Arizona · 50 Mile · 50K · 25K
McDowell Mountain Frenzy
McDowell Mountain Frenzy is a 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10 Mile and 5 Mile event held in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Its next confirmed date is Saturday, December 5, 2026. About 1,200 runners take part across all distances.
- Race day
- December 5, 2026
- Location
- Fountain Hills, AZ
- Field size
- ~1,200 runners
Race details
- Date
- Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Location
- Fountain Hills, Arizona
- Distances
- 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10 Mile, 5 Mile
- Field size
- About 1,200 runners
- Course
- Rugged, rolling Sonoran Desert trails on the McDowell Competitive Track
- Registration
- aravaiparunning.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Open
- Entry fee
- Listed fee for the longest distance, $200 (from aravaiparunning.com, checked October 5, 2026)
- Start time
- 7:00 AM MST
- Course profile — 50 Mile
- Loop course; Trail surface; 7026 ft gain (official course data); Not USATF certified
- Course profile — 50K
- Loop course; Trail surface; 3020 ft gain (estimated from third-party elevation data); Not USATF certified
- Course profile — 25K
- Loop course; Trail surface; 1305 ft gain (estimated from third-party elevation data); Not USATF certified
- Typical race-day weather
- about 49°F at the start, 40% humidity, 7 mph wind (based on the 2024 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked October 5, 2026)
About the McDowell Mountain Frenzy
A multi-distance trail race on the rugged McDowell Mountain Regional Park desert singletrack, ranging from 5 miles up to 50 miles. It is usually the most-attended event in Aravaipa Running's Desert Runner Trail Series.
Rankings and notes
- Rankings and awards
- Typically the largest event in Aravaipa's Desert Runner Trail Series by total participants
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Fountain Hills Turkey Trot 5K Run & Fitness WalkFountain Hills, AZ1 Mile Fitness Walk5K I Ages 13 & Up5K | Ages 12 & Under
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McDowell Mountain Frenzy: common questions
- When is the McDowell Mountain Frenzy?
- The next confirmed date is Saturday, December 5, 2026.
- Where is the McDowell Mountain Frenzy held?
- In Fountain Hills, Arizona.
- What distances does the McDowell Mountain Frenzy offer?
- 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10 Mile and 5 Mile.
- How many people run the McDowell Mountain Frenzy?
- About 1,200 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the McDowell Mountain Frenzy?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at aravaiparunning.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the McDowell Mountain Frenzy?
- Yes — registration is open. Listed fee for the longest distance, $200 (from aravaiparunning.com, checked October 5, 2026).
- What time does the McDowell Mountain Frenzy start?
- 7:00 AM MST.
- What is race-day weather usually like at the McDowell Mountain Frenzy?
- about 49°F at the start, 40% humidity, 7 mph wind (based on the 2024 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked October 5, 2026).
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