Franklin Mountains Trail Runs
El Paso, United States • 24-25 Jan 2026
Event
The Franklin Mountains Trail Runs is a mountain trail running event held at Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Unit, in El Paso, Texas. The 2026 edition is the 11th annual event and takes place on January 24-25, 2026. Race capacities are listed as 250 runners for Saturday and 250 for Sunday. Distances and formats include:
- King/Queen of the Mountain
- 5k
- 10k
- Half Marathon
- 30k
- 55k
- 12-Hour
Logistics and course
Races start and finish at the Tom Mays Unit. The courses move from desert floor to the summit area of North Franklin Peak; the summit elevation is given as 7,192 feet, about 3,000 feet above the city. The King/Queen event requires runners to reach the summit and return, uses a summit bracelet for verification, has a 5-hour time limit, expects 3-8 miles of travel, and has no aid stations. The 12-Hour event assigns loop routes by drawing colored balls and records accumulated miles across loops. Aid stations, drop bag rules, mid-race drop-down options for some distances, parking rules, and permit requirements are described. The park has primitive camping only without water. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.