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Best Fall Trail Races to See Autumn Leaves
Powisset Farm Trail Run
Jay Peak Trail Running Festival
Keene Family YMCA Fall Foliage Trail Races
McCloud Fall Colors Run
Falling Leaves 8-Miler and 5K
Great Turtle Trail Run
Grindstone Running Festival
Wild Florida Trail Run
Sky to Summit
Rogue Gorge Race
West Elk Challenge Trail Marathon
Mueller Trail Half Marathon
Imagine a crisp, fall morning. You’re running on a trail through the woods as the trees put on a brilliant display, blanketing the canopy in vibrant gold, red, and crimson.
Watching the leaves change is one of the best parts of running in the fall. There are certain areas of the country known for their fall foliage, like Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, but Indiana, Colorado, and North Carolina can hold their own too.
Check out this list of 12 trail races with fall colors that will leaf you speechless.
Fall Color Trail Races in the Northeastern U.S.
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1. Powisset Farm Trail Run – Dover, Massachusetts – Oct. 26, 2025
Take a trip to the idyllic countryside of Massachusetts at the Powisset Farm Trail Run. The fall edition of this race is perfectly timed to coincide with fall festival season in New England. After the race, you can enjoy cider doughnuts, pet farm animals, and paint a pumpkin!
Whatever distance you race — 8.3, 5.6, 3.1, or 1.5 miles — you’ll explore the trails of Powisset Farm and the neighboring Noanet Woodlands. This event is part of the Barn to Run Trail Series, which includes the spring version of this race, as well as the Weir River Farm Trail Run in Hingham. Race all three, and you save 10% and get a Barn to Run backpack.
This is a cupless race, so you must have your own hydration carrier, but there will be aid stations. Winners receive rustic, hand-crafted awards and produce from the farm.
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2. Jay Peak Trail Running Festival – Jay, Vermont – Aug. 30-31, 2025
Jay Peak is a ski mountain in Northern Vermont that’s known for spectacular fall foliage. This running festival provides runners with the opportunity to explore the mountain over Labor Day weekend with seven races, including three 5Ks, an 11-miler, 22-miler, and 33-mile ultra race.
The schedule has been designed with staggered start times so runners can complete all three 5Ks on the same day and earn the “Runners with Issues” prize. The Green Circle 5K is the “flattest.” The Blue Square has 656 feet of elevation gain, and the Black Diamond 5K gains more than 1,100 feet. There’s also a kids’ trail race.
Much of the brilliant color you see in Vermont comes from native sugar maples, but you may also see aspen and birch trees in golden hues, and oak and beech trees in bronze. Peak fall foliage in Vermont typically occurs in late September, but you should still see some beautiful scenery at this race.
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3. Keene Family YMCA Fall Foliage Trail Races – Keene, New Hampshire – Oct. 5, 2025
Held annually at the peak of fall foliage season in New Hampshire, the Keene Family YMCA Trail Races take runners on gravel paths and singletrack on some of Keene’s most-loved trails.
The 5K provides a good introduction into trail running on a fast course that’s great for beginners. The 10K is more challenging but very runnable with smooth singletrack and plenty of elevation gain. Both races offer beautiful views of golden leaves that blanket the trails.
Funds from this race go to support local YMCA programs to ensure they’re accessible to everyone in the community.
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Fall Color Trail Races in the Midwestern U.S.
4. McCloud Fall Colors Run – North Salem, Indiana – Oct. 11, 2025
If you’re looking for a race with fantastic fall foliage, you can’t do much better than the McCloud Fall Colors Run in Indiana. Set in McCloud Nature Park, this 5K/10K takes runners on grass and gravel trails through the forest and prairie. You will cross Big Walnut Creek over a historic truss bridge.
Along the way, witness autumn colors in full display. This park was voted as one of the best places to view fall foliage in the state. Following the race, you can enjoy the McCloud Fall Colors Festival with food, archery, hayrides, prairie maze, games, and much more.
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5. Falling Leaves 8-Miler and 5K – Berkey, Ohio – Oct. 26, 2025
Celebrate the changing of the seasons at the Falling Leaves 8-miler and 5K in Berkey, Ohio. This event has two distances — an 8-mile and a 5K — that go through the Secor and Wiregrass Metroparks. It’s one of four events in the Toledo Roadrunners Club Trail Series.
Ohio in October promises vibrant fall foliage with the buckeye tree that’s known for its pumpkin-orange leaves, cottonwoods and sycamores that turn golden yellow, and maple, oak, and hickory in a variety of autumn colors.
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6. Great Turtle Trail Run – Mackinac Island, Michigan – Oct. 25, 2025
The Great Turtle Trail Run gets its name because the original name of Mackinac Island was Michilimackinac, which translates to “place of the great turtle,” inspired by the island’s shape. This year’s event will mark the 29th running of what’s been described as one of the most scenic trail runs in the state. It’s also one of the largest at around 3,000 athletes.
