The 2026 Horseshoe Lake Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in La Honda, California, within the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains near Woodside and Portola Valley. The event begins and ends at the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot, located on the west side of Skyline Blvd., 0.9 miles south-southeast of the intersection with Page Mill Rd. The course spans 13.0 miles, featuring a mix of single-track trails, fireroads, and shaded woodland paths, with a total ascent of 2,535 feet. Participants can expect a scenic, runnable trail experience with rolling hills, including a final loop around "Cathedral Hill," a section of trail winding through towering redwoods. Weather conditions for the event are expected to be mild, with temperatures ranging from 50°F to 65°F and mostly clear skies, offering ideal running conditions for the course.
What is the race format and course like?
→The event is a mixed-terrain trail race, combining single-track paths, fireroads, covered woods, and hillsides
→The course features rolling hills and is designed to be runnable, with all ascents considered gentle
→The route follows the Bay Area Ridge Trail northwest from the start, turns around at Rapley Ranch Rd., descends toward the Pacific, and climbs back to the ridge
→The final segment includes a clockwise loop around "Cathedral Hill," a scenic trail through tall redwoods
→For Stevens Creek 50K veterans, the course mirrors the final third of that race until Horseshoe Lake, with runners continuing straight uphill instead of turning left to finish
What is the distance of the event?
→The race is a half marathon, covering 13.0 miles
What is the event schedule?
→Check-in begins at 8:00 AM
→The race starts at 9:00 AM
How is the course marked?
→The course will be marked, but runners are encouraged to download the route file for navigation backup
→Registration includes access to the event and participation in the half marathon
→A portion of the registration fee is donated to The Hatuey Project, a cause that provides legally exported medicines to Cuban children with cancer affected by U.S. trade restrictions
→Race director matches both the entry fee and any additional donations, doubling the impact of contributions
What is the registration fee?
→The registration fee is $40 via Ultrasignup
→An optional but strongly encouraged additional donation to The Hatuey Project is available
→Direct tax-deductible donations to The Hatuey Project are also accepted
What is the race beneficiary?
→The Hatuey Project is the beneficiary of the event, providing legally exported medicines to Cuban children with cancer affected by U.S. trade restrictions
→100% of entry fees (excluding Ultrasignup processing) go to this cause
What are the logistics notes for the event?
→Restrooms are located in the parking lot to the right of the start area
→Runners are advised to load the course file into a GPS watch or app, such as maps.me or RunGo, for confidence on trail markings
What should participants know about the course?
→The course includes a range of terrains, including shaded single-track, open fireroads, covered woods, and hillsides
→The course is designed to be runnable, with relatively gentle hills
→The final loop around "Cathedral Hill" is a notable scenic feature of the race
What is the expected weather for the event?
→Weather conditions for March 22, 2026, in La Honda are expected to be mild, with temperatures ranging from 50°F to 65°F
→The forecast indicates mostly clear skies, making for ideal running conditions
