RACEROVE

California · Trail

Trail Races in California

California currently has 55 upcoming trail races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Escondido, Castro Valley, Napa and Auburn have the most.

Among them, 26 offer a 5K, 37 a 10K, 22 a half marathon, 11 a marathon and 32 an ultra distance (50K and beyond, or a timed race). An event with several distances counts once for each.

November (10), May (8) and December (8) are the busiest months for trail races here. Another 33 annual trail races are waiting for next year's date to be announced.

This page is the same for everyone, so it can't know where you are. Open the race search from here, which starts with California's trail races, and set its Near filter to your city to keep only the ones around you.

Search California trail racesTrail races in every state
Upcoming, date confirmed
55
Active listings
88
Cities with trail races
64

Upcoming trail races in California

All 55 with a confirmed date, soonest first.

Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.

Filter these trail races in the race search

Largest trail races in California

By estimated field size across all distances at the event.

Trail ultramarathons in California

Trail races with a distance of 50K or more, a fixed-time format, or billed as an ultra (the race search's Ultra filter): confirmed dates first, soonest first.

When trail races happen in California

January
6 upcoming trail races
February
6 upcoming trail races
March
4 upcoming trail races
April
3 upcoming trail races
May
8 upcoming trail races
June
2 upcoming trail races
August
2 upcoming trail races
October
6 upcoming trail races
November
10 upcoming trail races
December
8 upcoming trail races

California cities with the most trail races

Escondido
4 upcoming trail races
Castro Valley
3 upcoming trail races
Napa
3 upcoming trail races
Auburn
2 upcoming trail races
Oakland
2 upcoming trail races
San Diego
2 upcoming trail races
Woodside
2 upcoming trail races
Friant
2 upcoming trail races

Annual trail races awaiting their next date

These trail races are held every year, but the next date isn't in the listing yet. The month shown is when each is usually held.

  • Fleet Feet Fall Classic - Trail October 18th
    Chico, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    5K4 Miles ~1,440 runners
  • Champion Mine Trail Race
    Nevada City, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    5K10K ~520 runners
  • Rodeo Valley Trail Run
    Sausilto, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    31 Miles18.6 Miles13.2 Miles4.8 Miles ~350 runners
  • Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile
    Big Sur, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    5 Mile - Adult5 Mile - YouthHalf Marathon - AdultHalf Marathon - Youth +2 more ~300 runners
  • Carmel Valley Trail Race
    San Diego, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    10 Mile10K5K ~300 runners
  • Oakland Hills Trail Run
    Oakland, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    35K1/2 Marathon10K ~300 runners
  • Reservoir Dogs Trail Run
    Orinda, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    35K1/2 Marathon10K5K ~300 runners
  • The Bulldog Ultra
    Calabasas, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    50k Ultra Trail25k Trail ~252 runners
  • Ely Mountain Trail Race
    Shaver Lake, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    8.7 Miles4.97 Miles ~250 runners
  • Sunset & Cider Trail Races
    Auburn, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    50K13 Miler5 Miler ~200 runners
  • Acorn Creek Trail Run
    Pilot Hill, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    Half Marathon10K ~175 runners
  • Trail Run at Sly Park - Fall
    Pollock Pines, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    50KTrail Marathon17 MilerHalf Marathon +3 more ~100 runners
  • That's No Moon Trail Races
    Silverado, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    50 Miler50K30K ~82 runners
  • Bandit Ultra Trail
    Los Angeles (Simi Valley), CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    50K30K15K ~75 runners
  • Sonoma Fall Classic
    Healdsburg, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    100 Mile Sufferfest100 Mile Relay50 Mile RelayLake Sonoma 50 Mile +2 more ~26 runners
  • Trail Run at Sly Park - Summer
    Pollock Pines, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    50KMarathon17 Mile1/2 Marathon +3 more ~12 runners
  • ARAVAIPA's OC Trail Runners Group Run
    Newport Coast, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    Group Run
  • Back On The Ranch Trail Run
    Los Olivos, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    3 Hour6 Hour12 Hour24 Hour +1 more
  • Berkeley Trail Adventure
    Berkeley, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    50K35K1/2 Marathon10K
  • California Gold Rush Trail Run - Fall
    Coloma, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    Half Marathon15K10K5K +2 more
  • Double Peak Challenge 10k
    San Marcos, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    10K5KKids Trail Trot
  • Kokanee Trail Runs
    South Lake Tahoe, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    1/2 Marathon10K5K1/2 Mile
  • Mammoth Bar Trail Runs
    Auburn, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    5K10K
  • Point Mariah Trail Marathon
    Truckee, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    MarathonPartner Marathon5-Person Team
  • Quicksilver Trail Challenge
    San Jose, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    Half Marathon10K
  • Riley Park Trail Races
    Coto de Caza, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    30kHalf Marathon10 Miler10k +3 more
  • Santa Cruz Trail Run
    Felton, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    18.2 Miles13.2 Miles10K
  • Scena Performance Series Passes
    Berkeley, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    Scena SlamMonsters of the East BayRidge Trail RompPinch to Grown and Inch
  • SGRAIL Marin - Triathlon & Trail Half Marathon
    San Rafael, CA Usually held in October · next date not announced
    Half Marathon5K
  • SPASM Crystal Springs Trail Run
    Woodside, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    10K5K22 Miles30.9 Miles +2 more
  • Thunder Mountain Trail Challenge
    Kit Carson, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    50K21 Miler10.5 Miler5.6 Miler
  • Tierra Redonda Mountain Trail Run
    Bradley, CA Usually held in September · next date not announced
    48 Hour24 Hour20K10km Trail Run
  • Windfall Full Moon Trail Run
    Alpine, CA Usually held in August · next date not announced
    MarathonWindfall Full Moon Trail Run 30KWindfall Full Moon Trail Run 15KWindfall Full Moon Trail Run 1

