Event Details
(Part of the Arizona Navigation Competition 2026)
2025 Results

Rim Country Navigation Games 2026

Lake Mary and Surrounding Area
15 miles southeast of Flagstaff, AZ
Start/Finish at the east side of Upper Lake Mary
Directions to Start/Finish

Saturday, July 18, 2026:
6/12-Hour Adventure Race (run, bike, paddle)
3/6/12-Hour Rogaine (Foot only)

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Registration is limited.
(Regular Registration Until: Sunday, Jul 5 at 11:59 PM)
(Late Registration Begins: Monday, Jul 6 at 00:00 AM)
(Late Registration Closes: Tuesday, Jul 14 at 11:59 PM)


Lake Mary (2026 Event)

Event Description
Adventure Race Navigation by foot and optionally by mountain bike and packraft.
Teams of 1 to 4 Individuals (Solos allowed)
Inflatable and portable watercraft only.

Update 15Jul: Course Summary

The course consists of 42 total control points, 26 worth 1 point and 16 worth two points. A straight-line stringing all controls together into a single track is 56.2km with 1000m climb. Controls worth two points are either further away from the start/finish or are "hidden" water controls. All controls are accessible traveling only on foot, but visiting the water controls using some type of watercraft is more efficient. The water controls are not shown on the maps provided at the start. Water controls are included on a separate map provided to particants at a defined point on the course.

  • Maps.
    For all but the 3-hour event, we'll provide the following maps at the start/finish:
    • Tabloid, Portrait: 1:25,000 (East)
    • Tabloid, Portrait: 1:30,000 (West)
    • Tabloid, Landscape: 1:10,000 (East)
    • Tabloid, Landscape: 1:10,000 (West)
    The 3-hour event will only include the two tabloid, landscape 1:10,000 maps.

  • Bike Controls. The only thing that makes these "bike" controls is their distance from the start/finish. Participants are allowed to visit the bike controls by traveling only on foot. There are 11 bike controls marked on the map. Bike controls are worth 2 points each. They are marked with a red star on the map.

  • Water Controls/Water Crossings. All 5 water controls are accessible on foot. Water controls are worth 2 points each. A map showing the water controls is provided at a defined point on the course. Participants can reach the marked water controls on foot only if they like. However, reaching all the water controls on foot requires extra distance.
    The most efficient way to reach the water controls is to cross the lake one or more times using some type of lightweight watercraft. The watercraft could be as simple as an innertube or a packraft. Swimming is also allowed. Water crossings are as short as 200 meters and as long as 500 meters. Please note, we require participants to use a PFD regardless of the type of water crossing they choose.
Rogaine Navigation on foot
(Solos and Teams welcome)

Event Summary
Sunrise: 5:24 AM
Sunset: 7:41 PM
Civil Twilight Start: 4:57 AM
Civil Twilight End: 8:09 PM
Time Event(s) Location Directions Google
Maps
Safety
Plans
Saturday, Jul 18, 2026
Sat, Jul 18
6:30 AM -
7:00 PM
12-Hour Adventure Race
12-Hour Rogaine
(Mandatory Briefing 6:30 AM)
(Mass Start: 7:00 AM)
Lake Mary East Parking Area
Directions Placemark Safety Plan
Sat, Jul 18
7:30 AM -
2:00 PM
6-Hour Adventure Race
(Mandatory Briefing 7:30 AM)
(Mass Start: 8:00 AM)
Sat, Jul 18
7:30 AM -
11:00 AM
3-Hour Rogaine
Navigation on foot
(Mass Start: 8:00 AM)

Course Statistics
Watercraft Foot/Bike
Distance (km) Climb (m) Controls Distance (km) Climb (m) Controls
6/12-Hour Adventure Race
The exact mode of transportation is left to participants. Five water controls on either side of the lake are accessible on foot or via watercraft.
3.75 50
Controls are on both sides of the lake. Reaching water controls is possible on foot but requires more distance.
5
Participants are provided with a special water map at a defined location on the course.
~53 ~950 37
12-Hour Rogaine
All controls optional
Travel only on foot.
56.2 1000 42
Includes 5 "hidden" water
Includes 11/11 bike
Includes 26/26 foot
6-Hour Rogaine
3-Hour Rogaine
All controls optional
56.2 1000 42

Details

We're excited to open another new event site for your navigation entertainment. On Saturday, July 18, we'll take you to Lake Mary, a well-known recreation site a few miles southeast of Flagstaff, AZ. The area surrounding Lake Mary is filled with rolling hills and ponderosa pine forest. Several drainages cut through the area to provide interesting relief. During the day, we're offering five events:

  • 6-Hour and 12-Hour Adventure Race

    During the adventure race, teams of 1-4 members navigate to as many destinations as they can on foot and optionally by mountain bike or inflatable watercraft. At the start of the event, we'll provide participants with one or more maps showing locations for all of the destinations. Participants choose themselves how they wish to travel to the different points. While most of the destinations are accessible on foot, a few are best accessible by watercraft and some are located at distances that are best accessed by bike.

    Note: Only inflatable watercraft are allowed. You'll have to carry the watercraft several miles just to get to the water section. If you want to visit checkpoints that are best accessed by watercraft, you will haul the watercraft on foot or by bike. Inflatable packrafts are a good option, as well as inflatable paddleboards and even inner tubes. You could also swim short sections of the lake, if that's what you feel you'd like to do. The water section won't require major paddling, but you'll obviously travel faster with a paddle of some sort.

    PFDs are required for all participants that travel over the water, including those who choose to swim.

