Texas Switchback Marathon

Texas Switchback Trail race is a marathon on a private ranch between Dripping Springs and Johnson City adjacent to the eastern border of Pedernales State Park.  Flat Creek Crossing Ranch offers just about all types of trail. Expect some nice smooth single track at parts, relatively short but steep and rocky climbs and descents, plenty of twists and turns, shallow creek crossings, and the marathon will use a short 1/2 mile jeep road. All races start and finish at the same location in front of the "Main Lodge".A portion of the proceeds will benefit Back on my Feet Austin, a charitable organization that combats homelessness through the power or running, community support and essential employment and housing resources.Trail Roots was created by Erik Stanley to support the growing Austin trail-running community. Trail Roots emerged to provide focused and customized training for all levels of runners in Austin in a guided and safe environment

The marathon loop starts in the opposite direction of the 10k and heads about 1/2 mile on a flat and light jeep path road where you cross the entrance road and run the north west part of the trail closest to the Pedernales State Park. You will run about a 1.5 mile loop before you connect on the 10k route near the Jennifer and Sarah Lodge. You stay on the 10k loop until you get near "the Cave". From there you split off and head down a fairly flat narrow lightly used trail into the cave and down by the Flat Creek. The Marathon course is the only course that used this route! You run through a narrow trail between two rock walls. Then you head back up from the creek through the cactus and hickory bushes where you connect back to the 10k loop. You will run straight past the turn off to the 10k/half marathon finish, where you will finish out the loop and connect back to the jeep road you started out on. From there you will return to the start finish. That will be about 10 mi per loop. Then you do the 10k loop to finish out the marathon.

There will be parking near and around the Main Lodge.

There will be an aid station at least every 3 miles.

Food available for purchase, free drinks, yard games, swimming in Flat Creek, and live music from Bottom Dollar String Band.

​There are spots available to set up a travel trailer or RV on Friday afternoon-Saturday afternoon.