Muir Woods Mountain Challenge
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Muir Woods Mountain Challenge
The Muir Woods Mountain Challenge is a trail running event on July 18, 2026 at Mt. Tamalpais State Park near Stinson Beach, California. The event offers multiple distances:
- 10K
- Half Marathon
- 30K
Courses include substantial elevation: the 30K is listed as 18.8 miles with 4,950 feet of gain, the Half Marathon as 13.1 miles with 3,450 feet of gain, and the 10K as 6.4 miles with 1,950 feet of gain. Early uphill sections include a roughly 2,000-foot climb in just over two miles up Willow Camp hill. Runners traverse Coastal Trail ridgelines, Matt Davis Trail descents, Dipsea Trail climbs and descents, and through Muir Woods and Cardiac Hill before returning to Stinson Beach.
The majority of the course runs on technical dirt trails and fire roads with rocky and rooty descents, steps, and frequent twists. Courses are marked with colored ribbon, laminated signs, and ground arrows at complex sections; blue ribbons indicate wrong-way trails. Aid stations provide a variety of foods and electrolytes and carry basic first aid items. Runners are asked to carry at least one 20 oz bottle because distances between aid stations vary. This is a cupless event; runners must carry their own reusable cup or flask.
Field capacity is 300 across all distances. Races are chip timed with disposable chips attached to the back of bib numbers. Awards include overall and age-group prizes and finisher medals. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
