Nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Utah lies a running event that stands out for its extraordinary setting and challenging terrain: The Moab Trail Marathon 2026. The team at Moab Trail Marathon 2026 offers Marathon, Half, and Adventure 10k, and Kids K distances, it checks the boxes of everything you want in a race: challenging terrain, epic views, fabulous event organization, and race variety. It also serves as host to the USATF Trail Half Marathon National Championship. The event spans a full weekend, with the Marathon, Half, and Adventure 5k taking place Saturday and the option of a second Half that Sunday. The event’s setting speaks for itself; set in Moab, racers will be taken through gorgeous canyons, single-track trails, slick rock, and Rugged Jeep Trails. Our team at Strambecco considers it to be one of the Best Trail Running Event in the Southwest.

Participants can choose to take on the Marathon, 10K, or Kids K on Saturday, while the Half Marathon is available on both Saturday and Sunday – providing flexibility and a chance for more runners to experience the magic of Moab. The Saturday races tend to fill up by early June.

The Moab Trail Marathon unfolds in the spectacular Kane Creek Canyon area near Moab, Utah, offering runners a unique blend of terrains and stunning vistas.

Trail Marathon: The course is unique and wild. The canyons around Moab are unlike anywhere in the world, and this course conquers some of the most spectacular! You will travel through narrow canyons with spectacular vertical walls on both sides and along the rim-tops of deep canyons with spectacular vistas in every direction. The terrain frequently changes to keep the miles clicking and includes narrow single-track, rugged jeep trails, sandy washes, ‘Moab-style slickrock’, a short section of dirt road, a few sections of no-track, a very old mining trail, and a couple of sections of fixed line traverse. Views will take your breath away and include the spectacular red rocks of “Behind the Rocks Wilderness” and “Amasa Back” area; also, view the sheer vertical walls of Pritchett, Hunter, and Kane Creek Canyons and views into Canyonlands National Park. In the distance are the beautiful 12,000-foot La Sal Mountains. You’ll pass by several arches, lots of lizards, cool and funny-looking rocks, possible eagles and hawks, some neat ancient pictographs, a couple of small creeks and springs, and our friendly aid station volunteers. They will be there to hydrate and fuel you in some of the craziest spots! The elevation gain and loss is about 3500 ft. There are two major climbs, one at the beginning, which is nice and gradual, and one just after the ½ way point, which is shorter and steeper. Top runners will run all but the fixed rope section and are expected to finish in less than 4 hours. Average runners will do a combo of running with a bit of walking and are expected to finish in the 5 to 6 hr range.

Saturday Half Marathon: This course follows the first 9 miles of the Marathon Course. Then you’ll get a break, technically but not physically, as you’ll climb up the switchbacks of Kane Creek Road, then back down, where you’ll enter the depths of Kane Creek Drainage. This unique canyon is rarely traveled but is beautiful. Most of the canyon is runnable along hard-packed sand with a bit of water. Some sections are on single-track along the shore, and others through deeper water. You’ll travel about a mile through the canyon and then along the dirt road for a ½ mile and a final 1/2 mile of fun single track to the finish.

Both the Marathon and Half Marathon are well-supported, with aid stations stocked with hydration and fuel strategically placed to assist runners through the challenging terrain. From finishers’ medals and mugs to sponsor “swag,” top age group finishers prizes, and a significant cash purse shared between top Half Marathon finishers, the event promises glory and gratification for all.

For those interested in the Collegiate Trail Championships, the Half Marathon on Saturday provides a platform for college runners to compete for the Team Trophy and individual titles.