Event Details
(Part of the Arizona Navigation Competition 2026)

Phoenix Outback
Navigation Games 2026

Canyon Lake
Start/Finish at the
Acacia Recreation Site

Saturday, March 14, 2026:
6/12-Hour Adventure Race
3/6/12-Hour Rogaine (Foot only)

Pre-signup is now closed. There is no onsite signup.
[image:O flag] See who is signed up
Signup is limited.
(Regular Signup Until: Sunday, Mar 1 at 11:59 PM)
(Late Signup Begins: Monday, Mar 2 at 00:00 AM)
(Late Signup Closes: Sunday, Mar 8 at 11:59 PM)

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Phoenix Outback Navigation Games 2026
Canyon Lake 3-/6-/12-Hour Races (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.
Rogaine Navigation on foot
(Solos and Teams welcome)
Event Summary
09Mar Update: Here are updates based on recent scouting of the area:
  • The start/finish will be at the Acacia Recreation Site at Canyon Lake.
  • All controls are optional. There are no mandatory controls.
  • There is no prescribed route. You get to decide which controls to visit and which mode of transportation to use.
  • WATER CONTROLS:
    If you decide to travel by watercraft, we only allow inflatable watercraft.
    The water controls are not really accessible by foot. Any access on foot to the water controls is rugged and likely involves cliffs.
    You will likely not need to portage your watercraft more than about 500 meters.
    You can inflate your watercraft at the start/finish before the event.
  • BIKE CONTROLS:
    Bike controls are accessible on foot. Several are a good distance from the start/finish.
    Bike terrain is not technical. You'll travel on paved roads, improved gravel roads, and some jeep trails. Bikes frequently share the roads with other vehicle traffic. The area is quite popular for biking, so you won't be alone on the roads.
Start/Finish at the Canyon Lake, Acacia Recreation Site.

Click on the image below to open a Google Map.

Note: Civil twilight starts at 6:15 AM. It ends at 7:00 PM. Although the races will take place during daylight, any delays could allow participants in the 12-hour races to return in the dark after sunset. A light source (e.g. headlamp, handheld flashlight, etc.) is required for participants in the 12-hour race.
Sunrise: 6:39 AM
Sunset: 6:35 PM
Civil Twilight Start: 6:15 AM
Civil Twilight End: 7:00 PM
Time Event(s) Location Directions Google
Maps
Safety
Plans
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Sat, Mar 14
6:00 AM
12-Hour Adventure Race
12-Hour Rogaine
Start/Finish/Transition
Opens
Acacia Recreation Site: Middle Lot
Directions Placemark Safety Plan
Sat, Mar 14
6:30 AM
12-Hour Races
Mandatory Briefing
Note: Civil twilight is at 6:15 AM.
Sat, Mar 14
7:00 AM
12-Hour Races
Mass Start
Sat, Mar 14
7:00 AM
6-Hour Adventure Race
3/6-Hour Rogaine
Start/Finish/Transition
Opens
Acacia Recreation Site: Middle Lot
Directions Placemark Safety Plan
Sat, Mar 14
7:30 AM
3/6-Hour Races
Mandatory Briefing
Sat, Mar 14
8:00 AM
3-/6-Hour Races
Mass Start
Sat, Mar 14
11:00 AM
3-Hour Course Closes
If you're late, we'll move you to the 6-Hour Category or apply a 1-point per 5 minute penalty.
Sat, Mar 14
2:00 PM
6-Hour Course Closes
Penalty: 1 point for every 5 minutes you arrive after 2:00 PM.
This penalty rule is for the shorter events only.
Sat, Mar 14
7:00 PM
12-Hour Course Closes
Penalty: 1 point for every minute you arrive after 7:00 PM.
This penalty rule is for the 12-hour event only. Because the finish is just after civil twilight ends, we need you to arrive at the finish on time.

Course Statistics

Note 1: The exact mode of transportation is left to the participants. Those signed up for the adventure race can decide whatever mode of transportation works best for them. Some controls are far enough away from the start/finish/transition that riding a bike could be the most appropriate mode of transportation. Controls on the banks of the lake are best visited via inflatable watercraft. Some controls at the water's edge are at the base of steep cliffs. Those signed up for the 3/6/12-hour Rogaine will visit controls on foot only.

Note 2: The distance/climb statistics shown below are based on two separate loops through the course: a 32-control foot/bike loop and a 6-control water loop. Participants are not locked in to traveling two separate loops. Because of this, the final distance/climb will vary per participant and is less than what is shown in the sections below.

Note 3: The lake is called Canyon Lake for a reason. The terrain is rugged. If the map shows a black blob between you and your destination, believe the map. There are cliffs everywhere. We navigated around cliffs while hanging the bags, so there are ways to avoid exposed areas. We don't like exposed areas. If your navigation is good, you can avoid cliffy areas.

Watercraft Foot Bike
Distance (km) Climb (m) Controls Distance (km) Climb (m) Controls Distance (km) Climb (m) Controls
6/12-Hour Adventure Race 8.8 0
6
23.2 2000 32 Combined NA NA
3/6/12-Hour Rogaine
Travel to all controls on foot.
Cliffs leading down to the water make it difficult to visit controls at the water's edge on foot.
The same maps used for the adventure race area also used for the Rogaines.

Details

We're excited to offer another adventure race in the Phoenix area. On Saturday, March 14, we'll take you to the banks of Canyon Lake for a full day of events at the Phoenix Outback Navigation Games. 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 packraft. 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 only accessible by watercraft and some are located at distances that are best accessed by bike.

