Merced River Canyon Run - Burma Grade and McCabe Flat

Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 8:00 AM PDT

Location: Briceburg, CA; Briceburg, ca, 95345
Type: RUN

At a glance

Explore the stunning Merced River Canyon on unpaved roads, with options for a flat, fast 5-mile run or a challenging 9-mile climb.

Scenic
Competitive

Great for: runners who like a competitive edge

Less ideal for: walkers-only pacing

Discover the classic Merced River Canyon Run, offering two distinct experiences along hardpacked unpaved roads. Choose the 5-mile McCabe Flat for a remarkably level course, or challenge yourself on the 9-mile Burma Grade, known for its significant elevation gain. Both routes promise amazing scenery within the canyon, providing a memorable day in the foothills of Mariposa County.

What to expect

Choose between a 5-mile out-and-back on the county's flattest footrace.
Opt for the 9-mile Burma Grade, featuring the most elevation gain in the county.
Both races traverse hardpacked, unpaved roads with impressive canyon views.

Standout details

Amazing Merced River Canyon scenery
County's flattest 5-mile course option
County's most elevated 9-mile course option
Hardpacked unpaved roads

Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.

Distances & registration

2 options

Registration for all distances is through the official signup link above.

5 Miles
Sat, Apr 4, 8:00 AM PDT · From $41.28
Opens Oct 22, 2025, 3:00 AM PDT · Closes Apr 4, 2026, 3:30 AM PDT
8.8 Miles
Sat, Apr 4, 8:00 AM PDT · From $41.28
Opens Oct 22, 2025, 3:00 AM PDT · Closes Apr 4, 2026, 3:30 AM PDT

Vibe Check

Push Potential

Mixed surface + hills

Based on terrain, weather, and distance data.

The course

Mixed
Hilly
Timed race

From the organizer

Mariposa county's classic Merced River Canyon Race returns this year with two options for runners.

McCabe Flat Flat out. T his 5 mile race is from the Briceburg bridge to McCabe Flat campground and back (2.5 each way). As the name suggests this race is about as flat as a race in the foothills can be. This race can be done at any pace but some will choose to try and set a record on the flattest footrace in the county.

Burma Grade . This 9 mile race starts at the river level and climbs up the mighty Burma Grade (4.5 each way). This race offers the most elevation of any foot race in the county and leaves the racers with an amazing sense of accomplishment.

Both races are on hardpacked unpaved roads and offer amazing scenery in the Merced River Canyon.

Note on location and directions, please take highway 140 to get to Briceburg. While there are other ways to get here, they are not recommend, especially not on race day.

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