The Saddleback Marathon

About the Race

California's premiere trail marathon was first run in the Saddleback Mountains of the Cleveland National Forest in 1988. An annual event for nearly three decades, it was cancelled in 2018 (#HolyFire)on its 30th anniversary. We were back in 2019, re-routed, and then cancelled by the pandemic in 2020 and back again in 2023, again re-routed. In 2024, we were hoping to go out of Blue Jay Campgrounds, which has been our tradition. But the "Airport" fire out of Trabuco Cyn closed that section of the Trabuco District in the Cleveland National Forest. So, we are re-routing for April's race. We're still in the Trabuco District, but we'll be going out of Black Star Canyon instead.

The full marathon begins on Black Star Canyon Road. Runners follow the creek into the canyon on a relatively flat truck trail (with a slight gain) for approximately 2.5 miles. At the Falls turnoff, runners veer left to climb several switchbacks into the Mariposa Reserve where they continue up toward N. Main Divide. From the top, where Black Star Cyn Rd meets N. Main Divide (known as Leonard Rd here), runners travel down Skyline Drive into Corona and return to the Finish the same way. The elevation gain for the marathon is 4,244’.

The half marathon begins in the same location. Runners also follow the creek into the canyon, and then up the switchbacks into the Mariposa Reserve and continue up Black Star Canyon Road another 1.5 miles past the historic Indian village where they return to the Finish. Elevation gain for half marathon is 1,773'.

The 10k begins the same as the other distances. Though the course is mostly “flat” runners will climb a few switchbacks up Black Star Canyon Road before turning around and returning to the Finish. Elevation gain for the 10k is 706'. Please see website for profiles.

Details

• Check in: 6:30 am - 7:00 am
• Race Announcements: 7:15 am
• Race Start: 7:30 am (8:00, 8:30)
• Aid Stations (distances are approximate): AS 1: 3.1 miles @10k turnaround, AS 2: 6.6 miles @ half turnaround, AS 3: 8.5 miles @ Skyline Top, AS 4: 13.1 miles @ Skyline bottom, AS 5: 17.7 @ miles Skyline Top, AS 6: 19.7 @ miles half turnaround, AS 7: 23 miles @ 10k turnaround

Due to the difficult nature of the course, this race does have a cut off: AS 4 Skyline Bottom, 12:00 Noon

Refunds

No Refunds. This race does not allow refunds of any kind. Race entries will be applied to the following year's race should the Saddleback Marathon get cancelled due to circumstances beyond the race director's control (fire, government, shutdown, etc). Our first choice is not to cancel. We always have a Plan B. If the trail becomes unavailable, we will move to Plan B if possible. Please see website for complete details.