Autumn Harvest Trail Weekend

Lake Bastrop, Texas • October 10-11, 2026

Experience the magic of autumn trail running

Start: 7:00 AM  |  Distance: 4.167-mile loop. Format: Last Person Standing with cumulative time tiebreaker. One loop. One hour. Last runner standing wins.  Are you in?

The 7:00 AM start means you'll run the Gideon Loop starting from the Basecamp, through one full day, one full night, and into a second morning. Sunset falls around 7:15 PM, approximately 12 hours and 2 loops into the race. Runners must have mandatory night gear ready before the 7:00 PM loop.

If you're the last runner standing, you'll complete a victory lap to claim the win.

Paid by the Mile:

The last runner standing receives an event champion's trophy and a check for $2 per mile covered, rounded to the nearest dollar. The winner also earns a complimentary entry to the next race on The Last Frontier Circuit. Prize money is awarded to an official winner only (final loop completed solo). Entry is non-transferable; if the winner is already registered for that race, they receive a credit they can apply to a future race or merch.

How many loops are in your software? Come find out. You can achieve this just by showing up and taking it one loop at a time:

1 Loop: 4.16 miles (A great trail run)

2 Loops: 8.33 miles (A major personal milestone)

3 Loops: 12.5 miles (Essentially a Trail Half Marathon)

4 Loops: 16.6 miles (Uncharted territory)

You don't need to be fast. You just have to move 4.167 miles in 60 minutes. That is a highly achievable 14:23-per-mile pace.

You can briskly walk the uphills, jog the flats, and still make it back to the starting corral with 5 to 10 minutes to spare to sit in a lawn chair, eat a snack, and hang out.

It's not a speed race. It's a pacing game.

Run until you can't. Then run one more.

Important Race Format Note: The Big Bastrop Backyard Ultra starts promptly at 7:00 AM. For this inaugural edition, the race has a 48-hour time limit, which the race director may extend by up to 6 additional hours based on weather and course conditions. Future editions will have no time limit. The race director may also pause or end the race at any time for runner safety.

The Texas Backyard Series Pass Options

Want the ultimate circuit experience? Choose a Bundle during checkout to unlock exclusive contender privileges:

• Mailed Legacy Bib: Your permanent number for the entire season, shipped straight to your door. Zero race-day lines (Must be registered at least 3 weeks before the first race day for guaranteed delivery).
• Priority Crew Pit Setup: Premium space allocation closest to the starting corral at all venues.
• Injury Deferral Insurance: Clean, hassle-free single-race transfers if your training block gets sidelined.

A backyard ultra is won at the rest chair, not the starting line. Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, training plans, pacing strategy, and the mental playbook for the bell. Every Wednesday, straight to your inbox.

Course: 1× Gideon Loop via Swift Trail . Aid stations every 2.1 miles, full support at start/finish.

The Loblolly Redemption

Click here for details

When you fail to complete your loop on the Autumn Harvest Last Standing main course (Gideon Loop), your race isn't over. It's different. Walk to the basecamp, lace up, and start running the 5.1 km Loblolly Loop. Redemption runners start on the hourly bell, the same bell as the main backyard ultra. To keep the trail clear, Redemption runners hold in the Loblolly corral until a race official releases them, once the main field has cleared the start area. The hour counts from the bell, not the release. A runner dropped from the main event at the Hour 8 bell begins their first Redemption loop at the Hour 9 bell. Same format. Smaller loop. New field. Last person standing wins.

You can't register for the Redemption. You can only be sent there. Click here for more details. 

Course Highlights

• Terrain: Rolling with moderate elevation changes
• Trail Type: Mix of single-track and wider trails
• Views: Lake Bastrop overlooks and Lost Pines 
• Scenery: Fall foliage and autumn-transformed landscapes
• Aid Stations: Every 2.5 miles on long-distance events
• Safety: Well-marked with high-visibility trail markers

Packet Pickup

Friday Evening: 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

Saturday Morning: 6:00 AM - 6:45 AM

Sunday Morning: 7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Location: Lake Bastrop South Shore Park Pavilion

Spectator Information – Autumn Harvest Marathon

We’re excited to welcome your friends and family to cheer you on at the Autumn Harvest Run!

Please note: Lake Bastrop North Shore and South Shore Parks require a park entry fee for all non-registered spectators and support crews.

Park Entry Fee
Required for all spectators entering Lake Bastrop parks. Passes can be purchased online in advance through our race store.
➡ Click here to purchase a Spectator Park Entry Pass

We encourage spectators to plan ahead to help ensure smooth entry on race day.

Thank you for helping us create a great race experience for everyone!

Parking & Directions

Start/Finish Area: Lake Bastrop South Shore Park

Free parking available at the event venue for registered runners. Arrive at least 45 minutes before your start time.

Race Guide will be emailed one week before the event.

Weather & Contingency

October in Bastrop typically brings pleasant temperatures (highs 80-85°F, lows 60s). Runners should prepare for a range of conditions.

In case of severe weather, the event may be:

• Moved to an earlier or later start time
• Postponed to the following weekend
• Modified to shortened course distances

A decision will be made 24 hours before the scheduled start and communicated via email and social media.

Refund & Transfer Policy

• No refunds; transfers at race director's discretion
• Weather Cancellation: Runners receive credit toward any race of the same distance on our event calendar.