Event Overview

Welcome to The Big Alta, a collaborative trail running event produced by Daybreak Racing & Freetrail in trail-famous Marin County, California! With every step, these thoughtfully crafted courses provide an unforgettably scenic trail race experience. The Big Alta now offers three race distance options over a 3-day race weekend: a tough, inspiring single loop 50K on Friday, a NEW world-class point-to-point 100K on Saturday, along with a shorter yet equally exhilarating single loop 28K on Sunday.

A feast for the eyes, these courses will treat runners to seemingly endless vistas that stretch across the entire San Francisco Bay Area. All three courses summit many of the highest points in Marin County, and event namesake pays homage to course landmarks Loma Alta and Big Rock Ridge. The Big Alta will not only challenge its participants physically, but also reward their efforts with awe-inspiring views, heaps of trail community love and of course, all the electric race weekend vibes and hype!

Through the combined skillsets of Freetrail and Daybreak Racing, we will endeavor to deliver a premium quality race experience for our participants and volunteers, filled with spectacular views, challenging trails, good vibes, and an exciting finish line experience to celebrate human achievement. We hope you'll join us!

Land Acknowledgement: We honor and recognize that we gather for this event on the traditional lands of the native Coast Miwok people, who have occupied and stewarded these lands for countless generations.

Event Sponsors

Registration

All race registration occurs via Ultrasignup.com. Click the button below to register.

Registration Fee Includes:

Laughs, smiles, hugs and high fives from Freetrail and Daybreak are always included! The registration fee includes: a professionally organized race, a beautiful, fully marked race course by the race directors, awesome staging venue, chip timing, live on-course splits and results, race day coverage, shuttle buses, plentifully stocked and well staffed aid stations, professional medical support (not volunteers), amply supplied, stocked and clean bathrooms, radio communications, post-race food and beverages, custom finisher awards, professional photography, extensive permitting with multiple government agencies, year-round planning work and a host of other essential services and requirements we don't need to mention.

Registration FAQ

• REGISTRATION: Once registration opens, each race does sell out.

• NO LOTTERY: There is no lottery for any races.

• CAPACITY: Each race day has a limit of 300 runners.

• TRANSFERS: Registered runners may change distances, but transfering to a sold out distance is not available.

• WAITLIST: Once each race fills, we will activate a waitlist. If race openings become available, we will invite people from the waitlist to complete their registration and pay the fee.

• WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: The registration fee does not include the Ultrasignup processing fee, taxes, race swag or other add ons such as a 100K shuttle bus pass.

• CANCELLATION POLICY: Please review the Cancellation Policy if you have questions about withdrawing from the race. 

• WESTERN STATE QUALIFIER: The Big Alta 100K is a new race this year, thus it is not a WSER Qualifier. It will become a Qualifier at its 2nd annual running in 2027.

Pro/Elite Runners

We reserve a limited number of entries for professional athletes on a first come first served basis. Complete this form to submit an elite entry request.

Accepting an elite entry means the athlete shall:

• Adhere to our Clean Sport, Anti-Doping and Prize Money Eligibility Policies

• Attend all applicable podium ceremonies and event-related interviews

• Notify the Race Director or withdraw via UltraSignup at least 7 days prior to the race.

Failure to abide by these policies shall result in future elite entry requests being declined.

Event Timeline

Thursday, March 19, 2026

• Shakeout Run: 9AM at Marinwood Park

• Trailgating: 11AM-12PM LIVE on Freetrail Youtube

• Optional Bib Pickup: 2:00PM-6:00PM at San Francisco Running Company at 247 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Friday, March 20, 2026

• Bib Pickup Opens: 6:45AM @ Marinwood Community Center & Park

• 50K Race Start: 8:00AM (single mass start, no waves)

• Trailgating: 1PM-2PM LIVE on Freetrail Youtube

• Podium Awards Ceremony: 2:30PM at Finish Line

• 50K Finish Line Cutoff: 4:30PM

• 100K Bib Pickup & Drop Bags: 8AM-4:30PM @ Marinwood Community Center & Park (no 100K race morning bib pickup)

Saturday, March 22, 2025

• 100K Shuttle Bus Departure: 4:00AM from Marinwood Community Center

• 100K Race Start: 5:00AM at Fort Baker start line (single mass start, no waves)

