Franklin Mountains Trail Runs
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Event overview
The Franklin Mountains Trail Runs take place at Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Unit, in El Paso, Texas. The weekend event features multiple trail distances and a 12-hour format. Runner capacity is listed as 250 for Saturday and 250 for Sunday. The start and finish area is at Tom May’s Unit within the state park. The course goes from the desert floor to the summit area of North Franklin Peak, which has an elevation of 7,192 feet and rises about 3,000 feet above the city.
Distances and formats
- King & Queen - summit challenge with a 5-hour limit
- 5k
- 10k
- Half Marathon
- 30k
- 55k
- 12-Hour
Course, rules, and logistics
The King & Queen event requires runners to touch the peak and return, verify summit via a bracelet, and carry all food and water because there are no aid stations on that route. The 12-hour event uses a color-ball draw to assign looped routes; colors match course markings and runners accumulate miles over successive loops. Pulling a black ball gives either a 15-minute timeout or a task to earn an override ticket. Mid-race drop down is allowed for the 10k and 30k at the 5k point; other distances do not offer drop down options.
Aid stations are described as well stocked. Drop bags are allowed at the pavilion; additional drop locations exist for longer distances. Spectators are restricted to the start/finish area. Limited crew and pacer access applies only to the 50-mile event. The park has primitive camping only with no water. The race notes scree fields, cliff exposure, and recommends water capacity for 6-7 miles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
