What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — August 9, 2025

The second weekend of August features 48 races on the UltraRunning Magazine race calendar. In this week’s What’s Up in Ultra, we highlight ultramarathons in Oregon, Illinois, Arizona, Pennsylvania and British Columbia, Canada. If you’re a race director and would like your event to be featured in the calendar, register here.

Featured: Wy’east Trailfest (Government Camp, OR)

Wy’east Trailfest (50-mile and 50k ultramarathon distances) takes place on the slopes of Wy’east, the ancestral name of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak. Both races feature scenic and diverse trail systems that send runners along exposed volcanic ridgelines, through lush Pacific Northwest forests and past vibrant wildflower meadows and flowing waterfalls. The 50-mile runners have 15.5 hours to run a point-to-point course with 10,650 feet of gain and 8,800 feet of loss, while 50k entrants will try and navigate 6,900 feet of climbing and 5,900 feet of descent in under 12 hours. This year’s 50k race will reward a $5,000 prize purse to the top three elite men and women finishers. You can follow the 50k livestream here. Read more.

Other West Events:

Pacific

• The Nifty Fifty (Juneau, AK)
• Kesugi Ridge Traverse Trail Run (Denali State Park, AK)
• Angry Owl Ultramarathons (Salem, OR)
• Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run (Mount St. Helens, WA)
• Larrabee Lakes (Bellingham, WA)

Mountain

• HighFive100 (Lake City, CO)
• Prospector’s 50K (Cooke City, MT)
• Swift Bear Trail Run (Hays, MT)
• Copper City 12 & 24 Hour Race (Three Forks, MT)
• Marlette 50K (Spooner Lake, NV)
• Kat’cina Mosa 100K Mountain Run (Springville, UT)
• Skyline Mountain Marathon (Liberty, UT)
• UTE 100 Mile & 50 Mile (La Sal, UT)
• Salt and Sulfur 420 (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Wyoming Range 100-Mile Endurance Run (Hoback, WY)

Featured: Howl at the Moon Ultra (Danville, IL)

First run in 1999, Howl at the Moon Ultra is an 8-hour and 4-hour fixed timed event held at Kennekuk County Park in Danville, Illinois. The race begins at the historic Laury Barn, where runners will set off in the clockwise direction to see how many 3.25-mile loops they can complete before the clock runs out. The course features a mixture of grass, gravel and pavement, and runners will have access to one full aid station near the halfway point. Runners have the option to camp Friday and Saturday nights at the park for a small fee, with post-race food provided for all registered racers. Read more.

Other Midwest Events:

• • Watershed Endurance 6Hr/3Hr Run (Edwardsville, IL)
  • Royal Beast 12 Hour Trail Relay/Run (New Palestine, IN)
  • Pines To Vines (Pinckney, MI)
  • Eddy Trail Races (Annandale, MN)
  • Baby Backyard Ultra 5K-50K (Andover, MN)
  • Kansas City Backyard Ultra (Kansas City, MO)
  • Buckeye Ultra 200 Mile (Wellsville, OH)
  • Steel City 12 Hour Endurance Run (Middletown, OH)
  • Last Buckeye Standing Backyard Ultra (Lewis Center, OH)

Featured: Vertigo Night Runs (Waddell, AZ)

The 11^th annual Vertigo Night Runs 52k race, part of Aravaipa Running’s Insomniac Night Trail Series, begins at 7 p.m. this Saturday at White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Arizona’s west-central Maricopa County. Set against a backdrop of 29,000+ acres of Sonoran Desert and rugged mountain terrain, participants will run through the night while attempting to finish five 6.5-mile laps on the Sonoran Competitive track loop in under 10 hours. Each loop will test runners with steep climbs, rocky descents and technical singletrack—all made more difficult while running by headlamp under the dark desert skies. Follow the race live here. Read more.

Other South Events:

Southwest

• Capt’n Karl’s Reveille Ranch (Burnet, TX)

Southeast

• In the Heat of the Night (Anniston, AL)
• Sufferfest on Section 4 (Middleburg, FL)
• H9 Dragon (Blairsville, GA)
• MD Heat Trail Race (Elkridge, MD)
• 888 50 Miler (Severna Park, MD)
• Petal to the Medal Endurance Event (Belmont, NC)
• Run 4 the Border (Charlotte, NC)
• Martha Moats Baker Memorial (Wild Oak Trail Trailhead, VA)
• Crystal Springs Ultra Races (Wytheville, VA)

Featured: Eastern States 100 (Waterville, PA)

Regarded as one of the toughest 100-mile ultramarathons in the United States, Eastern States 100 returns to the remote Wilds Region of north-central Pennsylvania for its 12^th edition. The event kicks off at 5 a.m. on Saturday at Little Pine State Park in Waterville where runners will set off on a rugged and technical 103-mile, single-loop course. Race challenges include over 20,000 feet of elevation gain, steep climbs and rocky descents, and dense forests that lock in the dizzying heat and humidity that runners are likely to encounter on their journey. Participants must finish in under 36 hours to receive their hard-earned Eastern States 100 buckles and 2026 Western States qualifier. Read more.

Other Northeast Events:

• Sweltering Summer Ultra (Pittsfield, MA)
• Beast of Burden – Summer (Lockport, NY)
• Lake Placid Trail Challenge (Mt Van Hoevenberg, NY)
• Anchor Down Ultra (Bristol, RI)
• 6 Hours On Lover’s Lane (Chester, VT)

Featured: Fat Dog 120 (Manning Park, BC)

The 14^th annual Fat Dog 120 (120-mile, 100k, 50-mile and 40-mile ultra distances) takes place August 8-10. The flagship event, a grueling 120-mile point-to-point endurance test (closer to 124 miles), begins on Friday in Keremeos and finishes at Lightning Lake in E.C. Manning Park. On course, participants will experience a true wilderness adventure with over 8,000 meters of elevation gain and loss, technical singletrack trails, long unsupported stretches, highly variable weather and the chance to encounter dangerous wildlife including bears, mountain lions, wolves and moose. Fat Dog 120 runners have 48 hours to complete the course for their Western States and Hardrock qualifiers. A portion of race proceeds supports global clean water efforts through the Run for Water Society. Read more.

Other Events in Canada and Mexico:

• Joy Run (St. Johns, NL) *Postponed until November 15, 2025*
• Capes 100 (Mabou, NS)
• Middle Path Ultra and Trail Race (Peterborough, ON)
• Ultra-Trail du Fjord-du-Saguenay (Bas-Saguenay, QC)

Email corys@ultrarunning with questions about adding your event to the UltraRunning Magazine calendar.