Mendocino Running Festival

UPDATES

👕 10th Anniversary Swag Reveal! Celebrate ten years of running wild with our limited-edition collection—available only during this milestone year. Visit the Store to get yours today before it sells out! 🎶 Bootleg Rose Returns! Our original Mendocino house band is back to help celebrate our 10th Anniversary with an unforgettable evening of music beneath the redwoods. ❤️ Built by Runners, for Runners. Every detail is designed to create an unforgettable trail running experience. ⏱️ Runner-Friendly Cutoffs. Whether you're chasing a PR or simply soaking in the forest, our generous cutoffs let you enjoy the journey. ⚡ Fueled by Skratch Labs! Enjoy real sports nutrition and hydration from our friends at Skratch Labs at aid stations throughout the weekend. 💧 HydraPak Sponsored! Thanks to HydraPak for helping keep our runners hydrated with industry-leading reusable hydration gear.🥤 We're a Cupless Race! Help us protect the forest by bringing your own reusable hydration vessel—we'll take care of the refill stations. 🌲 VIP Tent Returns! Mendocino Running Festival alumni receive exclusive access to our VIP Runner's Lounge with premium recovery treats, refreshments, and a place to reconnect. 💪 Physiotherapy with Ryan! VIP runners can enjoy complimentary physiotherapy and movement assessments from Ryan of MOWBS Physiotherapy to help keep you running your best. 🧘 Yoga with Earl! Loosen up before your run and recover afterward with complimentary yoga sessions led by the legendary Earl. 🎉 10th Anniversary! Celebrate a decade of running wild through the ancient redwoods with special anniversary surprises all weekend long. 12/17/25 Last day to secure 2025 pricing is Sunday Jan. 4, 2026

Join Us In Mendocino!

Come join us off the Mendocino Coast in Mendocino Woodlands Park, a National Historic Landmark. Experience breathtaking views from the race course trails nestled in this serene Ancient Redwood Forest of Mendocino. The camp is private group camping only, providing a unique and secluded venue for this race and festival. Disconnect to Reconnect! This is an entire weekend festival devoted to the ultimate outdoor experience! As in the past, we're running a looped course through the stunning ancient redwood wilderness, across log bridge crossings and over murmuring streams! The festival has many exciting things to offer that brings the best of the running community together! Our Camp is just outside the town of Mendocino, so families/friends who aren't running have access to all that lovely community has to offer. (Note for dog owners: Mendocino Woodlands State Park has a strict no-dog policy. The only exception is for ADA-compliant guide dogs. Licensed service dogs are permitted with advance notice and written approval is required from the Woodlands Camp Association that a service dog will be present in camp and the service dog is licensed. You can contact the Association at [email protected] or call 707-937-5755) . We have some great apparel and swag in the Mendocino Running Festival's store...all perfect for the incredible weekend we will have in the ancient redwoods! Check it out here: Shop Here

Courses and Races

The race course consists of a 6 mile loop from the Big River valley, to the top valley's edge. The loop is mostly single track trail and has 875 feet of climb. We offer 2 aid stations that will not disappoint. We are here to spoil you! You can choose from the two timed formats (6- and 12-hour) or the two distances, 10k and half-marathon. No matter the distance you'll be in for a treat. https://www.strava.com/routes/2862370739328737884 : Course Profile

Day Racers

Come for the Day: If you sign up to race, you can come and run, then stay for the afternoon! Your race registration includes a hearty post race lunch and refreshments. If you bring family members and want to purchase lunch for them, buy an extra lunch meal ticket. If they want to come and horse around, that's great too!

Festival/Race Accommodations-How the Camping Works

Mendocino Running Festival occupies an entire private camp inside of Mendocino Woodlands Park. Your weekend Running Festival Accommodation/Camping $Fee includes: *your choice of camping options for two nights *parking for your 1 vehicle *free access to hot shower/wash houses *The Commons and Camp amenities *complimentary Yoga sessions throughout the weekend *Dino Dash & Race the Rex (Beer Mile!) events *Awesome Live Music evening concert *and our signature Smores and More by the Fire Pit! Weekend Food Passes that include all weekend food/refreshments are sold separately for $50pp. See more below. Here are the 3 weekend camping options: 1. Come And Camp In Style: There are 21 tent cabins available, each with a wooden floor and canvas tent over a wooden frame with four cots and mattresses in each. Enough for 4 people. No tent required. Easy peasy! These are private & tucked up into the peaceful Ancient Redwoods with easy access to the hot water shower/wash houses, VIP parking and logo’d Welcome gift included! Up to 2 vehicles permitted per tent cabin. 2. Campers and Tow behinds: Bring your home away from home with you! We have very limited space available in a beautiful wooded space for these and includes space for you to stretch out. (NOTE: there are no electrical hookups or latrine clean outs.) Like the tent Cabins, you have easy access to the hot shower/wash houses and all the other amenities. 3. Come And Stay in your Tent, Car, or Truck. Sleep under the stars! Situated near the small creek running through the camp,if you want to pitch your tent, there are places that we mark off for this purpose. Like everything else, you share in the Commons' facilities. Each spot is for up to 4 people, 1 tent, 1 vehicle maximum. Camp assignments will be published around Labor Day… Send us an email if you have questions. [email protected]

How the Food Works

Mendocino Running Festival is set up in a family camp format, with a very large kitchen and the eating area we refer to as The Commons. You can expect beautiful, fresh and thoughtfully inspired (Vegan options offered) meals and snacks. Living the camp culinary experience… If you're coming to camp, race and join us for the festival weekend, you will need to purchase a Weekend Food Pass. Here's what to expect. It starts with a complete traditional Pre-race Pasta Dinner Friday night and we take it up from there. We serve coffee/tea, cereals, fruit, bagels and yogurt in the mornings, and on race day, we serve a hefty lunch and fantastic dinner. Be sure to stick around Saturday night for our famous Smores and More at the Fire Pit! Sunday morning, there's breakfast again with a fun camp favorite, Flapjacks! If you are bringing friends who aren't running, they will need to purchase a Weekend Food Pass as well. You will need your Food Pass bracelet to access all the fabulous goodies we have in store for you! For Race Day only registered runners… we include one hearty meal (lunch), snacks and refreshments in your registration. Your race bib is your ticket for lunch, hold on to it! So, if you're coming for the race, you're covered for post race refueling! Stay and enjoy the afternoon with us… (If you are bringing non runners with you, you have the option to buy them lunch at checkout.) Dietary Accommodations: All our meals are thoughtfully crafted with fresh, local ingredients, focusing on vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes while always including protein options for every palate. Due to the wide variety of dietary restrictions, we cannot accommodate all of them. For guests with severe allergies or strict dietary requirements, we recommend bringing your own supplemental nutrition to ensure your needs are met. We thank you for your understanding! It doesn’t take much to figure out where you land in all this. But if it does, by all means, email us! [email protected]

Refund and Other Policies

Entry fees associated with Mendocino Running Festival are non-refundable and non-transferable, Outside of 30 days, you can defer your race fee to the next year. Camping and food passes are non-refundable. It's easy to do and UltraSignup handles it all. Race fees are non-transferable. Within 30-days, there are no deferrals or refunds. No exceptions. Results Final results will be posted here on Ultra Sign Up within 7 days after the event. We are old school and this is a manual timed event, so please be patient and we will have the results up as soon as possible.