Trail Running calendar near Vail 2025-2026

Rocky's Backyard Ultra is a unique ultra trail race held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, known as the highest organized Backyard Ultra in the world. Runners complete 4.167-mile laps on a challenging singletrack course featuring about 500 feet of elevation gain and loss per lap, w..

The Suffer Better Fall Trail Run is an annual mountain endurance event held at Staunton State Park, Colorado. The 9th edition, scheduled for October 11, 2025, features multiple race distances including a challenging 50K, a 25K with a unique Fishslappers division involving fish catching, and a new 5K..

The Indian Creek Trail Runs, part of the Human Potential Running Series, is an annual fall trail running event held at Indian Creek Campground in Sedalia, Colorado. Celebrating its 12th year in 2025, the race offers multiple distances: 5-Mile, 15-Mile, 55k, and 50-Mile, with time limits of 12 to 14..

The Great Trailhead Foot Race 10 Miler takes place at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, Colorado, offering runners a scenic trail experience with single-track dirt paths against the backdrop of Denver's skyline. Participants can choose between a 5-mile or a challenging 10-mile double-lap course. Reg..

Beware The Bear Trail Races take place at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, Colorado, offering 5km, 15km, and a combined 5+15km double race, along with a 1km kids' run. The courses feature mostly dirt trails with a mix of single and double tracks, incorporating short steep hills, rollers, and varied..

The HRCA Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon is an annual 13.1-mile trail race held in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, featuring a scenic single-loop course through the Douglas County East/West trail and the Backcountry Wilderness Area. The race offers a challenging route on dirt, gravel, and singletrac..

The Louisville Trail Race, held annually in Louisville, Colorado, features a half marathon, 10K, and 5K race along scenic trails near the iconic Flat Irons. The courses are mostly dirt trails with some bike paths, offering a mostly flat terrain with challenging hills that provide stunning views of t..

The Thumbs Up Vertical Challenge is an 8-hour ascent race held in Estes Park, Colorado, on the Thumb Open Space trail. Participants repeatedly run a 1 km out-and-back course with a 540-foot elevation gain per ascent. Runners collect poker chips at the turnaround point to track their completed ascent..

The Sawmill Trail Runs is an annual trail running event held at Staunton State Park in Pine, Colorado, approximately 40 miles southwest of Denver. Established in 2013 and officially a race since 2017, it offers three distance options: 50k, 16-mile, and 8-mile runs. The course features scenic and cha..

The USCSA Cross Country Ski Racing Festival, held at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center in Granby, Colorado, is a vibrant collegiate and junior skiing event scheduled for January 24-25, 2026. It features classic races of 15 km and 7.5 km for college and independent high school athletes, alongside CHS..

The Gothic Mountain Tour, hosted by Crested Butte Nordic in Colorado, is a challenging and scenic cross-country ski race circling Gothic Mountain. It offers two race distances: a competitive 23.5-mile course starting behind Crested Butte Community School, and a 17.85-mile recreational course beginni..

The 21st Annual Run Through Time Trail Marathon and Half Marathon takes place in Salida, Colorado, featuring challenging courses on dirt and jeep roads as well as narrow, hilly single-track trails with stunning views of Salida and the Arkansas Valley. Elevations range from 7,000 to 9,000 feet. The e..

Niwot's Challenge is a unique, invitation-only endurance event held annually near Sedalia, Colorado, along the South Platte River in the Front Range. Unlike typical races, it emphasizes self-reliance, navigation, and mental toughness over speed. The course is a secret, off-trail gauntlet requiring m..

The Summits Trail Runs, held at Granby Ranch Resort in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, offer a challenging series of trail races with distances from 6 miles to ultra distances including a 50k and a 12-hour Elevation Challenge. The courses feature rugged alpine terrain, single-track trails, alpine meadow..