Lake Chabot Trail Challenge

Castro Valley, United States • 7 Jun 2026

Lake Chabot Trail Challenge

The Lake Chabot Trail Challenge reaches its 42nd year in 2026, offering two distinct distances in the regional park of Castro Valley, California. The event takes place at the Willow picnic site, with the start and finish lines located near the Lake Chabot parking entrance.

Available distances:

  • Half Marathon: 13.1 miles on a scenic loop with hills and dirt fire roads.
  • 5K Run: 3.1 miles on an out and back route with gentle rolling hills.

The Half Marathon course consists mainly of dirt fire roads and features views of Lake Chabot, local eucalyptus groves, and the San Francisco Bay. This route has a time limit of 3.5 hours. The 5K Run takes place primarily on paved surfaces. Both distances are chip-timed and include water stations positioned along the routes with first aid and radio support.

All finishers receive a medal. Age division medals are also awarded to the top three finishers across 12 divisions for the longer race and 9 divisions for the shorter race. Participants who register by May 10, 2026, are guaranteed a short-sleeve t-shirt in their requested size. General parking is available in the Chabot lot for a small fee, while free parking options are located on nearby streets. Packet and bib pick-up is held on the morning of the event at the race site. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

13 mi
Half Marathon
3 mi
5k Run
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

Experience the beauty of Redwood Regional Park in Oakland with distances ranging from 5 miles to a 50K ultramarathon. Run through towering redwood groves and along scenic ridges in this spring trail event.

Experience the trails of Clayton at the Diablo Summit Challenge. Run a 22.5 km course starting at Mitchell Canyon Road and support local community initiatives through this outdoor adventure.

Run through the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve on a scenic course featuring coastal views and gentle hills. All proceeds and matched entry fees support medical aid programs via The Hatuey Project.

Run a flat and fast course on the historic Western Pacific Trail in Fremont. Choose from a half marathon, 10K, or 5K starting at Quarry Lakes. The event is open to runners and walkers of all levels.