North Fork 50 Mile Trail Race

Race completed

80 km Distance

2,200 m Climbing

7.3 Grit · Hardcore

34.3845° N, 111.4551° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 28 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Field size ~89 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, May

Daytime high 23°C

Night low 6°C

Rainfall Dry — rain unlikely

Daylight 14 h 15 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1930 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2026	50mi	89	Tripp Hipple · 07:24:01	Lindsey Benkelman · 09:52:32
2025	50mi	73	Ryan Smith · 06:51:50	Lauren Puretz · 08:07:52
2024	50mi	78	Jim Rebenack · 07:22:00	Ellen Cannon · 08:59:32
2023	50mi	50	Eric Holmstead · 08:04:38	Brianna Williams · 11:08:31
2022	50mi	52	Eric Holmstead · 08:10:07	Jennifer Farmer · 10:36:35
2021	50mi	56	Tyler Hagen · 08:54:50	Alisyn Hummelberg · 09:48:22
2019	50mi	54	Zachary King · 07:19:40	Jennifer Farmer · 08:58:31
2018	50mi	74	David Teirney · 07:40:42	Carrie Stafford · 09:39:00
2017	50mi	70	Michael Hewitt · 07:17:58	Elizabeth Gold · 08:30:21
2016	50mi	73	Daniel Nally · 07:33:41	Elizabeth Gold · 08:38:00

The field grew 22% between 2025 (73) and 2026 (89). 26% of the 2026 field were women.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail with 2,200 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 28 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 2,200 m of ascent to walk up.
Headlamps 80 km almost certainly means running into the night.

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Salomon