Wharf to Wharf Race

JUL

26

2026

A scenic six mile coastal road race in Santa Cruz that finishes at Capitola Wharf, featuring music along the route, a capped in person field, on site giftpaks and awards, plus a virtual option with mailed race kit.

Sun 26 Jul 2026

Santa Cruz, California

Website Registration

6 miles

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Wharf to Wharf Race - Santa Cruz, California

The Wharf to Wharf Race is a limited-entry road race held along the Santa Cruz coastline. The main event is a scenic six-mile course run on gently rolling hills. The start is on Portola Drive between 26th Avenue and 38th Avenue and the finish is at the corner of Cliff and Wharf Road by Capitola Wharf. The course is closed to vehicles and certain wheeled devices, pets are prohibited, and all participants must maintain a 17‑minute-per-mile pace. The course reopens to traffic at 10:30am.

The start area is organized with color coded corrals and bib numbers are required for corral access and shuttle use. Elite bibs are color coded with a white background and red numbers. Volunteers and signage staff the start area. There is no gear check at the starting line.

Post-race procedures include on‑site giftpak pickup on Capitola Beach; giftpaks must be claimed in person with the tag attached to the bib and include the event T-shirt. Awards include the Mayor’s Cup and cash prizes for top finishers, special plaques for local and wheelchair champions, elite apparel for the top 100 men and women, and a $1,000 Gold Number cash prize drawn from 100 finalists. The JAMBAR Road Show presents live music along the course with 50+ bands. A virtual Wharf to Wharf option allows participants to complete a six mile route during the week of July 20–26; virtual entries receive a mailed bib and post‑race shirt and bag, and virtual results are separate from in‑person Top 100 standings.

Distances: Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.