Enjoy the scenery this weekend, as 2012 is the last year in which Haulin’ Aspen will be held in Bend’s Shevlin Park.

Due to Forest Service restrictions, Lay It Out Events, the production company that runs the Haulin’ Aspen races, is looking to move the popular trail racing event — now in its eighth year — to a new Bend-area location to accommodate more runners. Until then, though, here is a quick guide to this year’s three Haulin’ Aspen races:

MARATHON

With an elevation gain of more than 2,329 feet and an elevation loss of approximately 2,532 feet, the Haulin’ Aspen marathon is hilly for any race, let alone one that goes for 26.2 miles.

Participants start at Miller Elementary School and are briefly on Skyliners Road before heading into the Phil’s Trail network. Marathoners hit their first singletrack on Ben’s Trail and then cross Skyliners for a final time. On the north side of Skyliners the climbing gets serious, eventually topping out at 5,248 feet on old forest roads before heading downhill on the singletrack of Mrazek Trail to Shevlin Park. Runners end their marathon on trails along Tumalo Creek in Shevlin Park before hitting the finish line at the Aspen Meadows section of Shevlin Park.

HALF MARATHON

Competitors in the half marathon will run a course similar to the Haulin’ Aspen’s full marathon route but will connect to the Mrazek Trail and head downhill approximately 7.5 miles into the race as opposed to the marathoners, who do not stop climbing until the 12.5-mile mark.

The elevation gain in the half marathon is about one-third that of the marathon — runners gain 699 feet and lose 899 feet. The most challenging climb comes about four miles into the 13.1-mile race, an approximately 3-mile stretch with about 400 feet of elevation gain. Like the full marathon, those in the half marathon start at Miller Elementary and finish at Aspen Meadows in Shevlin Park.

7-MILE RACE

The flattest of the three races — the 7-mile event gains just 265 feet — mirrors the half marathon and the full marathon’s start down Skyliners Road and through Ben’s Trail but skips the climbs of the forest roads and the Mrazek Trail toward Tumalo Falls. After running on Ben’s Trail, those in the 7-mile race cross Skyliners Road and head directly into Shevlin Park. The 7-mile course has 469 feet of elevation loss, most of it coming on the descent in Shevlin Park to the race’s finish in Aspen Meadows.

— The Bulletin