Annual Jay Peak Trail Running Festival Returns Labor Day Weekend, Followed by Jay Peak Debut of Cirque Series on September 26
JAY, Vt. – August 31, 2026 – Jay Peak Resort will host two trail and mountain running events this September, beginning with the annual Jay Peak Trail Running Festival over Labor Day weekend, September 5–6, followed three weeks later by the resort’s first Cirque Series mountain race on September 26.
Together, the events will bring a wide range of runners to Jay Peak, from children and first-time trail racers to ultrarunners and experienced mountain runners, with courses that make use of the resort’s ski trails, service roads and high-alpine terrain.
The Jay Peak Trail Running Festival returns to Stateside Base with seven races across two days. Designed for a broad range of ages and abilities, Saturday features shorter races and a kids event before Sunday shifts to longer-distance mountain courses.
Saturday’s schedule includes the Black Diamond 5K, Blue Square 5K, Green Circle 5K and Kids Trail Race. On Sunday, runners can choose from the 11-Miler, 22-Miler and 53.1K Ultra.
The event has previously received recognition from national running publications, including Trail Runner Magazine and Runner’s World, for its family-friendly format and trail racing experience.
Beyond the courses, participants and their families can make a weekend of the event with access to Jay Peak’s lodging, Pump House Indoor Waterpark, Clips & Reels recreational center, restaurants and other resort amenities. All registered runners will receive access to discounted lodging through a code provided by the race organizer.
Three weeks later, mountain racing moves higher up the hill when Cirque Series makes its Jay Peak debut on Saturday, September 26. The course covers 7.1 miles with 3,044 feet of vertical gain, beginning and ending at Tramside and combining ski trails, service roads and technical alpine terrain on its way to the summit ridge of Jay Peak.
Runners will start beside the Aerial Tram dock and immediately climb Interstate before working toward Stateside. From there, the course climbs through Paradise Meadows and toward the Stateside peak before returning beneath the Tram towers. The route eventually reaches Green Beret, the steepest climb of the course, before joining the Long Trail for the final push across the summit ridge.
The Jay Peak Cirque Series race is capped at 500 runners, with registration handled directly through Cirque Series. Each registered competitor will receive a La Sportiva or Norda running hat, giveaway ticket, logoed race bib, finisher medal, sponsor swag bag and complimentary professional race photos. Race and lodging information is available through the organizer and the Jay Peak Resort event page.
The race also lands on the first of Jay Peak’s Scenic Route Weekends, a new fall event series featuring cider pressing, guided hikes, horse-drawn carriage rides, scenic Tram rides and other seasonal activities around the resort. Activities will be available individually or through lodging packages, giving runners and their families another reason to make a weekend of the trip.
With one weekend built around bringing the whole family onto the trails and another designed around a steep trip to the summit, September will offer two distinctly different ways to experience Jay Peak on foot.
For additional information about both events, visit jaypeakresort.com/events.
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Jay Peak Resort is located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, approximately five miles south of the Canadian border. The four-season resort offers skiing and snowboarding, lodging, championship golf, the Pump House Indoor Waterpark, Vermont’s only aerial tramway, year-round recreation, dining and live events.
