Santa Cruz Trail Run

Year 41 — and America's 250th Birthday!

This is the one you don't want to miss.

The Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club is fired up to bring you the 2026 Firecracker — and this year is unlike any other. Our nation is celebrating its 250th birthday, and we're throwing the party Santa Cruz style: lace up your shoes, hit the pavement, and kick off Independence Day the way this community has for over four decades at Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz CA.

We're calling all runners, walkers, families, and friends — our goal is 1,000+ runners this year!

That's right. We want to make the 2026 Firecracker the biggest in our history. So grab your crew, sign up your neighbors, rope in your coworkers, and let's pack Harvey West Park on the Fourth of July. Whether you're chasing a PR or pushing a stroller, there's a course for you.

Come play at of one of the most fun and scenic events on the west coast. This race has a sprint and international (Olympic) distance triathlon, with relays, aquathalon and aquabike categories for both races. Clydesdale and Athena triathlon categories are available.

There is a special, non-competitive Family & Friends wave for people who are new to triathlon or just want to race with family and friends regardless of age or gender.

Special youth pricing is available for youth 12-17 and seniors 70+ for all individual distances. Contact us for a discount for an all youth/senior relay team.

Triathlon club disounts available. If your Tri Club does not have a code, have a club officer contact us.

Sheltered swim and flat bike and run course make this a perfect place for your first race or a PR. Voted one of the best late season triathlons in the country. The bike ride is a totally closed course and both the bike and run courses follow the coastline to create one of the most scenic races around! (Pending approval of the 2025 bike course)

Stick around and play for a day at the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or visit the Surfer Museum or National Marine Sanctuary Center.

Participants will receive a finisher medal and custom t-shirt as part of their registration, plus a post race lunch and awards.

The Santa Cruz Triathlon is a popular, scenic, non-profit race offering Sprint and International (Olympic) distances, plus relays, aquabike, and an aquathlon option, known for its coastal course along West Cliff Drive and along Highway 1. Its an ocean swim around the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf, a spacious transition area on a soccer field, then riding out along West Cliff and Highway 1 to the quaint town of Davenport and back. Then finish with a beautiful run along West Cliff and finish on Cowells Beach.

This is great for beginners and veterans alike, with proceeds funding local high school and college athletics in Santa Cruz County. It's a long-running event that donates significantly to youth sports, featuring a sheltered ocean swim and largely closed-course bike and run, creating a fun, community-focused event.