North Sun Ultra is a single-day trail running event held each June in Edmonton, Alberta. The 2026 edition takes place on June 13 and is organized by North Sun Running, a not-for-profit group that has run the event annually since at least 2020. The race uses Edmonton’s River Valley trail network and attracts local and destination trail runners who want a technical, city-accessible ultra.

The event offers two distances: a full North Sun 50 km ultramarathon and a North Sun Lite 30 km. The 50 km field starts at 7:00 a.m. from Emily Murphy Park, followed by the 30 km at 8:00 a.m. Race weekend includes Friday package pickup at a local shop and race-morning pickup at Emily Murphy Park. Organizers publish a mid-race cutoff (50 km runners must pass Fort Edmonton aid station #4 by 2:30 p.m.) and a 4:00 p.m. finish-line close.

What sets North Sun apart is its river-valley singletrack route and community focus. The course threads through Edmonton landmarks — Capilano, Goldbar and Fort Edmonton Park — with technical rooty sections and runnable river-trail stretches. Aid stations appear roughly every 10 km with water, Tailwind and a mix of salty and sweet nutrition; 50 km runners have access to a drop bag at the 30 km/Emily Murphy aid station. As a non-profit, net proceeds support local organizations and past years show regular community donations.

Registration for 2026 is open through the race’s online entry system. Runners should note the refund policy (50% refunds available until May 31, 2026) and the ability to move down in distance up to June 7.

- **River Valley singletrack:** 50 km course combines technical rooty sections and punchy climbs with longer runnable river-trail stretches
- **Aid stations every ~10 km:** staffed with water, Tailwind and a selection of salty and sweet nutrition
- **Mid-race drop bag access:** 50 km runners can access drop bags at the Emily Murphy Park (30 km) aid station
- **Community-focused non-profit:** net proceeds support Edmonton organizations, with multi-year donations listed in past results
- **Well-flagged, volunteer-run event:** mandatory pre-race briefings, strong volunteer support and published cutoffs to keep the day organized