Desert Runner Trail Series

Maricopa County, United States • 17-14 Jan-Mar 2026

Desert Runner Trail Series

The Desert Runner Trail (DRT) Series is a set of trail and ultra running events produced by Aravaipa Running in partnership with Maricopa County Regional Parks. The series runs across the Valley of the Sun from October 2025 through March 2026. Each race offers up to six distance options, with distances in the series ranging from 5 kilometers to 100 miles. Competitors earn points at each event and the series concludes with a DRT Series Finale in March at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Series passes are available for the Fall and Spring series and the Fall Series offers a 20% savings off individual race entries.

2025–2026 schedule and distances

November 8, 2025 : Usery Mountain Regional Park: 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K.

December 6, 2025 : McDowell Mountain Regional Park: 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10M, 5M.

December 20, 2025 : Cave Creek Regional Park & Maricopa Trail: 50K, 24K, 11K, 5K.

January 10, 2026 : San Tan Mountain Regional Park: 50K, 26K, 17K, 9K, 5K.

January 17-18, 2026 : Estrella Mountain Regional Park: 100 Mile, 100K, 60K, 40K, 10M, 5M.

February 7, 2026 : Cave Creek Regional Park, Maricopa Trail & Tonto National Forest: 50 Mile, 50K, 35K, 22K, 12K, 5K.

March 14, 2026 : White Tank Mountain Regional Park: 50 Mile, 50K, 30K, Half-Marathon, 8K.

Sponsors

Neversecond is listed as the Official Performance Nutrition Sponsor for the 2025-2026 DRT Series. Athletico Physical Therapy is a supporting sponsor and is described as a provider of orthopedic rehabilitation services with more than 900 locations in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

100 mi
100 Mile
100 km
100k
50 mi
50 Mile
60 km
60k
50 km
50k
40 km
40k
35 km
35k
30 km
30k
26 km
26k
25 km
25k
24 km
24k
22 km
22k
Half Marathon
Half-Marathon
17 km
17k
10 mi
10m
12 km
12k
11 km
11k
10 km
10k
9 km
8 km
5 mi
5 km
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

Take on the classic Christiansen Trail Run on January 3, 2026 in Phoenix Mountain Preserve, a rugged 14 mile single track through steep climbs and rocky terrain. Aid stations, a technical running shirt and awards await finishers.

The Desert Runner Trail Series will take place in Maricopa County on Saturday 10 January 2026.

Coldwater Rumble Trail Runs at Estrella Mountain Regional Park on January 17, 2026 offers everything from 5 Mile runs to a 100 Mile ultra across rugged desert trails and sandy washes. Aid stations, chip timing and crew access keep runners s..

Tackle desert singletrack at the White Tank Throwdown in White Tank Mountain Regional Park, AZ, with challenging 30K and fun 10K options across sandy, scenic trails. Expect rugged terrain, aid stations and a true park adventure.