• Trailgating: 4PM-5PM LIVE on Freetrail Youtube

• 100K Podium Awards Ceremony: 5:30PM at Finish Line

• Final Cutoff: 10:00PM at Finish Line

Sunday, March 22, 2026

• Bib Pickup Opens: 6:45AM @ Marinwood Community Center & Park

• 28K Race Start: 8:00AM (single mass start, no waves)

• Trailgating: 11AM-12PM LIVE on Freetrail Youtube

• Podium Awards Ceremony: 12:30PM at Finish Line

• Final Cutoff: 1:30PM at Finish Line

Getting Here

The event is staged at Marinwood Community Center & Park, located at 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael, CA 94903, about 22 miles (30 minute drive) north of downtown San Francisco.

AIRPORTS: Nearest major airports are San Francisco Int’l (SFO) and Oakland Int’l (OAK).

Accommodations

Numerous hotel lodging accommodations exist within a 5-15 minute drive of the Marinwood Staging Area.

Parking

All event participant parking is curbside parking along Miller Creek Road near Marinwood Community Center and Marinwood Park. Please no parking on neighborhood side streets or in the Marinwood Park parking lot, reserved for general public and race official use only.

Race Day!

Weather

Check the latest local weather HERE. Late March temperatures can vary, with daytime highs generally in the 55-75°F range and morning lows in the 40°F’s. It can still be a fairly turbulent time of year here, sometimes seeing a broad range of weather in a single day, including sun, breezes, clouds, wind, fog, wind and/or rain showers… It’s coastal Nor Cal in early spring, come prepared!

Bib Pickup options

• Thursday, March 19: 2PM-6PM at San Francisco Running Co’s Mill Valley Shop (247 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941).

• Friday, March 20: 6:45AM-7:45AM @ Marinwood Community Center for 50K runners. 8AM-4:30PM for 100K and 28K runners. 100K runners must bring all drop bags this day.

• Saturday, March 21: 1PM-8PM for 28K runners. NOTE: there is no race morning bib pickup for 100K runners— get 100K bibs at the Thursday or Friday options!

• Sunday, March 22: 6:45AM-7:45AM for remaining 28K runners who’ve not already gotten their bib.

100K Shuttle Bus

100K runners who don’t have their own ride to their race start at Fort Baker can purchase a shuttle bus pass during registration for $20. The shuttle buses will arrive at Marinwood Community Center at 4AM, load up, then drive the runners to the Fort Baker start line for drop off around 4:30-4:35AM. Runners shall not drive themselves to the start and leave their car there, as this is not allowed by the National Parks Service.

Results

Live tracking and results will be provided by Ultralive.net. Official results get posted to Ultrasignup shortly after the event concludes.

Post Race Celebration!

Stay and enjoy the finish line vibes each day at Marinwood Park while we cheer on all the race finishers! A post race meal and beverages are available for all participants and volunteers at the finish line area.

Awards

Every participant receives a custom award as they finish their race. A raffle of some awesome sponsor swag will be held while runners are out on the course! Prizes will be given to raffle winners as they finish their race.

Podium Prize Purse

Thanks to our generous sponsors, podium finishers (top 3) will be awarded prize money. Amounts TBD as we get closer to the event.

General Info

Race Swag

Our lifestyle event t-shirts and hats are from Territory Run Co. Race shirts and hats are not included in the race entry fee and can be purchased during registration. Swag must be picked up at the race and cannot be shipped. All unclaimed swag will be sold on race day. 

Inclement Weather Policy

Our permitting agencies reserve the right to rescind permits if severe storm conditions are predicted on race weekend. In such a case, we will make every effort to postpone the event to a later date before cancelling.

If we have extended rain/inclement weather on race day, we will implement a gear requirement for all runners. This is to ensure runners are adequately prepared to confront harsh conditions, particularly in the event of a safety incident or injury on course. An email will go out to all runners by Thursday morning of race week activating the gear requirement if inclement weather is in the forecast.

Required gear will include: a running pack, rain jacket, smartphone with course info and means of contact by race staff, emergency blanket, whistle, ID, 400 calories of nutrition, 1 liter capacity of fluids, and a hat or bandana. 

Pet/Dog Policy

Friendly, leashed dogs are allowed at the event staging area but not on the course.

Cancellations

See the Daybreak Racing Cancellation Policy.