Cactus to Cloud Trail Run

Cactus to Cloud Trail Run is held in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, on October 17, 2026. Two trail races share the morning: the Sky Run 50K (31 miles) starts at 6:30 a.m. and the Cloud Run 30K (18.6 miles) follows at 8 a.m. Cloudcroft sits high in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico, which is the detail most runners underestimate.

Altitude is the variable to plan around here. Even well-trained sea-level runners lose noticeable pace above 8,000 feet, so treat your target time as flexible and your effort as the thing to control. Arriving a few days early helps, and so does easing off the first climb. The 30K suits a runner with a half marathon or two behind them who wants a longer day in the mountains, while the 50K calls for a 16-week build with consistent long runs on climbing terrain.