The Easiest 50 Mile Races for Your First Finish (2027)

The short answer

The easiest 50 mile race for your first finish is the Tunnel Hill 50 in Vienna, Illinois: a flat rail trail with a 30-hour cutoff. Brazos Bend 50 in Texas is a close second.

This is a list I've compiled of the easiest 50 milers to do for your first 50 miler. I haven't run all of these yet.

I chose them based on a few different factors: elevation gain, terrain, temperatures and cutoff times. It's important to pick a good first 50 mile race so you get it done.

I wish I knew these races existed when I ran my first 50 miler back in 2019. I didn't know 50 mile races existed, so I made a 1-mile loop around my college campus and ran it 50 times. Lol.

Pierce Showe in a red shirt and running belt holding a water bottle on the USC campus, with Tailwind and a bottle on the table beside him — Me on the USC campus in 2019, back when I made my own 50 miler.

Here are eight of the most popular 50 milers in the country, ranked from hardest to easiest.

8. American River 50

Runners on grassy singletrack under oak trees at the American River 50 — Runners on the trail at the American River 50, from the race photos.

Where: Folsom to Auburn, CA
When: April 3, 2027
Elevation gain: ~4,600 ft
Terrain: The American River Parkway bike path, then mostly singletrack, with a 3-mile climb to the finish
Avg high / low: ~71° / 47°
Cutoff: 14 hours

One of the oldest and most popular 50 milers in the country. It starts on the bike path along the American River, then moves onto singletrack that climbs toward Auburn.

It's the hardest race on this list because of the climbing. The last 3 miles are uphill to the finish, and they hit when your legs are already tired.

7. JFK 50

Runners at the start of the JFK 50 Mile in its early years — The start of the JFK 50 in its early years.

Where: Boonsboro, MD
When: November 2027 (date TBA; 2026 was November 21)
Elevation gain: ~2,500 ft
Terrain: About 13 rocky miles on the Appalachian Trail, about 26 flat miles on the C&O Canal towpath, then roads to the finish
Avg high / low: ~51° / 35°
Cutoff: 13 hours

America's oldest ultramarathon. The hard part comes first: the Appalachian Trail section is rocky and technical. After that, the towpath is flat and fast, and November weather is cool.

The 13-hour cutoff is one of the tightest on this list, so you need to keep moving. Registration is first-come, first-served and opens March 1, and it fills fast.

See the JFK 50 →

6. Lean Horse 50

A runner on the red Mickelson Trail below rocky Black Hills spires at Lean Horse — A runner on the Mickelson Trail at Lean Horse.

Where: Black Hills, SD
When: Summer 2027 (date TBA; 2026 was August 1)
Elevation gain: ~2,659 ft
Terrain: Out-and-back on the crushed-gravel Mickelson rail trail
Avg high / low: 79° / 55°
Cutoff: 16 hours

A rail trail through the Black Hills, so the grades stay gentle even in the mountains. The 16-hour cutoff gives you room to walk the climbs.

It's a summer race, though, so the afternoon can get warm. Use the cool morning to bank some easy miles.

See Lean Horse Ultra →

5. The Pistol 50

A pedestrian bridge over a grassy greenway in Alcoa, Tennessee, from The Pistol race photos — The greenway in Alcoa, from The Pistol race photos.

Where: Alcoa, TN
When: March 13, 2027 (starts at 8 p.m.)
Elevation gain: ~1,000 ft
Terrain: Five paved loops of about 10 miles
Avg high / low: 61° / 39°
Cutoff: 20 hours

Flat, paved loops just outside Knoxville, with a generous 20-hour cutoff. You come back through the aid station every 10 miles.

The catch is the start time. The 50 miler starts at night, so you'll be running through the dark and into the morning. Practice a few night runs before race day.

4. Sugar Badger 50

A shaded, tree-lined rail trail used for the Sugar Badger races in Wisconsin — The shaded rail trail at Sugar Badger.

Where: Belleville, WI
When: May 29, 2027
Elevation gain: Minimal
Terrain: Flat rail trail, with trestle bridges and a tunnel
Avg high / low: ~70° / 48°
Cutoff: 14 hours

An out-and-back on the Badger State and Sugar River rail trails in southern Wisconsin. It's flat, shaded and soft underfoot, and late May is usually mild.

The only thing keeping it out of the top three is the 14-hour cutoff, which is tighter than the races below.

