Horseshoe Lake Trail Run 2027

The Horseshoe Lake Trail Run is a 13.0-mile trail half marathon situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It begins and concludes at the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot, located on the west side of Skyline Boulevard. The event takes place on a Sunday, with check-in commencing at 8 am and the race starting at 9 am in the horse trailer lot. The race's informal names offer insight into its character: “There’s always one more hill half marathon” and “Steve Patt’s birthday half marathon.” The course navigates both single-track trails and fireroads, passing through shaded woodlands, open hillsides, and featuring rolling ascents totaling 2,535 feet of elevation gain. Participants will travel northwest along the Bay Area Ridge Trail towards Rapley Ranch Road, descend from the ridge in the direction of the Pacific, ascend once more, and conclude with a clockwise circuit around Cathedral Hill. Proceeds from the entry fee support The Hatuey Project, an organization that supplies medicine to Cuban children battling cancer, with the race director matching each entry-fee donation.