Labor Day Trail Challenge Marathon
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Labor Day Trail Challenge - McKinney Roughs Nature Park
The Labor Day Trail Challenge takes place on September 5, 2026 at McKinney Roughs Nature Park in Cedar Creek, Texas. The event uses dirt single-track and fire roads across a 1,140-acre preserve along the Colorado River, about 13 miles east of Austin.
The course travels through box canyons, ridgelines, wildflower meadows, and stands of loblolly pine and eastern red cedar. Runners will pass scenic river overlooks and encounter rolling elevation with up to 469 feet of gain on technical single-track. The route crosses four distinct ecosystems: Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairie, East Texas Piney Woods, and a riparian corridor.
Aid stations are described as fully stocked with water, electrolytes, and snacks. The event is chip timed and the trail course is not stroller friendly. Free parking is available in the main lot with additional overflow parking. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is adjacent to the park; additional lodging is available in Bastrop about 8 miles east.
Event formats include fixed-distance races and time-based challenges. Distances and options include:
- 5K 3.1 miles
- 10K 6.2 miles
- Half marathon 13.1 miles
- Marathon 26.2 miles
- 8 hour solo run or two-person relay
Half-marathon and marathon finishers who finish within the cutoff receive a custom rodeo-style belt buckle; all finishers receive a finisher medal. Overall winners in each distance receive a cowboy hat award for top male and top female. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
