Desert Runner Trail Series

Waddell, United States • 17-18 Jan 2026

Desert Runner Trail Series

The Desert Runner Trail (DRT) Series is a trail and ultra running series presented 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. Competitors earn points at each event and the series concludes with a DRT Series Finale in March at White Tank Mountain Regional Park.

Schedule and distances

2025 Fall DRT Series

  • Usery Mountain Regional Park (November 8, 2025) - 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K
  • McDowell Mountain Regional Park (December 6, 2025) - 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, 10M, 5M
  • Cave Creek Regional Park & Maricopa Trail (December 20, 2025) - 50K, 24K, 11K, 5K
  • San Tan Mountain Regional Park (January 10, 2026) - 50K, 26K, 17K, 9K, 5K

2026 Spring DRT Series

  • Estrella Mountain Regional Park (January 17-18, 2026) - 100 Mile, 100K, 60K, 40K, 10M, 5M
  • Cave Creek Regional Park / Tonto National Forest (February 7, 2026) - 50 Mile, 50K, 35K, 22K, 12K, 5K
  • White Tank Mountain Regional Park (March 14, 2026) - 50 Mile, 50K, 30K, Half-Marathon, 8K

Series passes and rules

Series pass options are offered with tiered pricing by pass type and registration date. The Fall Series provides a 20% savings off individual race entries for pass holders. When registering for a DRT Series pass there is no refund for missing one or more races; substituting races not included in a pass is allowed only at the discretion of the Race Director. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

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

Run the Fat Ox Endurance Runs Nov 21 to 23, 2025 at Estrella Mountain Regional Park on a fast USATF certified loop with fixed time and distance options from 6 hour to 100 mile. The weekend hosts the USATF 24 hour championship and full aid.

Join the Trail Blazer at Paloma Community Park in Peoria on Nov 23, 2025 for 10K, 5K and virtual options on scenic desert trails. Enjoy custom finisher swag and chance encounters with local wildlife at this second annual community run.

Bring your pup for a fun 5K hike or run around Papago Park and support Home Fur Good, a no kill shelter. Enjoy a scenic loop, swag for paid entrants, and a portion of registration donated to help local dogs.

Estrella Mountain Trail Fest offers scenic mountain trails with a half marathon, 10K, 5K and a 10K/5K Challenge. Races start and finish at Desert Rose Trail Head and finishers enjoy music, refreshments and a VIP area.