2026 5 Peaks Trail Running Series: Golden Ears

The 2026 5 Peaks Trail Running Series: Golden Ears takes place May 2, 2026 in Maple Ridge, organized by 5 Peaks Adventures. The event uses Golden Ears Provincial Park as its base, with weekend logistics that include a Friday evening packet pick-up and a full day of racing on Saturday. Race-day contact for the event is provided by the organizer.

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The race day mixes family-friendly kids events with multi-distance trail options. Distances on offer are a 1 km kids fun run and a timed 3 km kids race, plus adult courses: Sport (7.25 km), Enduro (12 km) and Grit (16 km). Start waves stack through the morning — hikers start early, kids races run mid-morning, and the enduro and sport run waves follow a staged schedule — with packet pick-up available the morning of the race as well.

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Golden Ears stands out for its supported, community feel and practical race rules. The event is cup-free (participants must carry their own receptacle when out longer than an hour), offers a hikers division led by pace leaders for non-competitive participants, and supplies on-course electrolyte from a sponsor. Optional finisher swag and medals are available for pre-purchase and must be picked up at the event. Volunteers can earn future entries or merch through the organizer’s volunteer exchange program.

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If planning to run, register through the event registration page linked by the organizer and check their event notes for packet-pickup times, course maps and any equipment recommendations. Contact info@5peaks.com for additional questions about the course or volunteer opportunities.

• Start and finish in Golden Ears Provincial Park (Fern Crescent access point, Maple Ridge); packet pick-up available Friday evening and race morning.
• Trail terrain within Golden Ears Provincial Park with variable footing; routes follow park trails and single-day course configurations.
• Distances: Kids 1 km fun run and 3 km timed; Sport 7.25 km; Enduro 12 km; Grit 16 km — separate start waves for hikers and runners.
• Water and electrolyte (Blonyx Hydra+) available at the start/finish and at one or more aid stations; event enforces a cup-free policy so bring a personal receptacle.
• Course maps and GPX/route links are provided by the organizer for each distance.

• Multiple distances on one day: 1 km and 3 km kids races plus Sport (7.25 km), Enduro (12 km) and Grit (16 km) options.
• Hiker division with pace leaders: Non-competitive hikers start one hour earlier with two pace leaders and published estimated finish times (Sport ~2 hrs, Enduro ~3 hrs).
• Cup-free event: Water and electrolyte are provided at the start/finish and at aid stations, and participants must carry their own drinking receptacle if out longer than an hour.
• Volunteer exchange program: Four hours of volunteering earns an entry to a future 5 Peaks event or an item from the merch table.
• Optional finisher swag & medals: Finishers can pre-purchase swag and medals but must pick them up at the race.
• On-course electrolyte sponsor: Blonyx Hydra+ available on course for runners.