More ways to browse California

Trail races in nearby states

How RaceRove picks trail races

A race is on these pages when its name, its list of distances or its listing's notes say "trail". That is the rule the Trail filter in RaceRove's race search uses, so a race is a trail race on both or on neither. A race on dirt roads or mountain paths that doesn't call itself a trail race isn't counted, and neither is one whose only mention of a trail is in its description.

Trail races come in every length, from a few miles in a city park to 100 miles in the mountains. Off the road, the same distance usually takes longer: read each race's course description for its climbing, its footing and any cut-off times before you register, and plan your pace from those rather than from a road time.

Mud runs and obstacle races aren't a category of their own in RaceRove; one is on these pages only when its listing says trail. To get ready for one, the obstacle course race training guide covers Spartan, Tough Mudder and mud-run preparation. Thinking about a first ultramarathon? The ultramarathon and trail training plans run from 50K to 100 miles, and the Ultra Classics list gathers the best-known ultras.

Guides from the RaceRove blog

Trail Races in California: common questions

How many trail races are there in California?
RaceRove currently lists 55 upcoming trail races in California with a confirmed date, plus 33 annual trail races whose next date hasn't been announced yet.
What counts as a trail race on RaceRove?
A race whose name, list of distances or listing notes say "trail": the same rule as the Trail filter in RaceRove's race search, so a race is a trail race on both or on neither. A race whose only mention of a trail is in its description isn't counted, and neither is one on dirt roads or mountain paths that doesn't call itself a trail race.
Which California cities have the most trail races?
By upcoming trail races listed in RaceRove: Escondido (4), Castro Valley (3), Napa (3), Auburn (2) and Oakland (2).
When is trail race season in California?
Of the upcoming trail races listed, the busiest months are November (10), May (8) and December (8).
What is the biggest trail race in California?
By estimated field size, the largest trail race listed in California is the Napa Valley Marathon, with about 6,000 runners across all of its distances.
Are there trail ultramarathons in California?
Yes: 32 upcoming trail races in California with a distance of 50K or more, a fixed-time format, or billed as an ultra (the race search's Ultra filter).
How do I find trail runs near me in California?
Open the race search from this page: it starts with California's trail races. Set its Near filter to your city and how far you'll travel, and only the ones around you are left. This page can't see where you are.

Search every trail race in California

The race search with this state and its Trail filter on: set Near to your city and a radius, then narrow by month, distance and field size.

Search California trail racesTrail races in every state