PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE
The Ranch 50k race video

The Ranch 50k

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USFeb 13, 202750km
YouTube · Cirque Running
Race date in 130 days
Feb 13, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Escondido · 50km
Entry fee
$105Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTue, September 1, 2026 ~ Thu, February 11, 2027See how to enter ↗
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Ranch 50k — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held at Daily Ranch with start/finish at Dixon Lake picnic area.

50K is a 25K loop course completed twice.

One loop gains 3,159 feet, bringing total elevation to 6,318 feet.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

The Ranch 50k runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 1
Will CooperRan in 2023
“And fourth place overall it would be!”

The runner returned to ultrarunning with a 50 km race in Escondido on the runner's 60th birthday. The runner encountered signage problems on the steep two-lap course, but had enough left in the second half to overtake competitors and finish fourth overall.

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Daley Ranch | The Ranch 50k & Half Marathon

Cirque Running

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter The Ranch 50k — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Registration platform UltraSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The Ranch 50k course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
Time limit50K 9 hours 30 minutes
Show more

50K 9 hours 30 minutes · half marathon 9 hours

EventStartTime limit
Ultra50km07:009h 30m
1/2 Marathon21.0975km07:309h
START

Dixon Lake Picnic Area, Escondido, CA

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

3024 La Honda Drive, Escondido, CA

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
50K first lap 4.75 hours

Show more

There is one event: the ultra.

Start line takes place in Escondido, CA, with a local start time of 7 a.m.

Course is a loop course that returns runners to the starting point.

Organizer
Second Wind Trail Running
Typical race-season temperature: around 11°C (52°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers
Aid stations
3 supply stations (La Honda, Lilac Hill, Dixon Lake)

Participant benefits

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your The Ranch 50k race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packet pickup information has not yet been announced.
For small trail races, race-morning on-site pickup is common; check the registration page announcement for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No train/subway/bus station nearby. Nearest transit hub is Escondido Transit Center (NCTD Sprinter light rail + Breeze buses), about 4 miles southwest of the venue in downtown Escondido.

Start/finish is at Dixon Lake Picnic Area within Daley Ranch open space (city park).

No bus serves the trailhead itself;

last-mile car/rideshare needed.

Rural city-park venue;

no public transit reaches the trailhead directly.

Details are from the 2026 edition.

Getting to the finish

Same as start — single start/finish loop at Dixon Lake Picnic Area.

Finish area is at the same Dixon Lake Picnic Area as the start (two-loop 25K course for the 50K).

More details

No organizer-run shuttle found in race materials.

Stations & transport near the venue

Escondido, CA is on North County Transit District's network (Sprinter light rail and Breeze buses),

using the reloadable Pronto card (also valid on San Diego Trolley/buses) at about $2.50 per ride, available at station vending machines or via the Pronto app.

The Ranch 50k venue itself is likely an outlying ranch/trail property best reached by car, since Sprinter/Breeze stops are concentrated in central Escondido.

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The Ranch 50K is registered through UltraSignup and organized by Second Wind Trail Running.

The 2027 race is confirmed to open for registration on September 1, 2026, and SWTR members are reportedly offered a Entry fee discount.

The 50K cutoff time limit is split into two stages.

Runners must pass the first lap (around the 25K mark) within 4 hours 45 minutes to be allowed to begin the second lap,

and the overall finish time limit is 9 hours 30 minutes.

Course has three aid station: La Honda (5.4 and 21 miles), Lilac Hill (10 and 25.7 miles),

and Dixon Lake (15.5 and 31.1 miles), which also serves as the start and finish.

Times are local to Escondido. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the The Ranch 50k start line in Escondido

Hotels that make race morning easy

1 places

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

48 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

GoCar Tour on Land and Sea + Speedboat Adventure

$357

View on Klook

San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour (Six Food Tastings)

$101

View on Klook

San Diego Coronado & Seaport Village Half-Day Food Tour (Ferry Ride Included)

$126

View on Klook

Escondido car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Escondido Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

San Diego|Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at San Diego International Airport

$78

View on Klook

Hotel – Citadel Outlets & Los Angeles International Airport Transfer Service

$128

View on Klook

The Fleet Science Center Fast-Track Admission Ticket, San Diego

$29

View on Klook

Total cost and budget for The Ranch 50k

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about The Ranch 50k

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Escondido runners' room

Frequently asked questions about The Ranch 50k

FAQ
When does The Ranch 50k 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, February 13, 2027 in Escondido, CA, United States.

How much is the The Ranch 50k 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $105.

What is the time limit for The Ranch 50k 2027?

50K 9 hours 30 minutes · half marathon 9 hours.

What distances does The Ranch 50k 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does The Ranch 50k 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:00.

Where does The Ranch 50k 2027 start?

Dixon Lake Picnic Area, Escondido, CA.

What are the The Ranch 50k 2027 cut-off times?

50K first lap 4.75 hours.

When does registration for The Ranch 50k 2027 open?

Registration runs from Tue, September 1, 2026 to Thu, February 11, 2027.

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