Cuyamaca 100k 2026

Cuyamaca 100k is a 62-mile trail ultramarathon in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, about an hour east of San Diego, run in October. It starts and finishes at Cuyamaca Camp, where runners can camp close to the start/finish line before and after the race. The morning starts early, with breakfast, coffee, and other pre-race food available before everyone heads into a long day on the trails. Compared with rougher mountain ultras, the course is less technical and has less climbing, but 62 miles is still a serious step up, especially for runners moving up from the 50-mile distance. The route uses multiple loops through a park that can feel greener than people expect from Southern California, with wooded cover, open stretches of tall golden grass, and daytime heat that can make shorts a smart choice. Aid stations are positioned every few miles and receive strong praise from runners, which matters on a race where stomachs, legs, and pacing can falter deep into the second loop. One described low point occurred near golden grass with a choice between pushing three miles to the next aid station or turning back on a four-mile downhill to Cuyamaca Camp. That mix of runnable terrain, camp-style logistics, frequent support, and a hard late-race test makes it a practical first 100k for experienced ultrarunners, but not an easy one.