{"id":51964,"date":"2016-08-29T11:15:55","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T15:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=51964"},"modified":"2021-11-03T08:11:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T12:11:48","slug":"best-trail-races-trail-running-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/best-trail-races-trail-running-events\/","title":{"rendered":"The 15 of the Most Epic Trail Races Across the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe you need a change of scenery from your regular running route<\/a> or want to vary your terrain. Or maybe you\u2019re just itching to spend more time outside. Whatever the motivation, you\u2019re trading in the asphalt for single track trails and mountain passes.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not alone. Between 2012 and 2015, participation in trail running<\/a> increased 35.6 percent, from approximately 6 million to 8.14 million trail runners, according to research from the Outdoor Foundation<\/a>. The American Trail Running Association<\/a> has seen an increase of 143 percent in the number of trail races over the past 10 years. The reason? Simply put, trail running is fun\u2026and challenging.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>14 Trail Adventures to Try Before You Die<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTrail running and ultras<\/a> is the next step in challenge from running marathons,\u201d says Eric Orton<\/a>, renowned running coach best known for coaching Born to Run<\/em> author Christopher McDougall and founder of Eric Orton\u2019s Mountain Running Academy. Plus, the trail running community is low-key. \u201cThe emphasis is on adventure, fun and finishing, not speed. This has drawn many runners who are looking for a challenge without having the time comparison like that of marathons<\/a> or road races,\u201d says Orton. It requires a different kind of athleticism, he says.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned trail runner or a road runner looking to start hitting the trails, we\u2019ve rounded up 15 epic trail races in the U.S. (listed by date).<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Trail Running<\/a><\/p>\n

The 15 of the Best Trail Races in the U.S.<\/h2>\n
\"Jay
Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Trail Run<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0Jay Peak Trail Running Festival
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Family Fun
\nLocation:<\/strong> Jay, VT
\nDate:<\/strong> September 3-4, 2016
\nDistance:<\/strong> 5K, 25K and 50K plus kids\u2019 trail race
\nIf you\u2019re looking for something for the whole family, the Jay Peak Trail Running Festival is the place to be over Labor Day weekend. The festival features a series of races, including three different 5Ks, rated green circle, blue square and black diamond \u2014 just like the ski trails at this Northern Vermont resort. There is also a 25K, 50K and a kids\u2019 trail race. Plus, the mountain getaway has something for everyone \u2014 runners and non-runners alike \u2014 including a giant waterpark, golf course and hiking.
\nRegistration fee: $25-$85<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Emerald
Photo courtesy of Harry Lefrak Photography<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2.\u00a0Emerald Bay Trail Run
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Alpine Lake Adventurers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Lake Tahoe, CA
\nDate:<\/strong> September 18, 2016
\nDistance:<\/strong> 7.5 miles
\nYou\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re running right over Lake Tahoe on this point-to-point course that takes you around stunning Emerald Bay<\/a> and up the Rubicon Trail to D.L. Bliss Sate Park. The epic views of the High Sierras aren\u2019t bad either. With low-to-moderate climbing, this course is considered fast. And once you cross the finish line at Lester Beach, cool off with a icy dip in the lake.
\nRegistration fee: $56<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Best 10K Races Totally Worth the Travel<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/83k64qoCTi\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @runnersworldmag<\/a><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Runner\u2019s World Half and Festival
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Runnerds Wanting to Try Trails
\nLocation:<\/strong> Bethlehem, PA
\nDate:<\/strong> October 14, 2016
\nDistance:<\/strong> 3.8 miles
\nThe Altra Trail Run kicks off the weekend festivities at the Runner\u2019s World Half and Festival, hosted by the magazine. The 3.8-mile route winds through Bethlehem\u2019s South Mountain Park on single- and double-track, sometimes hilly, trails under the brilliant fall foliage. The weekend also features a 5K, 10K and half-marathon as well as seminars, speakers, dinner with Runner\u2019s World<\/em> editors and live music. All in all, a perfect weekend for the ultimate runnerd.
\nRegistration fee: $30<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/-nfthoj1e9\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @jakub.galczynski<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Moab Trail Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Canyoneers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Moab, UT
\nDate:<\/strong> November 5-6, 2016
\nDistance:<\/strong> Marathon, half-marathon, 5K adventure run
\nSlickrock, narrow canyons and sandy washes are just some of the rugged terrain in store for you at this event. You\u2019ll wind your way through Moab\u2019s signature red rocks and alongside several arches on the technical marathon and half-marathon course. (This is also the site of the 2016 USATF Marathon Trail Championships!) Feeling like the 5K Adventure Run is more your speed? Expect a winning combo of natural and man-made obstacles. Rock maze, ladders and creek crossings anyone?
\nRegistration fee: $55-$95 (until September 1)<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Fitness Retreats You Can Actually Afford<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/-_-UxsIh8h\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @mikeadrian<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run Series
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Tropical Adventurers (and Movie and TV Buffs)
\nLocation:<\/strong> Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii
\nDate:<\/strong> December 4, 2016
\nDistances:<\/strong> 21K world championship course, 10K, 5K and an adventure walk
\nLooking for a trail adventure in paradise? Head to Oahu for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championships. Don\u2019t worry \u2014there\u2019s no qualifying process and anyone can race. The 21K course on Kuala Ranch, a 4,000 acre working cattle ranch that\u2019s served as the backdrop for movies like Jurassic World<\/em>, Pearl Harbor<\/em> and 50 First Dates<\/em>, is a slice of heaven. You\u2019ll run along lush green mountain ridges and through dense rainforest and open valleys on single- and double-track trails and dirt roads. The event also offers a 10K, 5K and adventure walk.
\nRegistration fee: $60, $40, $30, $30 (through November 4, 2016)<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BD4x-bYnSEC\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @rainshadowrunning<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Gorge Waterfalls 50K\/100K
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Waterfall Chasers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Cascade Locks, OR
\nDate:<\/strong> April 1, 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 50K and 100K
\nDon\u2019t go chasing waterfalls\u2026unless it\u2019s the Gorge Waterfalls 50K. As the race name suggests, the Columbia River Gorge course will take you by gorgeous cascades (even running underneath Ponytail Falls!) while gaining 6,000 feet in elevation. Expect picturesque, super green Pacific Northwest old forest trails. Since it\u2019s a popular event, participants are chosen by lottery, which opens October 15, 2016. But be sure to enter within the 10-day window!
\nRegistration fee: To be announced<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> 50 Running Resources for Speed, Strength and Nutrition<\/a><\/p>\n

