12 California Trail Races You Need to Run

When most people think of California, they think of its 3 biggest cities, its highly visible industries (movies, tech, wine), the beach, the sunshine, and celebrities.

But I think of nature: 15 million acres of designated wilderness, 9 national parks, hundreds of intertwining mountain ranges, and tens of thousands of miles of sweet, sweet trail that traverse all those spaces. I think of the quiet nooks, the fresh air, the majestic peaks, the towering redwoods and twisted Joshua trees, and the views that direct my gaze towards the Pacific Ocean. It’s my paradise; a trail runner’s playground. 

The sense of awe running throughout the state is palpable whether it’s your first time or your thousandth. So I put together a list of fantastic races based on that. Want to race in a beautiful setting? Want to be inspired by stunning trails? These are races to put on your bucket list – they’re on mine. Registration not open yet? Hit the watch tab and set alerts so you get emailed when it does!

RELATED: 25 Amazing Colorado Trail Running Races To Put on Your Must-Do List

This list is broken down by region: Southern California, Central California, and Northern California.

I’ve also ranked each race’s difficulty level based on accessibility (how remote the event is and crew access), the type of terrain (including altitude, total elevation gain, course profile, and exposure).

🟢 = super friendly for first-time trail runners

🟦 = an intermediate experience

🖤 = you love a good challenge!

Don’t let my ranking discourage you from registering! With the right planning and training, these events are achievable for any skill level. Believe in yourself, put in the work, and you’ll be ready to crush it!

SoCal

🟦 Malibu Canyon Trail Races

📍 Malibu, CA

👣 30K, 50K, 50 Miles, 100K

📅 June 6, 2026

Organized by Keira Henninger Events

Situated on the outskirts of LA proper in Malibu, it feels like you’re a thousand miles from the hustle and bustle of city life, right in the middle of wilderness. You’ll catch some staggering views of the Pacific as you dance downhill to the finish, and if you happen to catch the sunset, it’s one of LA’s dreamiest (but keep your eyes on the singletrack)!

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🟢 Anza Borrego Cuyamaca 50 Mile Run (ABC50)

📍 Julian, CA

👣 50 Miles

📅 December 5, 2026

Organized by Second Wind Trail Running

A net down point-to-point, the ABC50 takes runners through multiple ecosystems, making for a scenic ride through mountains and desert. The course is very runnable, though it ends with a rocky downhill that transitions into sand for several miles, so don’t be fooled by the course map looking easy at the end!

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🖤 Nine Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run

📍 Santa Barbara, CA

👣 17 Miles (fun run), 35 Miles

📅 March 14, 2026

Organized by All we do is run

Notably one of the hardest races in the area, the steep climbs, rocky scrambles, and technical trails aren’t for the faint of heart, but the vivid green mountain sides and flowing creeks might make you question what state you’re in. It’s going to be a long day out there (the CRs are Mens: 5:12:51, Jim Walmsley and Womens: 6:20:10, Cassy Scallon, for reference) but the Nine Trails finish is a badge of honor.

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🟢 Over the Hill Track Club High Desert 50K & 30K

📍 Ridgecrest, CA

👣 30K, 50K

📅 December 5, 2026

Organized by OTHTC

Taking place in the Indian Wells Valley and the Mojave Desert, the High Desert 50K and 30K (running since 1986) take place in a unique and awesome environment. The vast desert landscape offers nearly endless views, stopped only by the mountain ranges that surround the area. The course traverses a loop through desert hills on uneven 4×4 fire roads, single track, and sandy trails – it’s a great course for beginners or veterans looking for a course to test their speed on.

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🟢 Noble Canyon 50K/15K

📍 Pine Valley, CA

👣 15K, 50K

📅 September 5, 2026

Tucked away in the quiet mountains of the San Diego side of Cleveland National Forest, the course is front-loaded with climbs that get you to just under 6K altitude. The open vistas of mountains on mountains on mountains are breathtaking, and running on the PCT has an air of majesty to it. The course has the buttery smooth singletrack that California is known for but also some nice rocky terrain that still feels runnable.

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Central California

🟦 Wild Wild West Marathon & Ultra

📍 Lone Pine, CA

👣 10 Miles, Marathon, 50K, 50 Miles

📅 May 2, 2026

Organized by Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce

If you’re into the type of nature that makes you feel small, running through the boulder-filled Alabama Hills area in the foothills of the grandiose Mt. Whitney and the Eastern Sierra Mountains will do the trick. The marathon started in the ‘70s – the oldest trail marathon in the States – and it is anything but casual; creek crossings, climbs, and some rugged terrain make this an extra special kind of challenge.

