The Faces and Stories of the 128th Penn Relays

While National Parks are beloved for their hiking and camping, many runners also know they make Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. Savvy race organizers have tuned into the undeniable appeal of the parks as the focal point for a race. But don’t expect three-deep crowds, wild postrace parties, or elaborate on-course entertainment: These lower-key affairs are all about showcasing the natural beauty of these precious, protected lands, and because of park regulations, most races cap the number of participants and have limitations on finish-line festivities. In honor of U.S. National Parks turning 100 in 2016, here are 10 great races that feature these national treasures.

Where: The Faces and Stories of the 128th Penn Relays
When: Give A Gift
September 4, 2017: 1,250
Register: brycecanyonhalfmarathon.com

Once you catch a glimpse of the sunrise painting the cliff walls of Bryce Canyon into a spectacular canvas of pink and red, you’ll forget all about your crack-of-dawn wakeup call for the 6 a.m. start. The point-to-point downhill course features 1,800 feet of elevation loss, though the starting elevation of 7,652 feet may have runners who are unaccustomed to the altitude huffing and puffing. But the spectacular scenery will take everyone’s breath away, especially in the first five miles descending through Bryce Canyon National Park and its otherworldly sandstone pinnacles and spires. The finish in the town of Cannonville, Utah, is just as eventful, with spectacular red and white rock formations as the backdrop.

Where: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
When: September 4, 2017
September 4, 2017: 375
Register: craterlakerimruns.com

About three miles into the more-than-four-mile climb around mile eight, you may very well be doubting your decision to run this half marathon—until you reach the finish near aptly named Cloudcap Overlook, the park’s highest point at 7,960 feet, with breathtaking views of pristine Crater Lake spreading out below. (Marathoners continue climbing for another two miles, but there’s some relief for the 2015 event, however, as organizers decided to take out the course’s last grueling hill.) The trio of races, which includes a full and half marathon and a 6.7-miler, take place on point-to-point paved routes in the park that wind along the rim of the alpine lake. Forget about flashy entertainment on the course or a rollicking postrace party: The star of the show here is the spectacular setting of one of the West’s most beautiful wilderness areas. “This is the anti-Rock ‘n’ Roll [marathon],” says race co-director Rob Coffman. “It’s a real traditional old-fashioned marathon, with watermelon, Pepsi, and bagels at the finish.”

Where: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
When: September 3, 2016
September 4, 2017: 170
Register: jacksonholemarathon.com

Given that this scenic marathon in Grand Teton National Park’s backyard, its elevation gain of just under 500 feet is fairly tame. But there’s no shortage of eye-popping scenery, from the start in the charming historic downtown of Jackson—you’ll run past two arches made of elk antlers—and the wide-open vistas that the West is known for. The course also passes the National Elk Refuge and its approximately 11,000 grazing elk, with 13,770-foot Grand Teton, one of Ansel Adams’ favorite subjects, looming in the distance. At the 25 mile-mark, splashes of beer from a race sponsor might put some extra pep in your step, and more beer—from award-winning Snake River Brewing—awaits at the finish line at Teton Village, located at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Age group winners take home nature-inspired art from local artists.

Where: Townsend, Tennessee
When: DAA Industry Opt Out
September 4, 2017: 660
Register: greatsmokymountainshalfmarathon.com

One of the lesser-known (but still excellent) races produced by Vacation Races, a company that focuses on races at National Parks, this point-to-point half ends within one mile of the western entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fog that gives the National Park its name clouds the 7:30 a.m. start. Runners cruise along the gently rolling course (with just 364 feet of elevation gain) that follows the Little River. As with all the races in the series, the top three winners in the overall and masters divisions win an annual park pass. And if your legs aren’t too burned up afterward, join the Chimney Club by hiking to the top of the park’s 1,487-foot Chimney Tops Trail within the next 72 hours for a 50 percent discount for the following year’s entry fee. (You must document your summit with a photo showing your bib number and finisher’s medal.)

