
Sunset Trail Running Festival
Sun, Jun 21, 2026, 7:30 AM MDT
- Location
- Boulder, CO
- Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main St, 80302
- Type
- TRAIL
Sign up and verify details on the organizer’s official page.
At a glance
Run challenging trails with amazing views in Gold Hill, CO, and support vital wildfire preparation for mountain communities. A scenic race for a great cause.
- Fun
- Scenic
- Festive
- For a Cause
Join the Sunset Trail Running Festival in Gold Hill, CO, for a challenging and scenic trail experience. This event offers a wonderful opportunity to support vital wildfire preparation and response initiatives in the local community. Runners will navigate varied terrain through ponderosa pine and aspen forests, enjoying amazing views. Celebrate your finish with an after-race party featuring food, drinks, and music, all while contributing to a meaningful cause.
What to expect
- Challenging trail courses through varied terrain.
- Stunning views of ponderosa pine and aspen forests.
- A festive post-race party with food, drinks, and music.
Standout details
- Supports wildfire preparation initiatives
- Challenging trail courses with amazing views
- Post-race party with food, drinks, and music
- Mandatory shuttle bus system from Boulder
Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.
Distances & registration
4 optionsRegistration for all distances is through the official signup link above.
- 1K
Sun, Jun 21, 8:30 AM MDT · From $17.51
Opens Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Jun 20, 2026, 7:59 PM MDT
- 5K
Sun, Jun 21, 8:00 AM MDT · From $38.86
Opens Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Jun 20, 2026, 7:59 PM MDT
- 12K
Sun, Jun 21, 8:15 AM MDT · From $49.54
Opens Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Jun 20, 2026, 7:59 PM MDT
+ 1 more optionHide
- 28K
Sun, Jun 21, 7:30 AM MDT · From $76.23
Opens Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM MST · Closes Jun 20, 2026, 7:59 PM MDT
Vibe Check
Serious Test
Trail + hills, altitude
- Mostly trail
- High altitude
The course
- Trail
- Hilly
From the organizer
Join us on Sunday, June 21st, for the Sunset Trail Running Festival in Gold Hill, CO! Hosted by The Boulder Watershed Collective and in collaboration with T.E.A.M Boulder, all money raised from the event will be donated to the town of Gold Hill, and will fund wildfire preparation and response initiatives such as forest restoration, home hardening, emergency planning, land stewardship, and community resiliency.
This event provides an opportunity for the Front Range trail community, to show its support for small mountain town communities that live with a high risk of disruption and destruction from wildfire, while providing visitors with access to their unique character, beauty, and the surrounding landscapes.
RACE DETAILS Runners can choose between a 28K (17.4M), 12K (7.7M), 5K, or Kids 1K trail race. All distances start and finish on the main street of Gold Hill at the Gold Hill Inn, and the longer distances are run, in part, on the National Forest System roads. Runners will enjoy varied terrain of dirt roads and trails through ponderosa pine and aspen forests while taking in amazing views on these challenging courses.
The 28K course heads south to Salina, and then west along Fourmile Canyon Dr to the historic town of Sunset. From there, runners will head north up the Switzerland Trail and back to Gold Hill. The 12K course heads west along Gold Hill Rd to the famous Mount Alto Picnic area and back into town.
NO Dogs are permitted in the race. There are NO race refunds. POST-RACE After the race, celebrate the day with your family, friends, and fellow participants at our after race party! We will have food, drinks and music!
BUS TRANSPORTATION To ensure minimal vehicle impact and disruption to the Gold Hill community on race day, we encourage all runners and spectators to utilize the shuttle bus to and from Boulder, leaving from Boulder County Justice Center (1777 6th St, Boulder, CO 80302). Parking at Gold Hill will be very limited, and the required cost per car will be a $30.00 cash donation.
PRICING - To Gold Hill and Return to Boulder. Race Participants - FREE Non Competing Adult - $10.00 Non Competing 13 - 19 years - $7.50 Non Competing 6 - 12 years - $5.00 Non Competing 5 years & under - FREE
BUS TIMETABLE - Tickets are round-trip, and during the registration, you need to select a departing time for the bus trip up to Gold Hill, but you DO NOT need to select a return time back to Boulder.
BOULDER to GOLD HILL
Leave 6:00 AM - Arrive 6:30 AM Leave 6:15 AM - Arrive 6:45 AM Leave 7:00 AM - Arrive 7:30 AM Leave 7:15 AM - Arrive 7:45 AM ( LAST BUS ) GOLD HILL to BOULDER
Leave 10:15 AM - Arrive 10:45 AM Leave 11:00 AM - Arrive 11:30 AM Leave 11:45 AM - Arrive 12:15 PM Leave 12:30 PM - Arrive 1:00 PM ( LAST BUS ) Return buses will leave every 45mins from 10:15am until 12:30pm on a first come - first served basis.
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