at mile 110. Feed Zone 2 at Montpelier (mile 77) is a critical stop — restock everything.
Miles 77–123: Montpelier to Afton (Leg 3) Two more passes in 46 miles. Geneva Summit comes first, a 9-mile climb gaining 1,000 feet to 6,923 feet — hard enough, particularly at the 7% final miles, but manageable if Strawberry didn't hollow you out. Then Salt River Pass, the race's high point at 7,630 feet, where the last four miles ramp from 6% to 9%. This is the King/Queen of Mountains designation and the moment that determines whether you finish or fold. The descent into Afton covers 17 miles of fast, open road. Use it to recover, eat, and prepare for what still remains.
Miles 123–160: Afton to Alpine (Leg 4) Star Valley opens up into rolling terrain that looks benign and largely is, except that by mile 130 your legs have absorbed 80 miles of climbing and the false flats feel like pitches. This section is exposed to prevailing winds out of the southwest, and a headwind here after Salt River Pass is the kind of detail that breaks race-day strategies. Alpine at mile 160 is the last significant feed zone. Eat like you mean it.
Miles 160–202: Alpine to Teton Village (Leg 5) Snake River Canyon. The road drops into the canyon and follows the river east toward Jackson — mostly downhill on paper, genuinely fast in sections, and punishing only because your body has been doing this for nine-plus hours. Wind and fatigue conspire in the canyon's exposed sections. The final approach to Teton Village offers the Grand Teton on the horizon, which is either motivating or surreal depending on your blood sugar. Cross the finish line, stop moving, and eat something before you try to think about anything else.
What to Bring
- Dedicated crew — feed zone efficiency is a major variable; a crew that knows your nutrition plan and can hand you exactly what you need without you stopping for more than 60 seconds makes a measurable difference
- 90–100g carbohydrate per hour — from mile one, not just on climbs; riders who wait until they're hungry are already behind
- Multiple kit layers — morning start in Logan can be cold, summit temps are variable, and the canyon can funnel wind; jersey pockets fill fast
- Lights — late finishers can hit dusk or dark in the canyon; check cutoffs and carry a taillight regardless
- Two water bottles minimum between feed zones — some legs are long and the altitude dehydrates faster than sea level riding
Local Tips
- Best window: The race runs annually on the first Saturday after Labor Day, which is the right call — summer heat is gone, canyon winds are manageable, and the light through Star Valley in September is genuinely good. May–October covers training window.
- Arrive two days early: Logan sits at 4,500 feet and the passes push 7,600 feet. Altitude acclimatization is real at race pace; don't arrive the night before.
- Pre-ride Strawberry: If you can get a training ride on the Strawberry climb before race day, do it. Knowing what 22 miles of climbing feels like before it counts matters.
- Post-race: Teton Village has everything you need within 100 feet of the finish. Jackson proper, 15 minutes north, has better options for a real meal — the Bunnery on Cache Street has been feeding post-effort people for decades.