Mayhem Night Trail
Fort McDowell, United States • 5 Dec 2026
Event Overview
The Mayhem Night Trail is a night-running event held at McDowell Mountain Regional Park in Fort McDowell, Arizona. Now in its ninth year, the race takes place on the park's competitive track area and desert trails. Participants navigate the course after sunset using headlamps, sharing portions of the trail with runners from the concurrent daytime event, the McDowell Mountain Frenzy.
Course Information
The event offers three distinct trail distances:
- 25 km- Features a total elevation gain of 1,341 feet.
- 10 Mile- Features a total elevation gain of 800 feet.
- 5 Mile- Features a total elevation gain of 500 feet.
The trails are marked with orange plastic ribbons with black polka dots and reflective medallions. Blue and white checkerboard flagging is used to indicate "wrong way" paths. The race has an overall cutoff time of 11:00 PM for all participants.
Logistics and Facilities
The start and finish line is located at the Competitive Track Area near the park entrance. One full remote aid station, Gate Aid, is available along with a water-only station. Aid stations provide water, electrolyte drinks, snacks, and various hot food items. This is a cupless event, so runners must bring their own reusable containers.
There is a $10 vehicle entry fee for the park. On-site facilities include 96 individual campsites for tents or RVs, as well as a group campground located 2.5 miles from the event area. No pets are permitted on the race course.
Participant Benefits
Registered runners receive a chip-timed result, a finisher award, and access to a finish-line photo. Live tracking with split points is provided during the event. Participants who complete a distance at both Mayhem and the daytime Frenzy race are eligible for the Double Down Challenge medal. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.