Black Mountain Trail Races 2026
The Black Mountain Trail Races 2026 will take place on June 20, 2026, in San Diego, United States. Located on the historic Kumeyaay land of Black Mountain, the event features a variety of technical terrain, including single-track, jeep trails, rocky sections, and steep climbs set amidst local chaparral and wildlife. Participants can expect typical San Diego summer weather for late June, which often includes warm to hot temperatures and sunny skies. All race distances begin and end at Hilltop Community Park, offering runners epic views throughout their respective courses.
What distances are offered at the Black Mountain Trail Races?
- →50K: Approximately 31 miles with 5,200–5,700 ft of elevation gain
- →25K: Approximately 16 miles with ~2,500 ft of elevation gain
- →Half Marathon: Approximately 13 miles with ~2,000 ft of elevation gain
What is the race schedule and start times?
- →50K: Check-in from 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM; Race starts at 6:30 AM
- →25K: Check-in from 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM; Race starts at 7:00 AM
- →Half Marathon: Check-in from 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM; Race starts at 8:00 AM
What are the course details and terrain for the 50K?
The 50K course is marked with orange ribbons and follows a technical route:
- →Miles 1-8: Shared trails via Little Black Loop, Roadrunner/Manzanita Loops, technical Miner's Loop, and Ahwee to Black Mountain Ranch
- →Miles 8-18: Lusardi Loop featuring jeep trails, single-track, and steep climbs such as "The Wall"
- →Miles 18-21.5: An out-and-back section on Lusardi
- →Miles 21.5-25: Rocky Lilac Canyon Loop returning via Miner's
- →Miles 25-31: A final climb to the Summit followed by a downhill finish
- →GPX Data: Available via Hellodrifter ↗
What are the course details and terrain for the 25K?
The 25K course is marked with blue ribbons:
- →Route: Initial climb via Little Black Loop single-tracks, descent through Miner's and Ahwee to Black Mountain Ranch, a short Doug Hill loop to the Gliderport, a climb to the Summit, and a downhill finish
What are the course details and terrain for the Half Marathon?
The Half Marathon course is marked with checkered black and white ribbons:
- →Route: Shared start via Little Black Loop single-tracks, descent through Miner's and part of Ahwee to new trails and jeep roads leading to the Summit, finishing with a downhill section
Where are the aid stations located for each distance?
- →50K Aid: Gliderport (6.9/25.5), Black Mountain Ranch (7.9/18.5/21.5), San Dieguito (12.1), and Summit (28.8)
- →25K Aid: Gliderport (6.9/10.6), Black Mountain Ranch (7.9/9.6), and Summit (13.9)
- →Half Marathon Aid: Gliderport (6.9) and Summit (10.7)
What are the time limits and cutoffs?
- →50K: Cutoff at 1:00 PM at Black Mountain Ranch (pass 3) and an overall cutoff of 4:30 PM (10-hour limit)
- →25K: Expected finish by approximately 1:00 PM
- →Half Marathon: Expected finish by approximately 1:00 PM