3. Prairie Spirit 50

A runner passing an old grain building in Colony, Kansas, on the Prairie Spirit Trail — A runner passing through Colony, Kansas, from the Prairie Spirit race photos.

Where: Ottawa, KS
When: April 3, 2027
Elevation gain: ~850 ft
Terrain: Out-and-back on a crushed-limestone rail trail
Avg high / low: ~60° / 38°
Cutoff: 29 hours (13 hours to the turnaround)

A rails-to-trails course across the Kansas prairie, through small towns along the old railroad. The grades are gentle, the surface is smooth and early April is cool.

With a 29-hour cutoff, you have all the time you need. Just make sure you hit the turnaround within 13 hours.

2. Brazos Bend 50

Pierce Showe running the Brazos Bend 100 in Texas — Me at the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022, at the same park.

Where: Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, TX
When: April 10, 2027
Elevation gain: ~10 ft
Terrain: Three flat loops of dirt and gravel
Avg high / low: ~80° / 60°
Cutoff: 15 hours

I ran the Brazos Bend 100 in December 2022 on these same trails, and it's flat as a pancake. About 10 feet of elevation gain for the whole race.

The only reason it's not #1 is the weather. Texas weather can be so unpredictable, and in April the temperatures can get a bit higher. Start your fueling and hydration early.

And yes, you'll probably see alligators sunning themselves next to the trail.

1. Tunnel Hill 50

Runners coming out of the tunnel on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, with fall leaves on the ground — Runners coming out of the tunnel at Tunnel Hill, from the race photos.

Where: Vienna, IL
When: November 2027 (date TBA; 2026 was November 14)
Elevation gain: Flat (the grade never goes above 2%)
Terrain: Out-and-back on crushed limestone over dirt
Avg high / low: ~57° / 38°
Cutoff: 30 hours

This is the easiest 50 miler I know of. It's run on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, an old railroad line in southern Illinois, so the grade never goes above 2%.

Mid-November means cool running weather, and the 30-hour cutoff is the most generous on this list. You could walk a lot of it and still finish.

Summary: the easiest 50 mile races

#	Race	Where	When	Elevation gain	Avg high / low	Cutoff
8	American River 50	Folsom, CA	Apr 3, 2027	~4,600 ft	~71° / 47°	14 hr
7	JFK 50	Boonsboro, MD	Nov 2027 (TBA)	~2,500 ft	~51° / 35°	13 hr
6	Lean Horse 50	Black Hills, SD	Summer 2027 (TBA)	~2,659 ft	79° / 55°	16 hr
5	The Pistol 50	Alcoa, TN	Mar 13, 2027	~1,000 ft	61° / 39°	20 hr
4	Sugar Badger 50	Belleville, WI	May 29, 2027	Minimal	~70° / 48°	14 hr
3	Prairie Spirit 50	Ottawa, KS	Apr 3, 2027	~850 ft	~60° / 38°	29 hr
2	Brazos Bend 50	Needville, TX	Apr 10, 2027	~10 ft	~80° / 60°	15 hr
1	Tunnel Hill 50	Vienna, IL	Nov 2027 (TBA)	Flat	~57° / 38°	30 hr

Dates marked TBA had not been announced as of November 2026. Temperatures are monthly averages for the nearest town and are approximate.

Haven't run a 50K yet? Start with the 8 easiest ultramarathons for your first finish or the best first ultra for every month of 2027. Ready for something harder? Here are my bucket list 50 mile races.

Want help running your first 50 miler?

Do you want help running your first 50 mile ultramarathon? I am putting together a group of 10 men to run the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim in 2027. Click the link to be added to the waitlist and receive access to apply early on November 20th.

Common questions

What is the easiest 50 mile race?

The Tunnel Hill 50 in Vienna, Illinois. It's a flat rail trail where the grade never goes above 2%, the November weather is cool and the cutoff is 30 hours.

What should I look for in my first 50 miler?

Look at temperature, terrain, elevation gain and the cutoff. Mild weather, smooth trail, less climbing and a generous cutoff make a first 50 miler much more manageable.

How long does it take to run 50 miles?

It depends on the course and your fitness, but most first-timers are out there most of the day. That's why a generous cutoff matters so much for your first one.

Should I run a 50K before a 50 miler?

It's a good idea. A 50K is only about 5 miles longer than a marathon, and it teaches you how to fuel and pace an ultra before you double the distance.