The half marathon starts in front of Mission Point Resort and follows the shoreline with incredible views of the lake, neighboring islands, and the historic Arch Rock formation. There’s also a 5.7-mile run option.
Because no cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, it’s recommended that runners take a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Post-race, enjoy Halloween events downtown and all the fall festivities on Mackinac Island.
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Fall Color Trail Races in the Southern U.S.
7. Grindstone Running Festival – Mount Solon, Virginia – Sept. 18-21, 2025
Set during peak fall foliage near the Shenandoah Valley, the Grindstone Running Festival by UTMB provides an East Coast running adventure. But the stunning fall colors won’t be the only thing to take your breath away. There are mountain views and high elevation on this challenging, technical course in the Appalachian Mountains.
Distances include a 21K, 50K, 100K, and 100-miler. Runners will climb peaks, descend mountains, traverse valleys, and run along ridges in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
This event is a dual qualifier for the UTMB World Series Final and Western States.
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8. Wild Florida Trail Run – White Springs, Florida – Nov. 15, 2025
Florida might not be the first place you think of when you imagine fall foliage, but the Wild Florida Trail Run wants to change your mind. Described as one of the most scenic trail races in North Florida, the course is set along the Suwannee River as the needles of the cypress trees turn color, massive magnolia trees loom overhead, and giant oaks drip in Spanish moss.
There are three distances, 10K, 25K, and 50K, with all races finishing at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. This race benefits the Florida Trail Association to help preserve these amazing, wild places in the Sunshine State.
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9. Sky to Summit – Sky Valley, Georgia – Oct. 25-26, 2025
Run up and around Rabun Bald taking in mountain views and spectacular fall colors at Georgia’s highest trail race, Sky to Summit. This isn’t just a scenic jaunt through the woods. Sky to Summit is an intermediate/advanced level event with a 25K that features 3,500 feet of elevation gain and a 50K with 7,500 feet of gain.
The race begins at Sky Valley Resort in Dillard, Georgia, and takes runners up Rabun Bald, the second highest point in Georgia at 4,700 feet. Runners should expect singletrack trails, waterfalls, bridge crossings, and lakes.
Aid station food is typical of most ultra-races, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, quesadillas, chips, pretzels, potatoes, bacon, pickles, and more. At the finish of the 50K, there will be chili and beer.
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Fall Color Trail Races in the Western U.S.
10. Rogue Gorge Race – Union Creek, Oregon – Oct. 18-19, 2025
For a case of wanderlust, just Google “pictures of Rogue Gorge.” The Southern Oregon Cascades are known for some of the most vibrant fall colors in the state and breathtaking views of the rolling Rogue River. This event offers a 12K, half marathon, 50K and, new for 2025, a point-to-point downriver 50-miler.
The course travels miles of singletrack through old growth forested bluffs above the Rogue River as it cascades downstream over waterfalls, in collapsed lava tubes, and through underground tunnels. Take in the crisp scent of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine as you travel through this lush forest.
Start off the fun at bib pickup with a campfire at Union Creek Picnic Shelter with s’mores.
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11. West Elk Challenge Trail Marathon – Hotchkiss, Colorado – Oct. 4, 2025
Gunnison National Forest is the site of this backcountry trail marathon in the North Fork Valley of Colorado set during peak fall foliage. The race begins at Crawford Reservoir State Park and travels on gravel roads through farms and ranches to the base of Needle Rock.
The course winds its way on singletrack through golden aspen stands on the slopes of Mount Lamborn. Runners will climb to the summit of Interocean Pass at 9,762 feet. With over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, there are spectacular views, including the changing leaves of spruce, aspen, and oak trees.
New for 2025, the race has limited entries available for an 18.5-mile option. The event is a fundraiser for the Nature Connection’s Scholarship Fund with a mission to get more kids in the great outdoors.
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12. Mueller Trail Half Marathon – Bountiful, Utah – Oct. 11, 2025
Experience some of Utah’s most vibrant fall colors on a looped course where the views are truly bountiful. At the Mueller Trail Half Marathon, runners head up North Canyon, past Rudy’s Flat, and down the Mueller Park Trail. At the 3.5-mile mark, the trail transitions to singletrack winding its way through fall foliage at its finest.
The race travels along the ridge and climbs to the top of the mountain with a smooth, downhill track back to the finish line. Finishers will receive wood-burned medals, doughnuts, and entry into fun raffles. A unique offering at this event is access to a free 12-week training plan with beginner, intermediate, and advanced options, as well as eight-plus trail meet-ups to practice your skills and meet new friends.
There’s a $500 cash prize for new course records, and the race is capped at 600 athletes.
Trail running is about so much more than just getting to the finish line the fastest. It’s about spending time in nature, exploring the great outdoors, and experiencing the peace, solitude, and camaraderie that can be found on the trails. Pick one of these fall foliage races and celebrate the most magical time of year for trail running.
