HISTORY The Mount Wilson Trail Race is the second oldest trail race in the country; first held in 1908 when runners raced to Mount Wilson, rested 1/2 hour, then raced back down. The race was held sporadically from the first year until the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, when it was abandoned completely. In autumn of 1965 it was revived and has grown over the years to its present format. Organized by a volunteer committee and sponsored by the City of Sierra Madre, the current race is 8.6 miles in length. The exact course has changed by erosion, fires and earthquakes. For this reason no official record is recognized. Since the revival in the 1960s, today’s course is considered the most difficult.

COURSE The 8.6 mile race starts on pavement, uphill, to a dirt path no more than three feet wide. It features an elevation gain of over 2,100 feet; approximately 4.3 miles to the turnaround point at Orchard Camp. Most of the race takes place on the Mount Wilson Trail, where some sections have vertical drop-offs of several hundred feet.  Boy and Cub Scout Troops provide water at two locations: the 2.3 mile marker (at First Water) and the turnaround point. Due to the steep, narrow features of the trail, the race is limited to a maximum of 300 runners.