Ultramarathon · Location guide

California Ultramarathons

California ultramarathons range from high-country trail races to desert endurance events and long coastal efforts. Elevation, heat, remoteness, and qualification rules vary sharply, so choosing a race starts with more than distance and date.

Showing all 17 races in this collection. Updated August 2026.

Notable race guides: Western States 100, Badwater 135, and Tahoe 200.

  1. 01Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance RunSaturday, October 3, 2026Altadena, CaliforniaAngeles Crest 100 is a Southern California mountain 100-miler through the San Gabriels, known for heat, altitude swings, and old-school endurance.GuideResults
  2. 02Cuyamaca 100KSaturday, October 3, 2026Julian, CaliforniaCuyamaca 100K traverses oak woodland, pine forest, chaparral and desert-edge trail near San Diego, with a 19-hour limit and live pods each October.GuideResults
  3. 03HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB 100MFriday, October 9, 2026Big Bear Lake, CaliforniaKodiak 100M circles Big Bear Valley over 100.6 mountain miles, reaching Sugarloaf and the Pacific Crest Trail with 15,912 feet of gain in October.Guide
  4. 04Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance RunSaturday, October 10, 2026San Francisco, CaliforniaA choose-your-distance ultra on a certified 4.5-mile Lake Merced loop, where runners hit 50K and decide on the spot whether to press on to 50 miles.Guide
  5. 05Lake Hodges Trail Festival 50KSaturday, October 17, 2026San Diego, CaliforniaA runnable San Diego 50K on wide dirt trails along Lake Hodges, with the Raptor Ridge climb faced twice on an approachable first-ultra course.Guide
  6. 06Rio Del Lago 100 MileSaturday, November 7, 2026Folsom, CaliforniaRio Del Lago 100 Mile starts at Beal's Point and crosses Sierra foothill trails east of Sacramento, returning for its twenty-fifth running each November.GuideResults
  7. 07Ray Miller 50 MilerSaturday, December 5, 2026Malibu, CaliforniaRay Miller's 50-mile course brings nearly 14,000 feet of gain and loss to Point Mugu trails, with ocean views, steep fire roads, and a 15-hour limit.GuideResults
  8. 08Ray Miller 50KSaturday, December 5, 2026Malibu, CaliforniaThe Ray Miller 50K packs nearly 6,000 feet of gain and loss into Point Mugu State Park, with exposed ridges, ocean views, and steep coastal trails.GuideResults
  9. 09San Joaquin River Trail 50KSaturday, December 5, 2026Friant, CaliforniaA December trail 50K along Millerton Lake and the San Joaquin River, with about 5,500 feet of climbing on Sierra foothill singletrack near Fresno.Guide
  10. 10Avalon Benefit 50 MileSaturday, January 9, 2027Avalon, CaliforniaAvalon Benefit 50 Mile crosses Catalina Island on a historic trail-ultra route, pairing steep, rugged interior terrain with Pacific Ocean views.GuideResults
  11. 11San Diego 50 MileSaturday, January 9, 2027Escondido, CaliforniaSan Diego County's midwinter 50 miler runs San Pasqual Valley single track and fire road near Escondido, topped by a long climb to Raptor Ridge.Guide
  12. 12Canyons 100MFriday, April 23, 2027Auburn, CaliforniaCanyons 100M is a Sierra foothills UTMB World Series Major from China Wall to Auburn, built around runnable climbs, canyons, and Western States terrain.GuideResults
  13. 13Canyons 100KSaturday, April 24, 2027Auburn, CaliforniaCanyons 100K is a competitive Auburn-area ultra with China Wall start lines, canyon descents, UTMB Major status, and Western States stakes in spring.GuideResults
  14. 14Shadow of the Giants 50KSaturday, June 5, 2027Fish Camp, CaliforniaShadow of the Giants sends 50K runners through Sierra National Forest trails, with spaced aid, an eight-hour cutoff and early-start option for late finishers.Guide
  15. 15Tahoe 200Monday, June 21, 2027Homewood, CaliforniaTahoe 200 makes a multi-day circuit around Lake Tahoe, combining more than 200 miles of remote high-altitude trail across California and Nevada.GuideResults
  16. 16Western States 100Saturday, June 26, 2027Olympic Valley, CaliforniaWestern States 100 is a landmark point-to-point California trail ultra from Olympic Valley to Auburn, with huge climbs, lottery entry, and race-week tracking.GuideResults
  17. 17Badwater 135Monday, July 19, 2027Lone Pine, CaliforniaBadwater 135 crosses Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, asking runners to cover 135 road miles, extreme heat, and three major climbs from start to finish.GuideResults