Test your mettle running a trail marathon and leave crowded road races behind.
Fall is peak marathon season, and while the big-city road races get most of the spotlight, there’s a compelling case for trading pavement for dirt this time of year.
A fall trail marathon trades the crowd-lined streets for singletrack, gravel roads, forest canopies, and scenic views, with the added bonus of running through some of the most spectacular foliage of the year. The terrain is often a lot tougher, as some races have steep climbs, roots, and technical descents replace the flat, predictable rhythm of a road course. However, that variety keeps legs and minds more engaged over 26.2 miles than mile after mile of asphalt ever could. And with far smaller fields and a more laid-back, community-driven vibe than most road races, trail marathons offer a different kind of finish-line satisfaction: less about chasing a specific time, more about earning every mile the hard way.
Here are 20 great trail marathons to consider this fall across the U.S.
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Jump Off Joe Marathon
Sept. 5, Kennewick, WA
The Jump Off Joe Marathon is held near Kennewick, Washington, run entirely on gravel roads on and around Jump Off Joe Mountain. Hosted by the Nomad Trail Runners of Eastern Washington, it’s a low-key, inexpensive event that feels more like a trail run than a typical road marathon, with steady climbing up to the summit and sweeping views over the Tri-Cities into Oregon. Aid stations are spaced 3 to 5 miles apart rather than every couple of miles, so runners are encouraged to carry their own water and supplies. It’s offered alongside half marathon and 10K distances, and while it counts toward Marathon Maniacs standards, it is not a Boston Qualifier.
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Six-O Trail Run
Sept. 5, Cleburne, TX
Every September, trail runners descend on the Six-O Ranch, a 1,600-acre working cattle ranch perched on the edge of the Texas Hill Country near Cleburne, for the Six-O Trail Run. Organized by Blaze Trails Running, the event unfolds across more than 20 miles of varied ranch terrain—singletrack winding through brush, dirt ranch roads, open pasture crossings, and, if Mother Nature cooperates, a handful of creek crossings along the way. The course is a rolling-hills loop route with five aid stations spread across the property, and the 50K distance is built from two full loops of the course, giving longer-distance runners repeat passes through the ranch’s varied terrain.
Runners can pick their challenge from four distances offered the same day: a 6-miler, half marathon, full trail marathon, or 50K, all sharing the same rugged backdrop of a working Texas cattle operation. Race morning typically starts warm and only gets hotter, with conditions often in the mid-70s at the start climbing into the low 90s by the finish, so runners are encouraged to start conservatively and hydrate often on this exposed, largely shade-free course.
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Superior Fall Trail Race
Sept. 11-12, Lutsen, MN
The trail marathon at the Superior Fall Trail Race, officially called the Moose Mountain Marathon, is a 26.2-mile point-to-point course that starts near Schroeder, Minnesota, and finishes at Caribou Highlands Lodge on Lutsen Mountain. Run almost entirely on technical singletrack along the Superior Hiking Trail, it climbs and descends roughly 8,100 feet of net elevation change through the rugged Sawtooth Mountains, with sweeping views of Lake Superior and crossings of whitewater rivers along the way.
It shares race weekend with the Superior 50 and Superior 100 milers, and because demand is high, entry is awarded through an annual lottery held each January. With a 14-hour cutoff and only three aid stations along the route, it’s considered one of the more challenging and scenic trail marathons in the country.
Registration closed for this popular race in January, but it’s a race worthy of planning ahead for in 2027.
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Hook Mountain Ultra
Sept. 19, Upper Nyack, NY
The Hook Mountain Ultra offers a 27-mile “Mountain Marathon” alongside its full 50-mile event, both run along the Hudson River on Hook Mountain in Upper Nyack, New York. The trail marathon option starts with a 4-mile out-and-back to spread out the field, then tackles two consecutive 11.5-mile singletrack loops, each gaining about 2,431 feet, for a total of roughly 4,900 feet of climbing.
Runners can expect big climbs, exposed ridges, scenic river views, and steep descents on a course built by trail runners for trail runners. It’s a USATF-sanctioned event with a supportive, community group-run atmosphere, making it a solid option for runners newer to ultra distances who aren’t quite ready for the full 50-miler.
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Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon
Sept. 26, Shandaken, NY
The Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon takes place in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area of New York’s Catskill Mountains, based near Big Indian. Now in its 12th year, it’s a challenging point-to-point course with nearly 7,000 feet of vertical gain, moving through everything from rolling ridgelines to technical, rocky terrain. The race is run by Run Wild, Inc., with proceeds supporting the nonprofit’s land conservation work, and it offers a 25 percent discount for veterans and first responders. Runners can expect multiple aid stations, solid swag, and a well-supported post-race spread after tackling one of the tougher marathon courses in the Northeast.
