Lake Merritt Run Club · Annual Race

Woodmonster Trail Race

Ten miles of hills, single track, and the infamous Woodmonster climb. One of the East Bay’s most challenging and beloved trail races.

10Miles of trails

0.8 miThe Woodmonster climb

8:30 AMFirst wave start

June 28Race date 2026

ChabotSpace & Science Center

About the race

Beautiful, Challenging, Glorious

The Woodmonster Trail Race is a 10-mile trail race starting and finishing at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. The course features plenty of hills, technical single-track trails, and the infamous Woodmonster climb — 0.8 miles of steep, relentless ascent that has become legendary in East Bay trail running.

This race replaces the Fourth Sunday Race in June. A finisher t-shirt in quality technical fabric is included with every entry.

Start & Finish

Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619

Race day registration and bib pickup opens at 7:30 AM. Free parking at Chabot Space & Science Center.

The Woodmonster Climb

The 0.8-mile TransSports Woodmonster Climb is the race’s signature challenge — steep, relentless, and legendary. A special Hill Climb Challenge award goes to the fastest male and female times on this segment, regardless of overall finish position. Hill Climb info →

Course Route

Chabot Space & Science Center → West Ridge → Skyline Gate (Aid station) → East Ridge → Down Prince → Stream → Tres Sendas → Star Flower → French → Madrone → West Ridge Bowl (Aid station) → West Ridge → Down Chown → Stream → Skyline Gate (Aid station) → West Ridge → Finish at Chabot

View course map →

Team Competition

The team with the most finishers wins 4 complimentary entries for the following year’s Woodmonster. Enter as a team for extra motivation and bragging rights.

What’s Included

Finisher t-shirt (technical fabric — every effort made to accommodate size)
Two aid stations on course
Hill Climb Challenge award
Age group and overall awards

Course details

Start Wave Schedule

This race features a reverse handicap system — older runners start first, giving everyone a chance to finish together.

Start Time	Group	Categories
8:30 AM	Group A	Women 65+, Men 75+
8:35 AM	Group B (–5 min)	Women 55–64, Men 70–74
8:40 AM	Group C (–10 min)	Women 50–54, Men 65–69, Women 13 & under
8:45 AM	Group D (–15 min)	Women 45–49, Men 60–64, Men 55–59, Women 13 & under
8:50 AM	Group E (–20 min)	Women 40–44, Women 14–18, Men 55–59, Men 13 & under
8:54 AM	Group F (–24 min)	Men 50–54, Women 19–39, Men 13 & under
8:58 AM	Group G (–28 min)	Men 45–49
9:02 AM	Group H (–32 min)	Men 40–44, Men 14–18
9:04 AM	Group I (–34 min)	Men 30–39
9:06 AM	Group J (–36 min)	Men 19–29

Pricing

Registration Fees

Entry includes a finisher t-shirt. Fees are non-refundable. Regular pricing is now in effect — register before June 19 to save on race day pricing.

Lake Merritt Run Club Members

RegularThrough Jun 19

$50 Register →

Race dayIf not sold out

$60 Register →

Non-Members

RegularThrough Jun 19

$60 Register →

Race dayIf not sold out

$70 Register →

Students

High school & collegeAll registration periods

$25 Register →

Entry includes finisher t-shirt · Fees non-refundable · Limited spots — register early · Lake Merritt Run Club members save $10 on every registration period

Save $10 with Lake Merritt Run Club membership

Join Lake Merritt Run Club for $25/year and save $10 on every Woodmonster registration period.

Join — $25/year

Volunteer with us

Can’t race? Please consider volunteering! We need help marking the course, pre-running, checking in runners, monitoring the course, and sweeping at the end. Email woodmonsterxc@gmail.com to sign up.