Franklin Mountains Trail Runs
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Franklin Mountains TrailFest January 21-24, 2027
Franklin Mountains TrailFest is a four day trail running festival held in Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Unit, off Transmountain Road in El Paso, Texas. The event includes a Thursday trail running film festival and multiple races across three following days, with distance options from short runs to ultramarathons.
Distances include:
- 100K
- 50K
- 30K
- 30K relay (two person team)
- 10K
- 5K
- King / Queen of the Mountain summit challenge
Trails are true desert singletrack: rocky, exposed, and steep in places. North Franklin Peak reaches 7,192 feet, about 3,000 feet above the city, and on a clear day the summit offers views into Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. The 50K and 100K routes circumnavigate the mountain and climb to the summit. The 30K and the King and Queen of the Mountain also reach North Franklin Peak. The eastern flank of the mountain passes remnants of a tin mining, milling, and smelting operation that ran from 1910 to 1915.
The festival includes a Trail Running Film Festival at FLIX Brewhouse West El Paso; film tickets are sold separately. Primitive camping is available in Franklin Mountains State Park with no water on site. The event is organized by Wanderlust Running. Registration closes December 31. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