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Arches Marathon
Oct. 3, Moab, UT
The Arches Marathon is part of the Run Moab Series and starting near the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. The trail marathon climbs more than 2,600 feet on entirely unpaved desert terrain—mostly on sandy double track, jeep roads, and open meadow trails—passing near Picture Frame Arch with views of the red cliffs, canyon country, and the La Sal Mountains rising in the distance. It’s run alongside 15K, half marathon, and 50K options, plus a trail marathon relay, and the event is cup-less, so runners refill bottles or bladders at water dispensers along the course. Free camping is available at the start/finish area, making it easy to turn the race into a Moab weekend.
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NipMuck Trail Marathon
Oct. 4, Ashford, CT
Organized by the Shenipsit Striders, a trail running club founded in 1975, the NipMuck Trail Marathon is run entirely on the rugged Nipmuck Trail in northeastern Connecticut. At 26.4 miles, the out-and-back course starts on Perry Hill Road, heads 6.2 miles south to Route 44 and back, then continues 7 miles north to Boston Hollow Road before returning to the finish—with roughly 60 percent of runners’ time spent in the tougher, hillier second half.
True to its name, the course delivers rocks, roots, mud, and wood-bridge crossings typical of New England singletrack, and runners have an 8-hour cutoff to finish. For those not ready to tackle the full trail marathon solo, NipMuck also offers a two-person relay option so teams can split the course and share the “muck” experience together.
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Long Hunter Trail Runs
Oct. 10, Hermitage, TN
The trail marathon race at the Long Hunter Trail Runs send runners through Long Hunter State Park just outside Nashville, Tennessee, with the course circumnavigating Couchville Lake, running out and back on the Bryant Grove Trail, tackling the cliff trail loop, and pushing out onto a longer stretch of the Jones Mill Trail than the half marathon covers. It’s a fast, largely flat route by trail-race standards—a mix of natural singletrack, paved greenway, and short road connectors—with modest climbing that keeps it approachable even for runners newer to trail marathons.
The race is hosted by Emily Winters and Scott Simcox, a local couple who live just a few miles from the park and built the event around trails they run themselves, giving it a personal, homegrown feel. It’s run alongside half marathon and 50K options on the same course network, with all distances starting and finishing in an open field where deer and turkeys often wander through, and finishers take home a unique, handmade clay arrowhead in a nod to the park’s history as hunting grounds for early American explorers.
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Bear Trap Trail Races
Oct. 10, Tooele, UT
The Bear Trap Trail Races are held in Settlement Canyon near Tooele, Utah, a scenic area first settled by Mormon pioneers in 1849. The trail marathon option strings together all three of the event’s signature loops—A, B, and C—for a total of roughly 26.5 miles and about 8,000 feet of climbing across forested singletrack, dirt roads, and exposed ridgeline.
The defining feature is a grueling 3.5-mile out-and-back summit push to 9,600-foot Tooele Peak from Bear Trap Pass, rewarding runners with sweeping views over Tooele Valley and the surrounding 9,000–10,000 foot peaks. Because the course is remote, there are no aid stations beyond the Start/Finish area between loops, so marathoners need to carry their own hydration, food, and weather-appropriate gear. It’s a USATF-sanctioned event that trades big-city polish for solitude and rugged, high-altitude terrain.
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Des Plaines River Trail Races
Oct. 10, Lake County, IL
The Des Plaines River Trail Races, now in their 15th year, take place at Half Day Forest Preserve in Lake County, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago. The trail marathon starts at 8 a.m. and follows an out-and-back route along the flat, crushed-gravel Des Plaines River Trail, winding through alternating forest and wetland with only two minor road crossings along the way. It’s a fast, PR-friendly course that also serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier. Runners share the trail system with the half marathon, 50K, and 50-mile races happening the same day, all starting and finishing at the same preserve.
It’s a cupless event, so marathoners need to bring their own bottle or hydration pack, and with a 10.5-hour time limit, the flat terrain makes it an approachable option for runners chasing a strong fall time. After finishing, runners can refuel with a burger and a complimentary beer at the post-race gathering back at the preserve.
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Free State Trail Run
Oct. 11, Meriden, KS
The trail marathon race at the Free State Trail Run sends runners on a fun, entirely dirt trail course, starting on the firmer-surfaced “white trail” before transitioning onto the more technical “blue trail,” with runners navigating rocks, roots, stream crossings, and rolling hills. Along the way, the route passes a campground, Swim Beach, Lands End, and sections of both Clinton Lake and Lake Henry, giving it more of a rugged feel, with deer, squirrels, snakes, and ducks among common wildlife sightings. The marathon is run as part of a four-distance lineup that also includes a quarter marathon, half marathon, and 40-miler, all sharing the same Clinton Lake North Shore Trails network.