\"7
Photo: Ben Kimball Photography \/ Northeast Race Photo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7.\u00a07 Sisters Trail Race
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Mountain Lovers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Amherst, MA
\nDate:<\/strong> Early May 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 12 miles
\nWhen you think of epic trail running, you might not think of Western Mass but the 7 Sisters Trail Race will change your mind. This 12-mile out-and-back race on technical, single-track trails winds along the ridge of the Mt. Holyoke Range. Including 3,500 feet of elevation gain, it\u2019s considered the hardest trail race in the Northeast. If that doesn\u2019t move you: Proceeds from the race benefit the Friends of the Mt. Holyoke Range<\/a>.
\nRegistration fee: $50<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BFowabqhgOL\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @stravarun<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Ice Age Trail 50 Endurance Runs
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Glacier Explorers
\nLocation:<\/strong> La Grange, WI
\nDate:<\/strong> May 13, 2017
\nDistances:<\/strong> Half-marathon, 50K and 50 miles
\nIf you thought the only way to travel back<\/a> to the Ice Age was at the movie theatre, think again. The Ice Age Trail 50 Endurance Runs take you back in time through landscape shaped by glaciers when they retreated from Wisconsin more than 10,000 years ago. You\u2019ll run on cross-country ski and single-track trails along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and through the diverse, primal landscape of the Kettle Moraine Forest. The 50-miler is one of the oldest, continuously run ultras in the U.S.
\nRegistration fee: To be announced\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The 11 Best Running Camps in the U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BFaFR-gQGG5\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @janntaylor91<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Quest for the Crest
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Hard Core Elevation Seekers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Burnsville, NC
\nDate:<\/strong> May 2017
\nDistances:<\/strong> 50K, 10K and Straight Up Kilometer
\nImagine climbing from the valley floor to the top of the Black Mountain Crest Trail in Mount Mitchell State Park three separate times on technical, single-track trails. (For those keeping track at home that\u2019s 11,300 feet up and 11,700 feet down for a total of 23,000 feet of elevation change.) Add in North Carolina heat and humidity (and sometimes frost) and it\u2019s no wonder Quest for the Crest is dubbed the \u201cHardest 50K in the World.\u201d If the whole crew isn\u2019t game, race weekend also include both a 10K and a Straight Up Kilometer race.
\nRegistration f<\/em>ee: To be announced<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BGj7AZ6KlNr\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @sfrunco<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0The Dipsea Race
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> History Seekers
\nLocation:<\/strong> Marin County, CA
\nDate:<\/strong> June 11, 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 7.4 miles
\nThe oldest trail race in America started thanks to a bet. In 1905, members of San Francisco\u2019s Olympic Club wagered to see who could get from Mill Valley to the newly opened Dipsea Inn in Stinson Beach first. Since then, the race has maintained its quirky character including a handicapping system, which provides runners with a headstart based on age and gender, and a less than conventional entry process with slots allotted based on previous finishes, mail-in applications, a silent auction, bribes and convincing sob stories. The 7.4-mile course is no joke, though. You\u2019ll travel up and down roads, hit trails through Muir Woods and scale three flights of stairs as you make your way to the beach.
\nRegistration fee: $90<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BHixiqmBCVw\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @joevigerphoto<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

