The Saddleback Marathon

Rerouted Blue Jay campgrounds remain closed due to the "Airport" fire out of Trabuco Canyon in 2024. Therefore, the Saddleback Marathon will once again run out of Black Start Canyon. About the Race California's premiere trail marathon was first run in the Saddleback Mountains of the Cleveland National Forest in 1988. An annual event for nearly three decades, it was cancelled in 2018 (#HolyFire)on its 30th anniversary. We were back in 2019, re-routed, and then cancelled by the pandemic in 2020 and back again in 2023, again re-routed. In 2025, the race was re-routed to Black Star Canyon due to the "Airport" Fire out of Trabuco Canyon. Blue Jay campgrounds remain closed for 2026. We're still in the Trabuco District, but we'll be going out of Black Star Canyon instead. The full marathon begins on Black Star Canyon Road. Runners follow the creek into the canyon on a relatively flat truck trail (with a slight gain) for approximately 2.5 miles. At the Falls turnoff, runners veer left to climb several switchbacks into the Mariposa Reserve where they continue up to the Doppler on N. Main Divide. From there runners travel back Black Star but continue on to Skyline Drive into Corona and return to the Finish the same way. The elevation gain for the marathon is 4,244’. The 25k distance is new to this race. It follows the same route as the marathoners up to the Dopper. From there, 25k runners turnaround and return to the start. The half marathon begins in the same location. Runners also follow the creek into the canyon, and then up the switchbacks into the Mariposa Reserve and continue up Black Star Canyon Road another 1.5 miles past the historic Indian village where they return to the Finish. Elevation gain for half marathon is 1,773'. The 10k begins the same as the other distances. Though the course is mostly “flat” runners will climb a few switchbacks up Black Star Canyon Road before turning around and returning to the Finish. Elevation gain for the 10k is 706'.