SPACEROCK Trail Race 2026: Gear, Course and Aid Stations
Quick answer: The 10th SPACEROCK Trail Race is on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Vasquez Rocks Natural Park in Agua Dulce, California, with a Half Marathon+ (13.9 mi), 15K, 10K and 5K. It is a cupless race: aid stations will not hand out cups, so every runner must bring a collapsible cup, a handheld bottle or a hydration pack. Half Marathon+ runners must also carry at least a 1-liter bottle or hydration pack, 500 calories of emergency food, a phone and a course map. LECAMO is a sponsor of this year's race.
SPACEROCK 2026 at a glance
| Distance | Actual length | Elevation gain | Start | Cutoff | Entry (from Sept 15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Marathon+ | 13.9 mi / 22.36 km | 2,927 ft | 7:30 AM | 5 hours | $195 |
| 15K | 8.8 mi / 14.3 km | 1,804 ft | 7:40 AM | 4 hours | $155 |
| 10K | 6.24 mi / 10.04 km | 1,079 ft | 7:50 AM | 3 hours | $120 |
| 5K | 3.12 mi / 5.02 km | 538 ft | 8:00 AM | 2 hours | $90 |
From the race's FAQ, course page and registration page, read October 5, 2026. Elevation is from the course page; the homepage describes the Half Marathon+ as having over 3,200 feet of gain and descent. The 5K, 10K and 15K cutoffs are soft as long as you finish before the Half Marathon+ cutoff. On-site entry costs more, and the race says it will sell out.
What SPACEROCK requires you to carry
The race dropped paper cups because, in its own words, more than 10,000 single-use cups were thrown away per race in previous years. Volunteers at the aid stations will refill your cup, bottle or pack with water and electrolytes. From the race's gear page and FAQ:
- Every runner: a collapsible cup, a handheld bottle or a hydration pack. No cups at the aid stations.
- Half Marathon+: at least a 1-liter water bottle or hydration pack.
- Half Marathon+: at least 500 calories of emergency food, such as gels, chews or bars.
- Required: a cell phone, and a course map or an electronic map on your phone or watch.
- Recommended: trail shoes, a hat or visor and sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, personal medicine, an elastic bandage, a whistle and a GPS watch.
Aid stations and the longest gaps
SPACEROCK runs five aid stations stocked with water, electrolytes from Gnarly Nutrition, GU gels and chomps, salt capsules and first aid. How far you go between them depends on your distance:
- Half Marathon+: aid at miles 0.8, 2.6, 4.1, 6.7, 11.6 and 13.3. The longest gap is about 5 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, with a large climb, between Station 4 and Station 1.
- 15K: aid at miles 0.8, 2.6, 6.6 and 8.3. The longest gap is about 4 miles, including the big hill climb and the PCT.
- 10K and 5K: aid at miles 0.8 and 2.5 on the 5K loop; the 10K runs that loop twice.
Those long gaps are where carrying capacity matters. LA County's trail map for Vasquez Rocks recommends a minimum of 1 liter of water for every two hours and notes that shade is limited in the park. The race FAQ gives an average October high of 78°F and warns that finishing dehydrated is one of the biggest dangers for runners. For more on planning intake, see our water planning guide.
Cup, bottle or vest: which to bring
A collapsible cup meets the rule for the 5K and 10K, where aid stations come often. For the 15K and Half Marathon+, you need a way to carry water through the long gaps, and Half Marathon+ runners must carry at least a liter.
The LECAMO ROOT5 5L vest ($50) comes with two 500ml soft flasks, which is exactly 1 liter, and it has room for a phone and the 500 calories of food the Half Marathon+ requires. The race says volunteers will be ready to refill your cup, bottle or pack with water and electrolytes, so you can top up both flasks at the aid stations. If you also want room for a light layer and more food, the ROOT8 8L ($78) ships with two soft flasks as well.
A note on timing: US orders ship from our US warehouse within 1 to 2 business days, and delivery is estimated at 3 to 7 business days after shipment. If you are ordering for October 17, order early and test the vest on a training run before race day. Returns are accepted within 14 days of receiving your order.
Course notes
- The courses run on Vasquez Rocks, Pacific Crest Trail and Agua Dulce trails, past rock formations seen in Star Trek, The Flintstones and Planet of the Apes.
- Expect packed dirt, loose rocky gravel, large boulders, soft sandy creek beds, small ravines and trail stairs.
- The 15K and Half Marathon+ go through the Black Hole, a dark, rough concrete tunnel under the 14 freeway, lit with glow sticks.
- For 2026, the Half Marathon route is marked with yellow flags and tape instead of the usual purple.
- The 5K and 10K have moderate climbing and single-track, and the race calls them great for first-time trail runners.
- The course page has GPX and KML files for each distance and fly-through videos. Download the file to your phone or watch to meet the course map rule.
Race day logistics
- Start and finish: inside Vasquez Rocks Natural Park, 10700 Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA 91350.
- Bib pickup: Friday, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the start/finish line, with no parking fee on Friday. Race-day check-in runs 6:00 AM to 7:50 AM. Check-in requires a signed waiver and ID.
- Parking: $15 cash at the lot at Escondido Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Canyon Road, then a shuttle or a walk of about 0.6 miles. No roadside parking on Escondido Canyon Road.
- Other rules: no dogs, and no drop bags on the course. There is a gear drop at the start/finish.
Why LECAMO is backing SPACEROCK
LECAMO was started by trail runners. The people who push our gear the hardest are the people racing in it. Backing races like SPACEROCK is our way of supporting the community that keeps us honest. If you are racing on the 17th, good luck out there. Run long.
Kane, Founder, LECAMO
FAQ
Does SPACEROCK give out cups at aid stations?
No. SPACEROCK is cupless. Bring a collapsible cup, a handheld bottle or a hydration pack.
Do I need a hydration vest for the SPACEROCK Half Marathon?
You need at least a 1-liter water bottle or hydration pack for the Half Marathon+. A vest is one way to meet that rule and carry the required phone, map and 500 calories of food.
Where do I park for SPACEROCK?
General parking is $15 cash at the lot at Escondido Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Canyon Road, with shuttles or a walk of about 0.6 miles to the start.
Can I bring my dog?
No. The race's event insurance does not allow dogs.
Sources: SPACEROCK FAQ; SPACEROCK gear; SPACEROCK course; SPACEROCK registration; UltraSignup; LA County, Vasquez Rocks trail map.