Zane Grey Highline Trail Runs

Event overview

The Zane Grey Highline Trail Runs are scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, as the 36th annual running of the event. The races take place in the Christopher Creek / Payson, Arizona area and start and finish at the Mountain Meadow Ranch property. The event offers two trail ultra distances: a 50-mile race and a 50K race.

Course details

Both courses use maintained sections of the Highline Trail and avoid the Hell's Gate burn area. They are predominantly singletrack, roughly in the mid-to-high 80s to about 90% singletrack. The route includes multiple stream crossings and offers views across the Mogollon Rim, the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

• 50-mile: about 86% singletrack, roughly 6,500 ft of climbing, multiple stream crossings
• 50K: over 90% singletrack, roughly 4,400 ft of climbing, omits the final 19 miles of the 50-mile course