Desert Runner Trail Series

Desert Runner Trail Series 7 Trail Running races organized by Aravaipa Running around Phoenix, Arizona. Distances from 5K up to 100 Miles! Join us from October through March.

Registration is officially OPEN for the Spring Desert Runner Trail Series 🌵🔥 🌼 Four races. Four totally different trail ...
04/17/2026

Registration is officially OPEN for the Spring Desert Runner Trail Series 🌵🔥 🌼

Four races. Four totally different trail systems across Maricopa County ranging from 2 miles to 50 miles. From lakeside singletrack to rugged saguaro-lined climbs, every stop in the series brings its own vibe and its own challenge.

Even bigger news… Dam Good Run is now the official series finale 🙌
(New in 2027, while Coldwater Hundred becomes a much deserved standalone event.)

The lineup:
🐰 San Tan Scramble |January 9, 2027 at San Tan Mountain Regional Park
🐘 Elephant Mountain | February 6, 2027 at Cave Creek Regional Park
🐐 Mesquite Canyon | March 13, 2027 at White Tank Mountain Regional
park
🫏 Dam Good Run (series finale) April 4, 2027 at Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Grab the Spring DRT Pass early and save 20% on registration because you’re going to want the full ride.

Learn more and register at the link here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=138377

Online registration for Mesquite Canyon closes tonight at midnight! Your chance to throw down in the desert is almost go...
03/09/2026

Online registration for Mesquite Canyon closes tonight at midnight!

Your chance to throw down in the desert is almost gone…

This Saturday, March 14th, take on the rugged trails of White Tank Mountain Regional Park during Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs, one of the most challenging and rewarding races in the entire Desert Runner Trail Series.

📍 Waddell, AZ
🏃‍♂️ 50 Mile | 50K | 30K | 1/2 Marathon | 8K | Kid’s Fun Run

From rocky desert singletrack to sweeping views and technical descents through the iconic White Tank formations, Mesquite Canyon delivers the full desert trail experience.

The 50 Mile and 50K wind through cactus-lined trails before dropping into the wild Ford Canyon section featuring steep, rocky terrain and some heart-pounding downhill scrambling.

The 30K brings the grind with the infamous Goat Camp climb, followed by a long, fast descent down Mesquite Canyon Trail. The 1/2 Marathon packs in big climbs and rewarding downhills on a lollipop-style course, while the 8K keeps things fast and fun on the lower trails. And the Kid’s Fun Run lets the next generation of trail runners join the action.

🍻 Charity beer garden
☀️ Perfect desert running weather
🤝 One incredible trail community

It’s also the final race and biggest point opportunity of the DRT Series.

If you’ve been thinking about it… this is your sign.
Online registration closes tonight at midnight.

Link below to learn more and join us at Mesquite Canyon. 🐐

https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=125359

Elephant Mountain is calling 🐘✨The next stop in the Desert Runner Trail Series lands February 7, and this one is pure de...
01/18/2026

Elephant Mountain is calling 🐘✨
The next stop in the Desert Runner Trail Series lands February 7, and this one is pure desert poetry in motion.

From winding singletrack and towering mesas to quiet canyons and big-sky backcountry, every distance gets its own kind of magic.
The 50 Mile heads deep past Spur Cross and into the wild heart of the Tonto National Forest, tracing Skull Mesa, Chalk Canyon, and Seven Springs before looping home through canyons, creek beds, and echoes of old camps.
The 50K & 35K dance along dreamy singletrack from Cave Creek Regional Park to Spur Cross and back, while the 12K & 6K keep things playful and scenic on Go John and the new Quartz Trail.

It’s runnable. It’s rugged. It’s stunning in that only-the-desert-can way.
Come get lost in the beauty and find your rhythm out there. 🌵🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Link below to learn more and to join us for the 2026 edition of Elephant Mountain Trail Runs!

https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=125347

LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLEEEE! 🐃🏃🏽‍♀️The 2026 Coldwater Rumble explodes off the line at 7:00am sharp and the hype is...
01/17/2026

LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLEEEE! 🐃🏃🏽‍♀️

The 2026 Coldwater Rumble explodes off the line at 7:00am sharp and the hype is very real.

Race #5 in the Desert Runner Trail Series, Coldwater brings the heat with 100 Mile, 100K, 60K, 40K, 10 Mile, and 5 Mile options, each one ripping through the rugged foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, just west of Phoenix. Big miles. Big views. Bigger vibes.

The stage is set, the trails are waiting, and the rumblers are READY.
Swipe through a few 🔥 bib shots from yesterday’s pickup, beautifully captured by .

Sleep fast. Run hard.
See you at the start line, and If you’re cheering from afar, keep an eye on your runner at the link below!

Track your runner here: https://live.aravaiparunning.com/ #/coldwater_rumble-2026ipl

Photos from San Tan Scramble are LIVE! You showed up, kicked dust, smiled for the camera (or didn’t 😅), and absolutely s...
01/13/2026

Photos from San Tan Scramble are LIVE!

You showed up, kicked dust, smiled for the camera (or didn’t 😅), and absolutely sent it at San Tan Scramble. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to run, race, and scramble with us, we loved having you out there!

Now go find your race memories and relive the good times!

And hey… why stop now? We’re doing it all again this Saturday at the next Desert Runner Trail Series race: Coldwater Rumble. Same vibes, new trails.
Hope to see you back on the start line! 🏁🌵

📸 Let’s Wander Productions

https://lwp.smugmug.com/2026/San-Tan-Scramble-2026

🚨 Volunteer SOS at Coldwater Rumble! 🚨Plans open up last minute… and so did a bunch of volunteer spots for THIS weekend’...
01/13/2026

🚨 Volunteer SOS at Coldwater Rumble! 🚨

Plans open up last minute… and so did a bunch of volunteer spots for THIS weekend’s Coldwater Rumble!

Soak up that perfect desert weather, earn race credits, give back to the trail community, and have a dang good time while you’re at it. High fives included.

We’ve got lots of openings that just became available, so if you’ve been on the fence this is your sign.

👉 Inquire at the link below & join the fun!

https://aravaiparunning.ivolunteer.com/cwr26

Address

Phoenix, AZ
85001–85099

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