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🟦 Mammoth Trailfest

📍 Mammoth, CA

👣 Kids Race, Hill Climb, 10K, 26K, 50K

📅 September 25-27, 2026

Organized by Tim Tollefson

The courses at Mammoth are hard (as in “it was a 50K but it felt like a 50-miler” hard); technical, loose, and steep/relentless. But the views, community, energy, and occasional buttery smooth singletrack make it all worth heading out to do. Running in a mountain town like Mammoth has a certain magic to it that stands on its own in California races.

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🟦 Bishop High Sierras Ultras

📍 Bishop, CA

👣 6K (really fun run), 20 Miles (fun run), 50K, 50 Miles, 100K

📅 May 16, 2026

The Bishop high desert is dry, exposed, hot (during the day), rocky, and high – a demanding environment that promises an overwhelming sense of accomplishment upon completion of any one of these races. The course climbs through a stunning tour of high country in the Eastern Sierras; the terrain isn’t so technical that you won’t be able to look up and soak in the snow-capped mountains but there is a little bit of the sandy stuff.

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NorCal

🟢 Tamalpa Headlands 50K

📍 Sausalito, CA

👣 50K

📅 August 15, 2026

It’s a quintessential tour of the Marin Headlands, with runners hitting some of the most notable trails in the area (Dipsea, Miwok, Steep Ravine). For the uninitiated, this means you’ll be on some of the most delicious trails you’ve ever been on, with views of cliffs, San Francisco, and the Pacific, engulfed in redwood forests, and zigzagging epic switchbacks. A decade after running on these trails, you’ll still be dreaming about them. It’s a challenging course but it relents; you’ll be rolling all race long.

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🟦 Quicksilver Endurance Runs

📍 San Jose, CA

👣 50K, 100K

📅 May 9, 2026

Organized by Quicksilver Running Club

Known as one of the hardest 100Ks in the area, the steep rolling climbs (and descents) of the course never stop. But they take runners through brilliant green trails, on smooth fire roads lined with shady live oaks, past stunning reservoirs, and by historical gold mining landmarks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, so it’s a fair tradeoff. Plus, the race starts early and since you climb right off the bat, the stunning sunrise is a nice gift.

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🟦 The Broken Arrow Skyrace

📍 Lake Tahoe, CA

👣 Kids Race, Vertical K, Iron Face, 11K, 18K, 23K, 46K

📅 June 18-21, 2026

Organized by Broken Arrow Skyrace

In its Olympic Valley/Tahoe ski resort setting, this weekend of races features some of the steepest and hardest climbs (2,400-9,100 ft of gain in each race) and some of the most unforgiving terrain (ladders, snow patches, exposed rocky ridges) you will get in a California race. And it’s all at altitude. Ringing Das Bell at the finish line is a brag-worthy, unforgettable accomplishment.

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🟦 Lake Sonoma 100 Miler “Sufferfest”

📍 Geyserville, CA

👣 Baby Backyard, 100 Miles 4-person relay, 100 Miles

📅 April 11, 2026

Organized by Healdsburg Running Company

The race is in its inaugural year but Lake Sonoma has become a hotspot for races over the past few years and there aren’t many winter 100-milers (especially ones that don’t involve snow), so this option is appreciated. Tucked away in a quiet and quaint wine country region, the course will navigate the gorgeous soon-to-be green (read: possibly muddy) hills around the lake. The singletrack course doesn’t go too high and it’s not very technical but the relentless ups and downs mean you’ll be climbing to the tune of 27,000 ft of gain.

[Register]

Headwaters Trail Runs – 🟢 (10K)/ 🟦 Intermediate (31K/56K)

📍 Mount Shasta, CA

👣 10K, 31K, 56K

📅 June 20, 2026

Up, up, way up in the northmost part of the state, this quiet race in the Klamath Mountains promises some of the freshest air you may ever run in. The popular 10K route is a picturesque tour around Lake Siskiyou; the 31K and 56K venture up into the mountains with dramatic scenery of rugged peaks, emerald green meadows, and the crystal clear Sacramento River headwaters. All distances run with a stunning backdrop of Mt. Shasta and get to cross the picture-perfect Wagon Creek Bridge.

[Register]

There are countless trail races in California and they all offer something a little special — maybe it’s a drop dead gorgeous view, a sweeping feeling of liberation from being in the middle of wilderness, an incredibly special community, or a vibe that’s larger than life. The hardest part is narrowing it down. I hope I see you at one of these races soon!

If you’re ever rolling through LA, that’s where I am. I created a resource called LA Running Connoisseur to provide support and help people fall in love with this sport. So if you’re looking for a place to run (roads or trails) or a run club, it’s got you covered. Want help picking from the countless trail races here (Angeles Crest 100, SoCalTrail’s Bulldog 50K [pictured at the top 👆], Mount Baldy Run to the Top, and Griffith Park Trail Marathon to name a few more)? Reach out!