Hells Hills Trail Race

Hells Hills runs at Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, on singletrack cut through pine trees, stream crossings and fields of wildflowers. The hills the race is named for are short and steep rather than long: the organiser describes a roller coaster of slight ups and downs, with no real drawn-out climbs and a couple of stretches where you can stride out.

The 50 mile runs three 16.67-mile laps and the 50K two of 15.5 miles. The 50 mile goes off at 6:30 a.m. and the 50K at 7:00, each with its own start line closing fifteen minutes later, and early starts are not allowed. Both must be on their last lap by 4:30 p.m., and the course closes at 9:30 p.m.: fifteen hours for the 50 mile, fourteen and a half for the 50K.

The lap turns over at Saloon, which is also the start and the finish, and Corkscrew, Karaway, Lemonade Stand and Blac Trac fill in around it, so nobody runs more than 4.5 miles without supplies. The race publishes no elevation figure for either distance.

Three 16.67-mile laps for the 50 mile, two 15.5-mile laps for the 50K, which the organiser's aid-station chart puts at 31.3 miles. Saloon is the start, the finish and the lap turnover and holds the drop bags, the crew and the parking; Corkscrew sits 2.8 miles in with water, ice and grab-and-go snacks, and Karaway, Lemonade Stand and Blac Trac follow, one of them self-supported on the far side of the loop. The race publishes no elevation figure for either distance.

First-come sign-up on RunSignUp, with no lottery, no qualifying standard and no published field cap. Entry for April 2027 opened on June 3, 2026 and closes on race morning, at 7:45 a.m. for the 50 mile and 8:15 for the 50K. The 50 mile was $130 and the 50K $117 through January 4, 2027, rising in steps to $155 by race day. March 9 is the deadline to be sure of a shirt.