Lake Hodges Trail Festival

Event overview

The Lake Hodges Trail Festival is a two-day trail running and multi-sport event produced by Elevation Culture. It takes place on October 17-18, 2026, with the race location and start/finish at the Piedras Pintadas Trailhead. The festival includes a trail duathlon (run-bike-run) and multiple trail run distances. The series is cupless; participants must bring their own hydration vessel. The festival is part of the Elevation Culture Race Series.

Race details and logistics

Distances offered include:

• 50K
• 25K
• 15K
• 10K (Bernardo Challenge)
• 5K
• Stroller Trail 5K
• Kid's 1 Mile Fun Run
• Trail Duathlon - Run | Bike | Run (approx. 10k run, 22k bike, 5k run; combined ~23 miles)

Finishers of the main trail distances receive a custom tri-blend shirt and a handcrafted wooden medal; the Kid’s 1 Mile is non-timed and includes a finisher medal and gift. Awards are given to 1st–3rd place male and female in the 50K, 25K, 15K, 10K and 5K. The 50K allows a drop bag at a designated location; port-a-toilets are provided at the start/finish and may be available along the trail. Interactive course maps and elevation profiles are provided, and there are four parking zones (lots A–D) with no event parking at the start/finish. Accepted bike types for the duathlon include mountain, gravel and hybrid bikes. Registration opens December 1, 2025; a deadline of October 7, 2026 is listed to guarantee a finisher shirt. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.