
From the Organizer
Giant redwoods dominate the landscape in our Santa Cruz Trail Run. Aside from coiling single-track that opens up to expansive roads and paths–and even sand–participants will enjoy the ocean breezes pouring in from the Santa Cruz coast. This race delivers everything from river crossings to high ridges with aid stations every 5-6 miles for refueling before tackling the next beautiful, albeit strenuous, section. This is a perfect race for family and friends to attend. They can cheer, enjoy Henry Cowell park, and consume post-race food fit for a trail running king or queen!
Park Information: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Start Times:
30K – 8:30 AM
Half – 8:45 AM
10K – 9:00 AM
Check-In & Bib Pickup:
Race Morning: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Time Limit: There is a 6 hour time limit for the race. All runners must be off the course by 2:30 PM.
Capacity: The Santa Cruz Trail Run has a capacity of 330 runners, across all distances.
Parking: Parking at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is $10.00. There is limited parking along Highway 9 outside of the park. To save some money, we recommend you carpool from Felton (minutes away from the park) or Santa Cruz.
Directions:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 North Big Trees Park Road, Felton, CA 95018
Click for Directions
Timing: All races are professionally chip timed, utilizing MyLaps and Race Director, ensuring your time is captured as accurately as possible. Disposable chips are attached to back of each bib number.
Post Race: We offer a broad selection of sweet and salty snacks, as well as fresh fruit and a diverse line up of pre-packaged food options (chips, cakes, jerkey, etc.).
Dog Policy: Sorry, no dogs are allowed within Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
90°
Typical Low
51°
Chance of Rain
2%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Ben Lomond #4, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
Elevation
514 ft
Nearest Airport
SJC
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 22 mi
Time Zone
Pacific Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Santa Cruz Trail Run, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
75
Days to train
Coming Up
Summer 2026 Santa Cruz Track Club All Comers Meet
5 miles away
2026 Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Firecracker Run
5 miles away
San Lorenzo River Trail Run
5 miles away
Race Thru the Redwoods
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Santa Cruz Trail Run
Aug 22, 2026