High Desert 50K

High Desert 50K is held in Ridgecrest, California, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, and offers two trail distances: a 50K (31.1 miles) and a 30K (18.6 miles). The course is a loop through rolling desert terrain in the Spangler Hills south of Ridgecrest, mixing jeep roads, singletrack, and sandy ruts, with views out to the southern Sierra Nevada and conditions well suited to running in December. Nine aid stations sit roughly every 3 miles, stocked with water, electrolyte drinks, and endurance food.

Frequent aid and runnable desert roads make this a friendly place to move up in distance, and the organizers pitch it at newcomers and experienced ultrarunners alike. The 30K works as a stepping stone if you have a half marathon or two behind you, while the 50K rewards a 16-week build with a long run stretching past three hours and some of that time spent on sand and dirt. Practice your footing on loose surfaces, since sandy ruts drain the legs faster than firm trail.