Description:

at a glance:
Race Date: August 15, 2026
Race distances: 53K / 9.5 mile / 4.75 mile / 1 mile Kid’s Dash
Race Location: Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Cut-off times: 53K uses multiple cut-offs (first at 11:00 am at ~mile 13, second at 2:00 pm at ~mile 20, third at 4:30 pm at ~mile 26, final at 6:00 pm at ~mile 30)
Start time: 7:00 am (53K) | 8:00 am (Kid’s Dash) | 8:30 am (4.75 mile) | 9:30 am (9.5 mile)
Who this race is for: This event offers something for everyone—from the ultra-distance 53K for experienced trail racers, to the 9.5 mile and 4.75 mile options for intermediate runners, and a fun 1 mile Kid’s Dash for the younger set and families. All take place high in the mountains and are beginner-friendly in the shorter distances.

Cloudcroft Ultra
Join us high in the pines of the southern Rocky Mountains, at about 8,600 feet elevation, for the Cloudcroft Ultra. Set in the forest‑lush rim of the Sacramento Mountains near Cloudcroft, New Mexico, you’ll run on the historic Rim Trail (T105)—once logging and homestead routes, now shaded single‑track and rail‑bed with sweeping views of the Tularosa Basin far below.

Sacramento Mountains Ultra Series
Cloudcroft Ultra 53K is the second 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 information
The 53K, 9.5 mile and 4.75 mile races are all out-and-back on the Rim Trail (T105). The Rim Trail was the first US Forest Service trail in New Mexico designated as a National Recreation Trail. You’ll pass through stands of fir, pine and quaking aspen, and at various points enjoy vistas of the Tularosa Basin over 4,000 feet below. The 53K adds a “lollipop” loop at the turnaround segment, offering extra elevation and spectacular scenery near the summit portion. All races start and finish at the Pavilion in Zenith Park in Cloudcroft. A Kid’s Dash (1 mile) loops around Zenith Park, designed for ages 13&under and families.