    Note: Only inflatable watercraft are allowed. It's unlikely you'll need to portage your watercraft. You may inflate your watercraft before the start.

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

    While there are no mandatory destinations to visit, the water controls are much easier to access by watercraft. While it's possible to visit the watercraft points on foot, high cliffs leading down to the water make access on foot difficult and dangerous. Teams visiting controls by watercraft must maintain the 50 meter rule. The watercraft controls are worth more points than other destinations on the map(s).

  • 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. The watercraft destinations are difficult if not impossible to visit 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. The 12-hour Rogaine uses the same maps as the adventure races.

  • 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. The 3/6 Hour Rogaines use the same maps as the 12-hour events.

Additional Points:
  • 12-Hour Events: Pre-Race Briefing
    The briefing for the 12-hour events is at 6:30 AM. Please be on time for the briefing. We'll hand out maps and provide last-minute details at the briefing. Please note that civil twilight is at 6:15 AM on March 14. You'll be setting up in twilight. You'll be able to see colors on the maps at the pre-race briefing, but just barely. Although the event takes place during daylight hours, each participant is required to have a light source for this event.
  • 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, a little over half the checkpoints are worth 1 point, while the remainder are worth 2 points. Bike and watercraft points are worth 2 points.
  • Penalties apply for late arrivals.
    3-hour event:If you show up late, we'll either subtract one point for every 5 minutes, or we'll categorize you in the 6-hour event. You get to choose.
    6-hour events:We will subtract 1 point for every 5 minutes you are late. For example, arriving one second over the 6-hour limit, we'll subtract 1 point. Arriving at 6:04:59, we'll still only subtract one point. Arriving at 6:05:00, we'll subtract two points.
    12-hour event:Penalties are more severe for the long events. We will subtract 1 point for every minute you are late after the event finishes at 7:00 PM. Those arriving after 7:30 PM will be marked as DNF. By 7:00 PM, it's starting to get dark, so we really need everyone off the course on time.
  • Permit Fee: The events take place in Tonto National Forest. There is a permit fee to park at Canyon Lake. While you can pay on-site, the fees on-site are 50% higher than if you pay beforehand. Refer to the Tonto website for more information concerning the park pass. Note that America the Beautiful passes are valid for the recreation area. The park pass is not part of the signup donation.

Pre-Signup

Signup is now closed. There is no onsite signup for the Phoenix Outback Navigation Games events.

Parental Consent:

Parental Consent Now Required (Click here for more information)
Parental Consent Form

All participants under age 18 are now required to have a signed parental consent form on file with the club. You can complete the form before the event and either scan it and send it to us by e-mail or bring it with you to the event.


Fees

The Fees for the Phoenix Outback Navigation Games events are as follows (per person):

  • Regular Signup (closes Sunday, Mar 1 at 11:59 PM)
    • 12-Hour Adventure Race: $60
    • 6-Hour Adventure Race: $30
    • 12-Hour Rogaine: $50
    • 6-Hour Rogaine: $25
    • 3-Hour Rogaine: $15
  • Late Signup (closes Sunday, Mar 8 at 11:59 PM)
    • 12-Hour Adventure Race: $90
    • 6-Hour Adventure Race: $45
    • 12-Hour Rogaine: $75
    • 6-Hour Rogaine: $40
    • 3-Hour Rogaine: $25
Please note that due to increases in insurance costs and pre-conditions for our permit with the land administrators, we are forced to require pre-signup and pre-payment for our Phoenix Outback events. We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we have to reach a participation threshold to break even on the event.


Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • Cancellations made before the end of regular signup (Sunday, Mar 1 at 11:59 PM) are eligible for a full refund.
  • Cancellations made during late signup (up to Sunday, Mar 2 at 11:59 PM) are eligible for a 50% refund.
  • No refunds are available for cancellations after Sunday, Mar 8 at 11:59 PM.

Gear List:

Mandatory Race Gear

Carried by each participant at all times.
  • Whistle
  • Compass
  • Water carrying capacity for 2 liters. Water is available at the start/finish. We will also have at least one additional water station on the course. You are strongly encouraged 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.)
  • 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.) The terrain varies from rocky to extremely sandy. We'll try to note the sandy roads on the map.
  • 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.

  • Personal floatation device (PFD). Each participant must have their own PFD. This is in addition to whatever boat, canoe, etc. they bring. Mountain bike. We find it easier to hit cutoff times if you use a bicycle to travel to the bike controls.
  • Any type of inflatable or portable non-motorized watercraft, including an inflatable kayak, packraft, paddleboard, etc. No hardshell kayaks or canoes allowed.
  • Waterproof bag. For transporting any gear you decide to bring with you on the water.

Recommended Gear

  • Sun screen. There is little to no shade on all the courses. We encourage you to protect yourself from sunburn.
  • Leg gaiters, especially for off-trail travel. The desert vegetation is thick in spots around Canyon Lake. Some washes have more prickly cat claw. Leg gaiters could help. There are forests of teddy bear cholla at higher elevations.
  • Duct tape.
  • Lightweight rain jacket, just in case it's rainy.
  • Extra clothing layers. It could be in the mid 40'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

The Phoenix metro area is huge. There are plenty of motels and hotels. Those who wish to camp should refer to the Tonto National Forest web pages. There's a fair amount of dispersed camping in the area. There is no dispersed camping on the lakeshore, but many options on jeep trails throughout the area.