Just a short drive from Melbourne and Geelong, the You Yangs Trail Running Festival turns the granite peaks and bushland of the You Yangs Regional Park into a weekend-long celebration of trail running. Part of the Trailsplus Mountain Trail Series, it's a friendly, well-run event that caters to absolutely everyone, from first-time trail runners to seasoned 100-mile ultra-runners.
The festival spreads its events across the weekend: a 21km and 42km on Saturday, then 5km, 15km, 30km and 50km on Sunday, plus a huge 100km and a 100-mile for the truly committed, run across both days. The trails roll through open forest and around the distinctive granite outcrops, with enough climbing to keep things interesting without being brutal.
The winter timing means cool, crisp running conditions — ideal for going long. The You Yangs are exposed in places, so check the forecast and dress accordingly. With so many distances, it's a great event to bring the family and all pick a challenge. Entries are through Trailsplus, and the longer ultras have field limits, so don't leave it too late.
