Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon

Grand Canyon Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5k Run/Walk

The Grand Canyon Trail event takes place on October 24, 2026 in Tusayan / Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, staged at the IMAX Visitor Center and running through the Kaibab National Forest near the Grand Canyon South Rim. The course sits within the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Race options include:

• Marathon, approximately 26.8 miles
• Half marathon, approximately 13.35 miles
• 5k Run Walk
• Children’s 5k
• Marathon relay
• Virtual race

The marathon and half marathon follow trail terrain that begins with a half mile on sidewalk, then about 11.5 miles of forest jeep roads featuring rugged rocky sections, soft dirt, and hard packed dirt, with a rolling final mile on the paved Arizona Trail path. The 5k is mostly on the paved Arizona Trail with roughly one mile on hard pack dirt forest road. The marathon has time limits requiring the first lap be completed in under 2 hours 45 minutes and the full marathon under 5 hours 30 minutes. Marathon relay teams must finish within 5 hours; relay runners split the two laps.

Event amenities and local features listed by the organizer include a souvenir long sleeve shirt for the first registrants, finisher medallions and post race beer for finishers, chip timing with finish line video, race photography, a fundraising pancake breakfast, a local and Tribal artisan fair, lodging and tourist discounts, and age group awards. The event raises funds for the Tusayan Fire Department and the Grand Canyon Food Pantry. Pets may not accompany participants on course. The organizer notes morning temperatures often in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit at about 7,000 feet, with daytime highs reaching the 60s to 70s. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.