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Sonoma Fall Classic
Oct. 17, Healdsburg, CA
The Sonoma Fall Classic Trail Marathon starts at the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area near Healdsburg, California, sending runners out on relentless, undulating singletrack that circles the lake with near-constant water views through Sonoma wine country during harvest season. It’s the newest addition to a race weekend built around the storied Lake Sonoma 50—a race with roots stretching back to the early 2000s—which has moved to fall and joined forces with a brand-new 100-miler, both featuring miles of technical climbing and descending, including the 100-mile course’s rare access to Pritchett Peaks, a trail section normally closed to the public.
Alongside the trail marathon, 50-mile, and 100-mile solo events, the weekend also offers 50-mile and 100-mile relay options for teams who want to share the distance. Presented by Aravaipa Running in partnership with Healdsburg Running Company and longtime ultrarunning figure Tropical John Medinger, the inaugural event blends old-school Lake Sonoma tradition—i.e. volunteer culture and community spirit—with a festival-style atmosphere that includes free camping, live-streaming coverage, and a finish-line celebration with local food, beer, and wine.
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The Peak Trail Marathon
Oct. 17, Julian, CA
The marathon-distance race at The Peak challenges runners with 2,200 feet of climbing in the first 6.3 miles up to Cuyamaca Peak, San Diego County’s second-highest summit, before dropping 2,800 feet down to the Sweetwater Aid Station and the marathon turnaround. From there, marathoners retrace their steps back up and over the peak a second time, for a brutal total of roughly 10,000 feet of combined elevation gain and loss across the full 26.2 miles. It is run almost entirely on singletrack trail with sweeping mountain views.
The marathon is run alongside a 50K, which shares the same climb and turnaround but adds a five-mile loop before rejoining the marathon route back over the peak, and a half marathon, which climbs the challenging Conejos Trail to the summit before a faster return to the start/finish. First held in 2017 and based out of Camp Hual-Cu-Cuish near Julian, The Peak has built a reputation among Southern California trail runners as a proving ground for serious climbers—a small, quad-crushing event that rewards runners who genuinely love the mountains over those chasing a fast time.
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Canyonlands Ultra
Oct. 24, Moab, UT
The Canyonlands Ultra starts and finishes along the Behind the Rocks Trail on the edge of the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area, with tall Navajo sandstone domes and fins visible for much of the route. The trail marathon covers the event’s core 26.2-mile loop, mixing smooth double track, sandy washes, and technical sections, with roughly 795 feet of climbing and four aid stations along the way—a course that tests runners both physically and mentally against the backdrop of the La Sal Mountains and Moab’s red rock canyons.
It’s part of Mad Moose Events’ Run Moab Series, and this marathon loop also serves as the foundation for the event’s longer distances: the 50K adds technical segments onto the marathon loop, while the 50-mile and 100K stack multiple loops with far more cumulative elevation gain (5,220 and 7,828 feet, respectively). Runners not looking for marathon distance can also opt into a 15K or half marathon on shorter, less technical sections of the course. The race is cupless, so all distances require a hydration pack or reusable cup, and dispersed camping is available at the start/finish for those making a full weekend of it in the desert.
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Trail Run at Sly Park
Oct. 24, Pollock Pines, CA
The Trail Marathon at the Trail Run at Sly Park is one of several races run on the trails circling Jenkinson Lake within the Sly Park Recreation Area. The course opens with an easy, quarter-mile downhill on gravel road followed by a steep, quarter-mile singletrack climb, then settles into a mostly flat, counterclockwise route hugging the lakeshore—a mix of gently rolling singletrack, some wider flat sections, small paved stretches, and a handful of technical spots with rocks and roots, but no major climbs or long descents.
The marathon is one of seven distances offered that same day—alongside a 50K, 17-miler, half marathon, 8-miler, 10K, and 5K—all starting together at 8 a.m. (with a 9-hour time limit) and sharing the same lakeside course network. What makes the event distinctive is that it’s held three times a year (spring, summer, and fall), giving runners the chance to experience Jenkinson Lake and its pine forest surroundings across different seasons; this fall edition, in particular, tends to draw runners chasing cooler temperatures and changing color in the Sierra foothills.
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Caspers Trail Races
Oct. 31, San Juan Capistrano, CA
The trail marathon event at the Caspers Trail Races is run on dirt singletrack and fire roads through the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains wth robust vertical gain and loss. Organized by Keira Henninger’s KHraces, the marathon is part of a five-distance race weekend that also includes a 10K, half marathon (13.2 miler), 30K, and 50K, all sharing the same well-marked, well-supported course and start/finish area.
