Days
Hours
Min
Sec
Mission Trails Twilight Runs: San Diego’s Day-to-Night Trail Race Returns
It’s been over a decade since a race has been held in Mission Trails Regional Park — and the wait ends on May 23, 2026. The Mission Trails Twilight Runs is a brand-new inaugural event offering a 50K, 25K, and evening 5K through one of San Diego’s most dramatic and rugged trail landscapes. With strictly only 300 spots available, this is the rare trail race where exclusivity is a feature, not a bug.
The Course
The 50K and 25K start at 2:00 PM from the East Fortuna Staging Area (Equestrian Circle, Santee) and head into the rocky, steep terrain of Mission Trails Regional Park. Expect genuine trail running: aggressive climbs, rocky descents, and sweeping panoramic views of San Diego’s eastern wilderness. The late-afternoon start is intentional — as the miles accumulate, golden-hour light bathes the landscape before darkness falls and headlamps become essential. The 50K carries a 10-hour course cutoff, with runners required to begin their second lap by 7:00 PM. The 5K kicks off at 7:00 PM, letting short-distance runners experience the park at dusk. Headlamps are required for all distances after dark.
Race Day Experience
This is not a race-expo-medal-sponsor tent experience. Mission Trails Twilight Runs is a legitimate trail running event — small, serious, and run by people who love the trails. The day-to-night transition creates a race experience unlike anything else on the San Diego trail racing calendar. You’ll start in warm afternoon sun, watch the sky shift through sunset colors, and finish under stars in one of the largest urban parks in the country. With only 300 total runners across all distances, the field is intimate and the community tight.
Why Run Mission Trails Twilight Runs?
The inaugural nature of this event makes it genuinely historic — you’ll be part of the first race held in Mission Trails in over a decade. The unique twilight-to-night format is a level of novelty that’s hard to find in road racing. For trail runners looking for a San Diego ultra or challenging trail race that goes beyond the usual, Mission Trails delivers rugged, technical terrain with outstanding views. The strict 300-runner cap means if you’re interested, early registration is essential.
Travel & Logistics
Mission Trails Regional Park’s East Fortuna Staging Area is located in Santee, in San Diego’s East County, accessible via SR-52 or Mission Gorge Road. Parking is available at the staging area. For accommodations, Santee and the Tierrasanta/Mission Valley areas have a range of hotels. The late start time (2:00 PM for the 50K/25K) means you can drive in morning-of from downtown San Diego or any surrounding area without a predawn alarm. Bring layers — evening temperatures in Mission Trails can drop noticeably after sunset.
How to Register
Registration for the Mission Trails Twilight Runs 50K, 25K, and 5K is available through Race Roster. With only 300 spots across all distances, this event will sell out. Register as soon as possible to claim your spot in this one-of-a-kind inaugural California trail race.
Mission Trails Twilight Runs: San Diego’s Day-to-Night Trail Race Returns
It’s been over a decade since a race has been held in Mission Trails Regional Park — and the wait ends on May 23, 2026. The Mission Trails Twilight Runs is a brand-new inaugural event offering a 50K, 25K, and evening 5K through one of San Diego’s most dramatic and rugged trail landscapes. With strictly only 300 spots available, this is the rare trail race where exclusivity is a feature, not a bug.
The Course
The 50K and 25K start at 2:00 PM from the East Fortuna Staging Area (Equestrian Circle, Santee) and head into the rocky, steep terrain of Mission Trails Regional Park. Expect genuine trail running: aggressive climbs, rocky descents, and sweeping panoramic views of San Diego’s eastern wilderness. The late-afternoon start is intentional — as the miles accumulate, golden-hour light bathes the landscape before darkness falls and headlamps become essential. The 50K carries a 10-hour course cutoff, with runners required to begin their second lap by 7:00 PM. The 5K kicks off at 7:00 PM, letting short-distance runners experience the park at dusk. Headlamps are required for all distances after dark.
Race Day Experience
This is not a race-expo-medal-sponsor tent experience. Mission Trails Twilight Runs is a legitimate trail running event — small, serious, and run by people who love the trails. The day-to-night transition creates a race experience unlike anything else on the San Diego trail racing calendar. You’ll start in warm afternoon sun, watch the sky shift through sunset colors, and finish under stars in one of the largest urban parks in the country. With only 300 total runners across all distances, the field is intimate and the community tight.
Why Run Mission Trails Twilight Runs?
The inaugural nature of this event makes it genuinely historic — you’ll be part of the first race held in Mission Trails in over a decade. The unique twilight-to-night format is a level of novelty that’s hard to find in road racing. For trail runners looking for a San Diego ultra or challenging trail race that goes beyond the usual, Mission Trails delivers rugged, technical terrain with outstanding views. The strict 300-runner cap means if you’re interested, early registration is essential.
Travel & Logistics
Mission Trails Regional Park’s East Fortuna Staging Area is located in Santee, in San Diego’s East County, accessible via SR-52 or Mission Gorge Road. Parking is available at the staging area. For accommodations, Santee and the Tierrasanta/Mission Valley areas have a range of hotels. The late start time (2:00 PM for the 50K/25K) means you can drive in morning-of from downtown San Diego or any surrounding area without a predawn alarm. Bring layers — evening temperatures in Mission Trails can drop noticeably after sunset.
How to Register
Registration for the Mission Trails Twilight Runs 50K, 25K, and 5K is available through Race Roster. With only 300 spots across all distances, this event will sell out. Register as soon as possible to claim your spot in this one-of-a-kind inaugural California trail race.