Trails & Rails

Race Date: June 13, 2026 Race distances: 1 Mile Kid’s Dash / 3 Miler / 8 Miler Race Location: Cloudcroft, New Mexico Cut-off times: 12:00 pm for the 3- and 8-mile courses Start time: 8:00 am (Kid’s Dash) | 8:30 am (8-miler) | 8:40 am (3-miler) Who this race is for: This event is perfect for first-time trail runners or casual racers wanting a scenic high-elevation experience. It offers manageable distances (3 miles) and a fun introductory option (the 1-Mile Kid’s Dash), while giving more experienced runners a solid challenge in the 8-mile race. Trails & Rails Imagine starting your run at 8,676 feet up in the pines of the Sacramento Mountains and descending toward breathtaking views of the Tularosa Basin 4,000 feet below. That’s the backdrop for the Trails & Rails race in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where old railroad beds, a 1930s highway, and forested singletrack combine into one unforgettable run. Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series Trails & Rails is the first event in the inaugural Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series Set among the towering fir and spruce of the Sacramento Mountains, just above the Tularosa Basin, this series takes you into one of New Mexico’s most beautiful and dramatic landscapes. Over three distinct summer-to-fall events based out of Cloudcroft (elevation ~8,676 ft), you’ll experience crisp mountain air, high-elevation single-track, historic rail-bed trails, and views that stretch from the desert floor to cloud-kissed ridges. Sign up once, commit to the full season, and race your way through memorable terrain. Register for the full series and save on your race entry! Register Here Course Description: Your start and finish line is the Trestle Recreation Area at the junction of Hwy?82 and 130, right next to the replica depot. The 8-mile course features approximately 1,350?feet of elevation gain and loss. You’ll begin on a short paved loop (shared with the 3-miler) to prevent bottlenecks, then head onto a mix of wide, historic railroad grade, old highway segments, and a few rolling singletrack sections. The 3-mile course is no slouch either, with 576?feet of elevation change and equally great views. Both routes give runners stunning overlooks of the Tularosa Basin and the feel of running through a living museum of Cloudcroft’s railroad past.