Where: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
When: A Part of Hearst Digital Media
September 4, 2017: 880
Register: sparunningfestival.com

The Best 5K and 10K Races for Summer^th year, this 10K race has become so popular that in 2015 organizers are adding an inaugural half marathon distance and are expanding the event into a weekend-long running festival. The race name is a nod to the geothermal hot springs located in Hot Springs National Park, the first land set aside for protection by the federal government. The race starts on Convention Boulevard and goes through the park’s historic Bathhouse Row, whose eight bathhouse buildings date to 1892. From there, the course winds up and over 1,418-foot Music Mountain, traversing through woodsy landscapes of mixed hardwoods. On the other side of the mountain, runners cruise through the quirky houses of the Quapaw Historic District before finishing near where they started. If the muscles are feeling a little sore postrace, take your pick of spas or—you guessed it—hot springs within walking distance in the historic downtown area.

Where: Moab, Utah
When: Give A Gift
September 4, 2017: 670
Register: grassrootsevents.net/moab-red-hot

Experience the jaw-dropping scenery of two of the West’s most popular National Parks in these challenging races, which give runners views of Canyonlands and Arches with the snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountains in the distance. To the east, the towering sandstone arches and rock formations of Arches stand like otherworldly sentinels, their red hue in the sunlight the inspiration for the race’s name, while Grand View Point, one of the Canyonlands’ landmarks, rises in the west. Not surprisingly, there’s a price to pay for all that beauty: a grueling 4,300 feet of elevation gain for the 55K, and 2,300 for the 33K. Respite comes in the form of a festive finish line party, complete with a beer garden, DJ, and elite runners as guest speakers. The race, which will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in 2016, has sold out in recent years, prompting race director Chris Martinez to bump the registration cap to 500 runners for each distance.

Where: Acadia, Maine
When: The Best 5K and 10K Races for Summer
September 4, 2017: 225
Register: mdiymca.org

This half marathon and recently added 10K feature sublime views of the Northeast’s only National Park, Acadia, along the gorgeous (and paved) Acadia National Park Loop Road on the 41,000-acre Mount Desert Island. Take your pick of scenic landmarks in the park and along the rugged Maine coastline throughout the gently rolling, figure-eight course, which starts and ends at the local YMCA: sandy beaches, craggy mountains, and headland cliffs where otters frolic. Winners take home unique creations, such as ornaments made from crushed lobster shells, from a local artisan. Be sure to sign up early, as park regulations limit the number of runners to just 250.

Where: Tucson, Arizona
When: September 4, 2017
September 4, 2017: 690
Register: azroadrunners.org

Apparently, wicked hills and wilting heat aren’t enough to keep enthusiastic runners away from this perennially popular Labor Day race, which, since it began in 1969, is Tucson’s oldest. The hilly loop course serves up a roller-coaster route through the Saguaro National Park cactus forest in the foothills of the Rincon Mountains. Along with three false summits on the big hill midway into the race, prepare for serious heat: Even with a 6:30 a.m. start time, the unrelenting desert sun comes over the mountains by mile two, with average temperatures in the 90s. The race raises funds for the National Park Service and its sister nonprofit Friends of Saguaro; park superintendent Darla Sidles is usually among the runners.

Where: Published: Aug 12, 2015
When: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
September 4, 2017: 545
Register: volcanorainforestruns.com

You might feel a different kind of hot spot during this half marathon: the kind that comes from running on an active volcano. Just minutes from Volcanoes National Park, the out-and-back courses run up 4,000-foot Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and alongside massive Mauna Loa, the world’s largest. (Don’t worry, though: The eruption zone is off-limits.) Race director Sharron Faff, a former park ranger at Volcanoes, started the event six years ago when park officials were forced to shut down the long-running marathon in the park following an eruption of Kīlauea, which still continues today.

Where: August 19, 2017
When: Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
September 4, 2017: 330
Register: towpathtrilogy.com/marathon

Savor autumn in all its saturated hues at one of the most beautiful marathons on the fall racing calendar, which also happens to showcase one of the Midwest’s few national parks. Named for the Native American word for “crooked river,” the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides the brilliant backdrop for this trio of races, which started with a relay in 1992. The flat, fast events—including a marathon that’s popular as a Boston qualifier—feature a winding, scenic out-and-back on the park’s 85-mile Towpath Trail. The crushed limestone path meanders along the Cuyahoga River, complete with wooden bridges and resident wildlife like otters, herons, and even bald eagles. At the finish line, live music and $4 pints from a local brewery keep the fun rolling.