Franklin Mountains Trail Runs
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Franklin Mountains Trail Runs : overview
The Franklin Mountains Trail Runs, presented by Human Potential Running Series, takes place January 24-25, 2026 at Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Unit, in El Paso, Texas. The event offers multiple distances and formats:
- 12-Hour
- 55k
- 30k
- King & Queen of the Mountain
- Half Marathon
- 10k
- 5k
Runner capacity is listed as 250 for Saturday and 250 for Sunday. The main start/finish area is at Tom May's Unit within the state park; the 50-mile start is at McKelligon Canyon. The event includes a state park entry fee, a gender-specific race shirt, a finisher’s medal, and aid stations.
Course, rules and logistics
All courses run in Franklin Mountains State Park and ascend from the desert floor to North Franklin Peak. North Franklin Peak has a summit elevation of 7,192 feet, about 3,000 feet above the city. Parts of the course travel on scree fields and along sections with cliffs. The park offers primitive camping only, without water.
The King & Queen event requires summit verification via a bracelet, has a 5-hour time limit, includes no aid stations, and routes range from about 3-8 miles. The 12-Hour format uses a randomized colored-ball loop system; pulling a black ball allows a 15-minute timeout or a task challenge to earn an override ticket. Drop bags, designated aid stations, crew and pacer rules vary by distance : crews and pacers are permitted for the 50-mile only. Runners are advised to carry sufficient water for 6-7 miles and to exit at aid stations if withdrawing. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
