Desert Runner Trail Series

Maricopa County, United States • 17 Oct 2026

Desert Runner Trail Series

The Desert Runner Trail Series is a package of trail running events. A series pass covers multiple races and offers a discount compared to individual race entries. The series includes races of varying distances in the fall of 2026.

Series and Races

The series is divided into different distance categories, each with three races:

  • Short Series: Cave Creek Thriller (5 km), Pass Mountain (5 km), McDowell Mountain Frenzy (5 miles).
  • Middle Series: Cave Creek Thriller (11 km), Pass Mountain (10 km), McDowell Mountain Frenzy (10 miles).
  • Trail Series: Cave Creek Thriller (24 km), Pass Mountain (25 km), McDowell Mountain Frenzy (25 km).
  • Ultra Series: Cave Creek Thriller (50 km), Pass Mountain (50 km), McDowell Mountain Frenzy (50 km).

The races take place in Cave Creek, Arizona, and the surrounding Sonoran Desert area.

Additional Information

The event is cupless. Participants are encouraged to bring their own hydration system or reusable cup. UltrAspire reusable cups will be available. There is a separate year-long competition called the Sonoran Desert Cup, which spans eight sub-ultra races in the series. Participants earn points at each event based on their finish position. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

50 km
Ultra
25 km
Long
24 km
Long
10 mi
Middle
10 km
Middle
5 mi
Short
5 km
Short
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
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