You are here: Home Page > Tahoe Activities Guide > Hiking & Trail Running > Running Events

Lake Tahoe Trail Running: Ultra Runs, Trail Races and Adventures

Trail Racing Runners at Lake Tahoe

We love racing on the trails at Lake Tahoe!

Welcome to our page featuring how to find trail running races at Lake Tahoe. The High Sierra is home to some of the most inspiring trail running and racing on earth, and runners come from all over the world to experience the rugged beauty of Lake Tahoe, the Carson Range, Desolation Wilderness, and the surrounding mountains.

Over the years, we have enjoyed many of the classic Tahoe-area trail races and ultra runs. In fact, Mary Kay once set the women's course record at the Sly Mountain Run. The course was changed afterward, so the record stands forever. That's a fun bit of Tahoe running history we are happy to share!

Where to Find Current Tahoe-Area Trail Running Events

The Tahoe region offers everything from mellow forest loops to steep alpine climbs, high-elevation training routes, and world-class endurance challenges. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, walker, or aspiring ultrarunner, the High Sierra has a trail for you.

Because race schedules change every year, and new events are added all the time, we now provide evergreen links to organizations that maintain up-to-date trail running and ultra running calendars. These resources list races throughout the Tahoe Basin, Truckee, Reno, Carson City, the Sierra Nevada foothills, and beyond.

RunningintheUSA.com event search for upcoming running races in the Tahoe area
Ultrasignup.com also lists ultramarathons, trail races, and multi-day running events, both long and short distance races at Lake Tahoe
Local running clubs and race organizers who publish updated schedules each season, such as the Tahoe Mountain Milers (South Shore), Donner Party Mountain Runners (North Shore), and Alpenglow Sports Mountain Running Club (Tahoe City),

These sites maintain their calendars year-round, so you can always find the latest race dates, distances, registration details, and training opportunities.

Trail Running Routes

You will find many great trail running routes on our Hiking, Backpacking and Trail Running page, where we highlight some of our favorite loops, climbs, and lakeview paths. If you want even more ideas, take a look at our Tahoe Dirt Biking and Off-Roading at Tahoe pages. Trail runners often use the same routes as off-road vehicles, and many of these shared trails offer long stretches of open forest, rolling terrain, and wide Sierra views.

We have run many of these routes ourselves, and even though the occasional passing vehicle may stir up a little dust, the trails remain wonderfully fun and full of variety. For example, Mary Kay ran a marathon and finished in Boston Marathon qualifying time after training exclusively on ORV routes between South Lake Tahoe and Spooner Summit.

Whether you are looking for a mellow outing or a challenging high-elevation workout, these shared-use paths can lead to some of the most enjoyable miles in the Tahoe High Sierra.

Why Trail Runners Buy GPS Watches Online

Most runners choose to buy their GPS watches online because it is faster, easier, and offers far more options than local stores. Online retailers usually have better prices, frequent sales, and a much wider selection of models, colors, and band sizes.

It is also simple to compare features like battery life, GPS accuracy, weight, elevation tracking, and mapping tools when everything is side by side on one page. Shipping is quick, and most runners already know the brand or model they want, so trying one on in person is not always necessary.

Easy return policies from companies like Garmin, Coros, and Amazon make online buying even more convenient. For these reasons, online shopping tends to dominate when runners are choosing mid-range and high-end GPS watches.

GPS Running Watches on Amazon »

Enjoy Your Trail Running at Lake Tahoe

Whether you are preparing for your first 5K trail run or your next 100-miler, the Tahoe High Sierra is an unforgettable place to train, explore, and compete. We hope the resources above help you discover your next adventure on the trails.

See you out there on the singletrack! -- Tom and Mary Kay