Sun, Aug 2, 2026

Ely Mountain Trail Race

Shaver Lake, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

8.7 Miles4.97 Miles

About the Ely Mountain Trail Race

The course climbs Ely Mountain from Balsam Forebay, gaining serious elevation on the way up before dropping back down on smooth singletrack and dirt roads to the finish. Both distance options reach the top, with the longer route carrying a steeper, longer ascent and the shorter one a bit less work to get there. Either way, the views from the summit take in the Sierra, the lake, and the valley.

There is post-race food and refreshments at the finish. A special segment award goes to the fastest man and woman to the summit, so if you have a hard uphill gear, that climb is worth racing.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

8.7 Miles · 2025 results

104finishers

1:11:09winner

2:04:00median

3:36:38cutoff

Top 3: Oscar Perez (1:11:09) · Chris Martinez (1:12:45) · Jake Bergen (1:15:05)

4.97 Miles · 2025 results

55finishers

45:35winner

1:13:36median

2:52:57cutoff

Top 3: Patrick Zapien (45:35) · Alex Merrell (47:37) · Garrett Couchman (47:39)

The Ely Mountain Trail Race has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 8.7 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

8.7 Miles8/2/2026 08:00$65

4.97 Miles8/2/2026 08:00$65

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

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Common Questions About the Ely Mountain Trail Race

Will I finish last at the Ely Mountain Trail Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the 8.7 Miles field finished slower than 2:04:00, and the last recorded finisher came in around 3:36:38, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Ely Mountain Trail Race a good first 8.7 Miles?

It is a small race (104 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 8.7 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Ely Mountain Trail Race?

The 8.7 Miles winner ran 1:11:09 while the median finisher took 2:04:00. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.