The event has built a reputation for a low-key, home-grown, low-stakes atmosphere—runners and volunteers alike describe it as a welcoming, community feel rather than a big-production race—with strong swag and course support cited as consistent strengths. Runners have described the overall event as challenging but reasonable and mostly runnable, inviting for both experienced ultrarunners and newer trail racers alike.
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Harvest Trail Running Festival
Oct. 31, Farmersville, TX
The Harvest Trail Running Festival’s marathon runs as a 15.5-mile out-and-back on the Chaparral Trail, starting and finishing at The Onion Shed in the heart of town. The course is flat and fast for a trail race, mostly dirt and gravel underfoot through Texas grassland. There is only about 130 feet of elevation change across the full out-and-back, making it one of the more approachable trail marathons for runners chasing a strong finishing time.
The marathon starts at 7 a.m. alongside the 50K, with the half marathon and 5K/10K/10K Ruck all sharing the same Chaparral Trail course network. They’re all cupless races, so runners need to bring their own hydration system, and with a 3 p.m. cutoff for all distances, there’s ample time to finish even at a conservative pace.The event is put on by Texas Outlaw Running, known for fully marked, well-supported courses with aid station food and hydration, scenic terrain, and a friendly, encouraging volunteer crew.
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Mount Laguna Trail Marathon
Nov. 1, Mount Laguna, CA
The Mount Laguna Trail Marathon sends runners through the Mount Laguna Recreation Area east of San Diego, running on the ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay people. It’s a single-loop, 95 percent unpaved course on technical singletrack with about 3,358 feet of climbing, starting with roughly 14 miles high on the Pacific Crest Trail overlooking the vast Anza-Borrego Desert before the second half tackles the climb over Champagne Pass and winds through the meadows around Big Laguna Lake.
Founded in 2012 as a nonprofit event, it’s grown into one of Southern California’s favorite trail races, run by an experienced volunteer crew that keeps the vibe supportive and well-organized rather than competitive-elite. The race puts a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and giving back, with proceeds supporting local nonprofits that help sustain trail running access in the area. Overall, it has the feel of a close-knit, mission-driven community event rather than a big-production race—challenging terrain paired with a welcoming atmosphere.
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Natchez Trace Trail Run
Nov. 7, Franklin, TN
The Natchez Trace Trail Run is held near Franklin, Tennessee, based out of the Garrison Creek Rest Stop on the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. The trail marathon runs the full ~25-mile trail one-way, with runners bused to the far end of the course before running back toward Garrison Creek on fast, mostly singletrack trail that’s not overly steep but turns rugged in less-traveled sections.
It’s held alongside a 50-mile out-and-back option, a half marathon, and a 13-mile “rucking” division for those carrying weighted packs or vests—all sharing the same trail and start-area logistics, with buses departing at staggered times for each distance. Course support is limited, since crews aren’t allowed to stop along the Parkway itself, so runners carry their own hydration and rely on designated rest-stop aid. The race is considered a great entry point for a first trail marathon or first ultra, and with a capacity around 120–150 runners, it tends to sell out well ahead of race weekend.
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Griffith Park Trail Marathon
Nov. 21, Los Angeles, CA
With a tagline of “Epic Trail Racing in Hollywood,” you know the Griffith Park Trail Marathon is a special event. The marathon-distance course covers 26.2 miles with 5,508 feet of elevation gain, topping out at 1,545 feet—a genuinely tough, hilly test through the singletrack and fire roads of Griffith Park hear Hollywood. The marathon starts at 6 a.m. from the Merry-Go-Round Lot, with runners tackling a well-marked route through one of the largest urban parks in the country with landmarks like the Old L.A. Zoo, the Griffith Observatory, and views of the Hollywood Sign.
Now in its 17th year, the event is put on by Keira Henninger Races and includes four other distances (a 10K, half marathon, 30K, and 50K) with staggered starts throughout the morning, and the race routinely sells out given its reputation as one of L.A.’s premier fall trail classics.
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Calero Trail Run
Dec. 5, San Jose, CA
The trail marathon of the Calero Trail Run is run on a simple out-and-back structure: run the full 13-mile half marathon course, then turn around and reverse it back to the finish for a total of 26.2 miles. The route winds through classic South Bay terrain with awesome singletrack, oak-tree-lined dirt paths, exposed hilly sections, panoramic vistas and plenty of climbing. Runners have an 8-hour time limit, with the race officially wrapping up around 4 p.m.
The event is one of several distances offered that same day, along with a 50K, 25K, half marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K, and even a Mile and Kids Run. Courses are marked with ribbons, signs, and gypsum, aid stations are spread along the route, and every finisher takes home a commemorative medal.
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