Trail Running Calendar Arizona 2025-2026

Embark on an exhilarating journey through some of Arizona's most scenic routes with our comprehensive Trail Running Calendar for 2025-2026. With 72 diverse trail running events spread across the Grand Canyon State, you're sure to find the perfect race that aligns with your schedule and fitness level.

In the vibrant city of Phoenix, trail runners can explore the rugged beauty of the Sonoran Desert, with routes offering breathtaking vistas and challenging elevations. Not far behind, Tucson's trail running scene is adorned with the picturesque trails of Saguaro National Park and the Santa Catalina Mountains, promising runs that are as scenic as they are invigorating. Runners in Mesa and Chandler have the advantage of the sprawling trails in the Superstition Wilderness.

Trail enthusiasts in Scottsdale are spoiled with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's extensive network of pathways, each offering a unique desert running experience. Meanwhile, Glendale's proximity to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park affords trail runners a chance to immerse themselves in the serene Arizona outdoors.

The 4 on the 4th Run to the Top is an annual 4-mile race held at White Tank Regional Park in Waddell, Arizona. This challenging run starts at the park entrance and ascends to the top of the park, offering participants scenic mountain views and varied terrain. The event promotes environmental respons..

Stunner Night Runs is a nighttime trail running event held at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, Arizona. The race features four distances: 50K, 25K, 12K, and 6K, all on a flat and fast course that includes the Chain Fruit, Lost Sheep, Channel, and Blevins Trails. Participants run through scenic..

August 2025

The Vertigo Night Runs, hosted by Aravaipa Running, take place at White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell, Arizona. This nighttime trail running event offers multiple distances: 6K, 10K, 20K, 31K, and a challenging 52K ultra. The courses run on the 6.5-mile Sonoran Competitive track loop, featu..

The Jackrabbit Jubilee is a fixed-time ultra running event held at the historic Nardini Manor in Buckeye, Arizona. Participants can choose to run for 6 or 12 hours on a flat, fast, 500-meter USATF-certified crushed gravel loop that winds around the century-old estate's grounds. The night race featur..

Groovin' in the Aspens is a trail running event held at the Fort Valley Trailhead in Flagstaff, Arizona. Scheduled for August 24, 2025, the race offers multiple distance options: 6K, 10K, 20K, 30K, and 50K. The courses wind through scenic aspens and pines, featuring a mix of smooth green loops, sing..

September 2025

The Mogollon Monster is a rugged and challenging trail race held near Pine, Arizona, about 90 minutes northeast of Phoenix. It features a 100-mile ultra marathon and a 42K race, both navigating the scenic Mogollon Rim, which rises 2,000 feet over 200 miles. The 100-mile course includes six climbs of..

The Javelina Jangover Night Run is a nighttime trail running event held at McDowell Mountain Regional Park near Fountain Hills, Arizona. It offers multiple race distances including 7K, 15K, 25K, 50K, and 75K, featuring rolling desert single-track trails with a mix of fast, smooth sections and challe..

The Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line Ultra is a challenging endurance event hosted by the Arizona Trail Association, featuring a 100-mile run, a 55K run, a 100-mile mountain bike race, and relay options. The race takes place in northern Arizona, starting in Flagstaff and finishing at the Gr..

Babbitts Backyard Ultra is a unique endurance running event held near the iconic SP Crater in Flagstaff, Arizona. Participants run a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour, combining dirt trails and roads with about 150 feet of elevation gain, offering stunning views of the crater and surrounding pe..

Flagstaff Sky Peaks is a mountain trail running event held in Flagstaff, Arizona, staging from the Fort Valley Trailhead near Snowbowl Road. It offers four race distances: 50 miles, 50 kilometers, 26 kilometers, and 10 kilometers, each exploring scenic single-track trails, forest roads, and the Ariz..

The AZT North Rim Ramble is a scenic running event held near Jacob Lake, Arizona, featuring marathon, half-marathon, and 10K distances. The half-marathon and marathon courses loop through the Kaibab Plateau’s forest roads and singletrack trails, showcasing stunning views of the Grand Canyon’s East R..

October 2025

The Flagstaff Marathon, known as "The Coolest Marathon in Arizona," takes place in Flagstaff, AZ, at the Arizona Nordic Village within the scenic Coconino National Forest. This event features off-road courses through ponderosa pine and aspen forests at over 8,000 feet elevation, offering marathon, h..

Saddles 100 is an ultramarathon event held in Prescott, Arizona, offering runners the choice of a 50- or 100-mile loop course. The race features some of the best local trails, providing a challenging and scenic experience. In 2025, the course will be run counterclockwise, with 50-mile participants c..

The Thrasher Night Trail is a nighttime trail running event held at Cave Creek Regional Park in Cave Creek, Arizona. It offers four distances: 33K, 22K, 11K, and 5K, all featuring rolling desert single-track trails with fast sections and challenging climbs on the Slate, Quartz, Go John, and Overton..

The Canyon de Chelly Ultra is a 55K trail race held on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. The course begins at the canyon entrance and follows a 17-mile route up Canyon de Chelly, passing ancient ruins, petroglyphs, and pictographs to Spider Rock. Runners then ascend the Bat Canyon Trail, climbing 1..

The Horseshoe Bend Ultras, held in Page, Arizona, offers three race distances: a 50-mile, 55K, and half marathon. The courses showcase stunning natural landmarks, including Antelope Canyon and the iconic Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. Runners traverse desert sand and slickrock, with routes fe..

The Soulstice Mountain Trail Run is an annual trail running event held in Government Prairie near Flagstaff, Arizona. The race offers multiple distances including a 30K course, an 11.2-mile long course, a 10K course, and a kids dash, catering to a wide range of runners. Known for its scenic course t..

The Cave Creek Thriller is a celebrated trail running event held in Cave Creek, Arizona, marking its 16th year as part of the Fall Desert Runner Trail Series. It offers four race distances: 50K, 24K, 11K, and 5K. The 50K and 24K races feature point-to-point courses along the scenic Maricopa Trail, c..

The Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, held in Sedona, Arizona, offer a scenic and challenging point-to-point trail running experience on the area's iconic Southside trails, including the famous Hi-Line trail. Scheduled for October 18, 2025, the event features three distances: a Mountain Marathon, a 2..

The Elden Ridge Run is a half marathon trail race held in Flagstaff, Arizona, starting at the Sandy Seep Trailhead. The course features scenic meadows, ponderosa pines, and a challenging climb up Mt. Elden via Christmas Tree and Elden Lookout trails.Runners enjoy panoramic views of Flagstaff and sur..