The Saddleback Marathon

The Saddleback Marathon takes place in Silverado, California, on November 7, 2026, in the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County. Three trail formats are available: a marathon (26.2 miles), a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 10K, so you can pick the distance that matches your season.

A trail marathon on the flanks of Saddleback is a demanding but rewarding step for road marathoners who want to move to the mountains, and it is also a smart preparation race for anyone eyeing a spring 50K. The half marathon and 10K let less experienced runners discover the same canyon trails at a gentler dose. Train with plenty of climbing and long descents, since mountain miles cost more than road miles, and give yourself a 16-week build for the marathon with a long run of at least 20 miles on similar terrain.