    For all checkpoints, all members of a team are required to travel to the destinations together. Participants must never be separated by more than 50 meters.

  • 12-Hour Rogaine
  • The 12-hour Rogaine is a special category of the adventure race. Participants in the 12-hour Rogaine use the same maps as the adventure racers. The main difference is that participants in the 12-hour Rogaine only travel on foot. Several of the watercraft destinations are difficult (but not impossible) to reach on foot. In addition, several of the bike controls are placed at distances more easily reached by bike. Participants in the Rogaine visit as many of the destinations as they can in the 12-hour limit.

  • 3-Hour, 6-Hour Rogaine
  • In the 3-hour and 6-hour Rogaine, participants have up to 3/6 hours to visit as many of the controls as they can on one or more maps.

Additional Points:
  • Pre-Race Briefing
    Each of the events includes a pre-race briefing. The briefing for the 12-hour events is at 6:30 AM. The briefing for the 3-hour and 6-hour events is at 7:30 AM. Please be on time for the briefings. We'll hand out maps and provide last-minute details at the briefings.
  • For all events, team members must remain within 50 meters of each other at all times. Team members must arrive at each checkpoint together. There is no sending one person off to punch the control card while the rest of the team takes a break.
  • All checkpoints are optional. You're welcome to visit as many or as few of the controls as you like.
  • For all events, controls closer to the start/finish are worth 1 point. Five "water" controls and eleven "bike" controls are worth two points apiece. The "water" controls are not shown on the maps provided at the start of the event. A special water map is provided at an aid station on the course.
  • Penalties apply for late arrivals. We will subtract 1 point for every 5 minutes you are late. For example, for the 6-hour adventure race, arriving one second over the 6-hour limit, we'll subtract 1 point. Arriving at 6:04:59, we'll subtract one point. Arriving at 6:05:00, we'll subtract two points.
  • The events start near at the junction of Lake Mary Road and FS 9485C. Coming from Flagstaff, the start is halfway between mileposts 329 and 328. Look for orange and white orienteering signs near the junction.

Gear List:

Mandatory Race Gear

Carried by each participant at all times.
  • Whistle
  • Compass
  • Water carrying capacity for 2-3 liters. Water is available at the start/finish. We will also have several additional water stations on the course, including a manned aid station at one point on the course. You are required to bring your own water bottles or a camelback.
  • Space blanket. (For emergencies. 12-hour events only.)
  • Cell phone. (For pictures or emergency calls. One per team. Not for navigation. Use for navigation will result in disqualification.)
  • First aid kit. (Mandatory for 12-hour events only. One per team.)
  • Water purification tablets or filter. (Mandatory for 12-hour events only. One per team.) The course winds its way along the banks of Lake Mary. Carrying water purification will get you out of a bind if you find yourself in the middle of the course with no water.
  • Waterproof map holder. (Maps are not waterproof.)
  • Headlamp or flashlight with fresh batteries. (12-hour events only)
    The 12-hour events will finish near dusk.
    Participants must carry a light source for safety.

Bicycle Gear

For adventure racers.
  • Mountain bike. You will find it easier to hit cutoff times if you use a bicycle to travel to the bike controls. (You are not required to use a mountain bike.)
  • Helmet
  • Bike tool kit (At least one per team.)
  • Spare tube. (One for each bike.)

Water Gear

The gear listed below is required for those choosing to travel on water. Please note the start/finish is several miles from where you can launch your watercraft. Participants must carry their watercraft by foot or by bicycle to/from the reservoir. Only inflatable watercraft are allowed.

The water section could include from one up to five crossings of the lake. Participants will decide whether it's faster to paddle or portage their watercraft between checkpoints. Carrying a drybag and swimming across the lake is an option. A PFD is required for all participants who plan to travel by watercraft or swim.

  • Personal floatation device (PFD). Each participant that travels on a watercraft must have their own PFD. This is in addition to whatever boat, canoe, etc. they bring.
  • Any type of inflatable or portable non-motorized watercraft, including an inflatable kayak, packraft, paddleboard, inner tube, etc. No hardshell kayaks or canoes are allowed.
  • Waterproof bag. For transporting any gear you decide to bring with you on the water.

Recommended Gear

  • Sun screen. There is quite a bit of shade on the courses. We encourage you to protect yourself from sunburn.
  • Leg gaiters, especially for off-trail travel. Some drainages have more prickly vegetation. Leg gaiters could help.
  • Duct tape.
  • Lightweight rain jacket, just in case it's rainy.
  • Extra clothing layers. It could be in the mid 50's at the start of the 12-hour events.

Not Allowed

  • Any device that uses a satellite connection for navigation, distance, or elevation. This includes standalone GPS units and GPS watches. You are allowed to use a GPS unit for recording your track, but you must not use any of the navigation functions of the unit during the race. We will disqualify any racer using a GPS unit for navigation during the race.
  • Motorized bicycles (electric, gas, etc.) (Do we really have to tell you?)

Gas, Food, Lodging

There are many locations for dispersed camping near Lake Mary. For dispersed camping options, refer to the map here for dispersed camping sites. The start/finish is located at the east end of Lake Mary. Dispersed camping around Marshall Lake is a good option, as well as motels in the Flagstaff area.

Partipants may choose to find a hotel in Flagstaff. The drive is less than 30 minutes from Flagstaff.

The nearest gas station and convenience store is on Lake Mary Road. There's a convenience store ~10 miles from the start/finish. A gas station is ~15 miles from the start/finish.Otherwise, larger facilities are located in Flagstaff.