Challenge the rugged terrains of California's central coast and China's ancient mountains with the two innovative UTMB races slated for 2025, promoting an intimate bond between athletics, local culture, and the environment.
The UTMB World Series is expanding its horizons, announcing two new events for late November 2025. The Ultra-Trail Shudao in China and the HOKA Pacific Trails California in the USA will join the series, offering trail runners a chance to immerse themselves in unique natural and cultural settings.
The Ultra-Trail Shudao, set to take place on November 8-9, 2025, in Jiange County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, China, promises an unforgettable experience. With race distances of 100K, 50K, and 20K, participants will traverse a historic and scenic route, featuring cloud-wrapped rice terraces, alpine meadows, steep ridgelines, and ancient post roads.
Runners will have the opportunity to traverse legendary Shu Roads, ascend Daping Mountain (1,073 meters), pass through landmarks such as Jianmen Pass cliffs, Cuiyun Corridor’s ancient cypress paths, and Liujiayan Cliff with Red Army slogans. The course is rich in Chinese history and natural beauty, taking trail runners across misty rice terraces, bamboo forests, and the legendary Shu Roads.
Meanwhile, the HOKA Pacific Trails California, scheduled for November 22-23, 2025, along California’s dramatic Central Coast, offers a similar connection to nature, sport, and local heritage. Like its Chinese counterpart, it provides a unique trail running journey, with qualifying Running Stones for entry into the prestigious UTMB World Series Finals held in Chamonix, France.
The HOKA Pacific Trails California will take place on a private ranch, Rancho San Fernando Rey, offering 50km and 25km distances. Trail running enthusiasts can look forward to running through a 30,000-acre ranch with more than 100 miles of roads and trails.
The UTMB World Series, which includes over 50 races in 28 countries, is furthering its mission to unite trail running with extraordinary natural and cultural settings worldwide. Each race enables runners to collect Running Stones, improving their chances to participate in the UTMB World Series Finals.
General registration for Ultra-Trail Shudao begins on July 24 at shudao.utmb.world. Priority registration for UTMB Index holders is open today. For the HOKA Pacific Trails California, priority registration by UTMB is open now, and general registration begins on July 24 at pacifictrails.utmb.world/register.
Trail running has been growing at an exponential rate in China and elsewhere in Asia. To celebrate this, race packs for Ultra-Trail Shudao are co-created with local artisans, offering a truly authentic Chinese experience.
Fuzhao Xiang, a trail running star, calls the geography of Ultra-Trail Shudao "treacherous," but Xiang is excited about running on Jianmen Pass and Cuiyun Lang, tracks full of the historical heritage of the Three Kingdoms Saga.
With these two new additions, the UTMB World Series continues to bring trail runners closer to nature and culture, offering an unparalleled trail running experience.
Sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in unique natural and cultural settings when they participate in the Ultra-Trail Shudao in China or the HOKA Pacific Trails California in the USA, both joining the UTMB World Series for late November 2025.
Runners can collect Running Stones by competing in these events, improving their chances of participating in the UTMB World Series Finals held in Chamonix, France.
