Mammoth Trail Fest
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Event overview
Mammoth Trailfest is a multi-day trail running event in Mammoth Lakes, California, held September 25-27, 2026. The festival center is the Village at Mammoth Plaza and the weekend includes races, a community festival with talks and performances, and on-site medical support from Mammoth Hospital. The event uses USFS land under a special use permit and emphasizes low-impact practices, Terracycle collection for nutrition wrappers, and a cup-less aid station policy.
Races, courses and logistics
Races offered include:
- Mammoth Triple (DBA, 50K, 26K)
- Dragon’s Back Ascent (summit finish)
- tenkay
- 50K
- 26K
- Kids 1K
Course characteristics: routes start and finish in the Village Plaza for most races, include technical singletrack and high-altitude sections, and use color-coded markings (purple, orange, green) and wrong-way signs at critical junctions. The 50K route lists about 7,000 ft of vertical gain and multiple summit sections; Dragon’s Back Trail reaches the Mammoth Mountain summit at 11,053 ft. Aid station counts: Dragon’s Back Ascent - no aid, tenkay - one aid, 50K - six aid stations, 26K - four aid stations. Aid stations provide water, real food, and GU products; summit aid plans pancakes and worked-on dietary options.
Logistics and rules: professional chip timing with B-tags is used; gun time determines prize money and chip time is used for age-group awards. Bib pick-up is at Village Plaza tents with scheduled pickup windows. Drop bag trucks operate for DBA, 50K, and 26K at designated locations. Pacers are not allowed; crews have site restrictions. Recommended gear includes a mobile phone, minimum 1 L fluid capacity, extra layers, and an emergency blanket; organizers may require a Cold Weather Kit if conditions warrant. Free town shuttles and ample parking at Canyon, Eagle, and Main Lodge are provided. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.