11.\u00a0Loon Mountain Race
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Mountain Diehards
\nLocation:<\/strong> Loon Mountain, Lincoln, NH
\nDate:<\/strong> July 2, 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 6.6 miles
\nThis isn\u2019t an ordinary trail race. It\u2019s straight up Loon Mountain to the Summit Lodge at the top of the ski resort\u2019s gondola. You\u2019ll gain 2,200-plus vertical feet over a 6.6-mile course, which has been the site of the USATF Mountain Running Championships. While the average grade along the course is 10 percent, by far the hardest part is the ascent up the black diamond trail Upper Walking Boss \u2014 a staggering 40 percent incline!
\nRegistration fee: $30 (before March 1, 2017)<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> The Easiest 5K and 10K Training Plans Ever<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BI-EM-pgfzN\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @wlgazhunter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0Mount Marathon Race
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Gluttons for Punishment
\nLocation:<\/strong> Seward, AK
\nDate:<\/strong> July 4, 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 3.1-3.5 miles (depending on route)
\nThree plus miles doesn\u2019t sound so bad for a trail race, right? Except when you gain 3,000 feet in elevation while scrambling up cliffs, mud and shale and then back down again. The average slope of the course is 34 degrees and the steepest section is 60 degrees. The race takes place every 4th of July weekend and registration opens January 1, 2017. First-time racers must complete the entire course prior to race day before you can pick up bib.
\nRegistration fee: $35 <\/em>(registration opens January 1; ends March 31)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BJEnehiA_yB\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @trainer_ab<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

13.\u00a0TransRockies Run
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Team Players
\nLocation:<\/strong> Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, CO
\nDate:<\/strong> August 15-20, 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> 120 miles
\nOver the course of six days, two-person teams will cover 120 miles from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek along Colorado\u2019s stunning trails. You\u2019ll run through the White River and San Isabel National Forests on a mix of single track and forest roads and gain nearly 20,000 feet of elevation. And at the end of each stage, you\u2019ll be welcomed to a tent city with hot meals and showers. There\u2019s an option to run the race over three days and both races can be run solo.
\nRegistration fee: $1,199-$1,699<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BJVdc7dhLY4\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @runtherut<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0The Rut
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for<\/strong>: Thrill Seeking Skyrunners
\nLocation:<\/strong> Big Sky, MT
\nDates:<\/strong> September 2017
\nDistances:<\/strong> 50K, 28K, 11K and Vertical K
\nIf you\u2019re looking for an epic (and unabashedly brutal) race, The Rut\u2019s for you. The extremely technical terrain, which showcases the best of Montana\u2019s rugged mountains, isn\u2019t for the faint of heart \u2014 which is why it attracts some of the world\u2019s best trail runners. At times, it will feel like you\u2019re dancing (or slip sliding) over loose rocks above the tree line on the 28K and 50K courses, while the 11K travels along lower- and mid-mountain single track trails.
\nRegistration fee: $55<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The 30 Best Marathons in the Entire World<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/8G2Mmrt5gX\/<\/p>\n

Photo: @kate_runs_colorado<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0Golden Leaf Half Marathon
\n<\/a><\/strong>Best for:<\/strong> Fall Foliage
\nLocation:<\/strong> Aspen, CO
\nDate:<\/strong> September 2017
\nDistance:<\/strong> Half-marathon
\nRunning through the golden aspen forests and meadows at the height of fall foliage season make this one of the most popular and scenic trail races. (The 2016 race is already sold out.) Starting in Snowmass Village, the single-track trails traverse the mountains on its way to Aspen. Over 13.1 miles, you\u2019ll gain 980 feet and lose 1,712 feet.
\nRegistration fee: $75<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Love trail running? Mark down these 15 awesome trail races in the U.S. From mountains to canyons to waterfalls, they take you on unforgettable adventures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6],"tags":[288,289,110,108,341,357,174,100],"class_list":["post-51964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","tag-cardio","tag-exercise","tag-race","tag-running","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2running","tag-travel","tag-workout"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}