Sierra Azul Trail Challenge Half Marathon

Saturday, April 20, 2024 • Los Gatos, CA • Course Map

With 26 miles of hiking, walking and running trails that wind through its more than 17,000 acres, the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve just south of Los Gatos offers a challenging run over a combination of park fire roads and dirt trails for the annual running of the Sierra Azul Trail Challenge, which also features a 5K, 7K, 50K, 20-mile and full marathon in addition to the half marathon.

The course for the race follows an out-and-back route that the organizers describe as “one of the toughest runs out there,” a 6.55-mile run out from the starting line near the eastern edge of the preserve on Hicks Road, all the way to the aid station at the half-way turnaround point, and back again.

Along the way, runners will experience several steep hills and a steep overall elevation gain from the start to the half-way point, from about 1,400 feet above sea level at the start to about 3,000 feet at race’s peak elevation near the turnaround.

Along the way, runners will encounter a range of environments and terrain conditions, as the preserve varies from wide-open grasslands to densely wooded oak forests, and from hard and rocky chapparal shrub lands to deep ravines and riparian areas, where creeks and streams cut through the forest.

Runners will make their way through the preserve along the Woods and Bay Area Ridge trails, and they’ll be able to see the peak of 3,486-ft.-high Mount Umunhum off in the distance as they run the trails out and back to the finish line.

The Sierra Azul Preserve is divided into three zones or areas — the Kennedy-Limekin Area, which is the most popular of the three, in addition to the Cathedral Oaks and Mount Umunhum areas.

As they run along the Woods Trail between the start and the turnaround point, runners will be trekking through the Kennedy-Limekin Area, which stretches all the way from the race starting line to the St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve, all the way near the western edge of the park.

Because there is no parking available near the starting line area on Hicks Road, shuttle bus transportation will be provided at Venture Church, which lies further south along Hicks Road.

Runners also are asked to be mindful of their impact on the forest and the trails as they run the race, and to spread themselves out into smaller groups during the run to minimize their impact.

Race Weather & Climate

Located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains of the San Francisco Bay Area, just over 10 miles southwest of San Jose, Los Gatos typically sees cool to mild weather in April, when temperatures typically range from the upper 40s to the upper 60s.

  • April 20 average low temp: 50ºF
  • April 20 average high temp: 66ºF

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Sierra Azul Trail Challenge Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

8:00 AM

Course Time Limit

4 1/2 hours

Fees

  • $75 and up – half marathon
  • $95 and up – full marathon
  • $85 and up – 20K
  • $105 and up – 50K
  • $60 and up – 7-mile
  • $50 and up – 5K

Registration

To reserve your spot in any of the race distances at the 2024 running of Los Gatos’s Sierra Azul Trail Challenge, register online at UltraSignUp.com here.

Official Race Website

www.tctruns.com

Comments

Ever run in the Sierra Azul Trail Challenge? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.

See more races in: California

2 comments… add one
  • Brian Thomas March 20, 2019, 5:23 pm

    Hello Trail Race Director,
    I am fellow trail race director in SE Wisconsin. My company, Kenosha Running Company/XCThrillogy(www.XCThrillogy.com), hosts 12 trail events throughout the year and 8 of them have a Canicross division. Canicross is running with a dog pulling you through the trails. I have been hosting trail events going on six years and Canicross (www.traildogrunners.com) events for 2.5 years. Canicross has added a special feature to our events and everyone loves the dogs being there. We typically have 25-40 Canicross participants at each event.
    Why am I telling you this??? I would like for you to consider adding Canicross to your events. Canicross is very new to the US but well established in Europe. It is included in numerous Dog Sled Dryland Events in Canada and parts of the US.

    In April of 2018, I started Canicross USA ( http://www.CanicrossUSA.org ) as a national organization as a means to help promote the growth and awareness of this unique sport. We currently have chapters throughout the country, host Virtual Canicross Events, have membership programs and, offer event insurance for trail events and Canicross events. We have trail race directors in CA, GA, and AL that just recently added Canicross to their line up.
    Why should you add Canicross to your trail event(s)?
    Increase the number of entrants to your event
    Become associated with what is becoming the fastest growing running related sport in the US
    Create a unique aspect to your event.
    How can I assist you in adding Canicross to your trail events? Along with consulting, I and Canicross USA will help build excitement about the new Canicross division by:
    Promote your event on our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/canicrossusa/ )
    Include your event in our newsletter
    Post on your event website
    Provide Insurance for the Canicross and Trail event
    We provide minimum guidelines for a safe event
    Do an email promoting your event
    I am available at any time to discuss your questions and assist you in adding Canicross to your trail event. Brian Thomas 414 719 4771

    Reply
  • Lilia April 5, 2017, 6:29 pm

    I am thinking about participating in the 10 K in Los Gatos on 4/29/2017. The website does not mention when or where the packet pick up will be…to pick up my shirt ($20.00) and bib etc. I need to know asap!

    https://www.halfmarathons.net/california-sierra-azul-trail-challenge-half-marathon-18-8-miler-50k-10k-5k/

    Reply

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