VOLUNTEER (AND SPONSOR!) SPOTLIGHT - MAMMOTH TRAILFEST
The mammoth trailfest. brings runners, outdoor enthusiasts, and the trail community together for an unforgettable weekend celebrating mountain running in the heart of the Eastern Sierra. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mammoth Lakes, the event combines challenging races, community gatherings, educational opportunities, and plenty of trail culture—all centered around a shared love of running and the outdoors. More than a race weekend, trailfest. showcases the incredible trails, landscapes, and community that make Mammoth Lakes such a special place to recreate.
For many years, mammoth trailfest. has supported sustainable recreation through sponsorship and volunteer stewardship by adopting Dragon’s Back and Horseshoe Lake trails.
We were able to chase down - literally - Tim Tollefson, the brilliance behind the upcoming mammoth trailfest. Here’s what Tim shared with us about the event.
For someone who has never experienced Mammoth Trailfest, how would you describe the event and what makes it unique?
It’s like 3,000 Labrador Retrievers gathered for a playdate in the mountains and then someone brought donuts!
What inspired Mammoth Trailfest, and how has the event evolved since it began?
Trailfest was born out of a desire to connect with people, spread the trail running gospel, and serve as an important economic driver for our community during shoulder season. It began with a small group of friends in town saying, ‘why not?”. We had no idea how to organize an event but we had the intention, and a goal of creating a space where everyone felt welcome. It has grown into one of the largest events in North America in just 5 years because of the people and relationships behind the gathering.
What can runners, families, spectators, and community members look forward to at this year’s Trailfest?
So much! We have new family-forward specific programming to make the experience better for everyone, increased free village activations and shuttles, and elevated summit parties!
Mammoth Lakes offers a pretty extraordinary setting for trail running. What makes the Eastern Sierra such a special place to host this event?
I’ve travelled the world to the largest trailrunning events and each time I come home, I'm reminded that we live in the best place ever. The variety, the access, the beauty. The eastern sierra is truly a gift. We are lucky to live here and share it with others.
With hundreds of participants using local trails and public lands, how does Trailfest incorporate stewardship and responsible recreation into the event?
We view Trailfest as our Trojan horse for good. It is an opportunity to educate a captive audience on why and how we recreate on public lands really matters. We’ve set up a volunteer service agreement with the forest service to do maintenance across the entire Inyo, have chainsaw and crosscut certifications, and adopt multiple local trails through Mammoth Lakes Recreation.
How important are partnerships with local organizations, agencies, businesses, volunteers, and the community to making Trailfest happen?
Our local relationships are everything. There is a difference between events built inside of communities and events built on top of communities. Without the collective effort from every corner of our town, this event does not happen. We hear from our runners that their experience is unlike any event they have ever attended - that’s the community factor.
What role do volunteers play, and are there opportunities for locals to get involved this year?
Volunteers are the heart of Trailfest. Each one plays an important role in taking care of our runners and helping to curate the Trailfest experience from check-in to check-out. We offer generous race credits, custom swag, and guaranteed early access into the following year's event for each person that helps us bring this event to life - it’s a perfect way to get a free entry!
What impact do you hope Trailfest has on Mammoth Lakes - not just during race weekend, but over the long term?
We believe trail running will save the world. It’s a recession, environmental, and access, proof recreational activity that everyone should experience. Trailfest is a signal that through a properly crafted gathering we can increase health and wellbeing, drive meaningful economic impact, and help develop thoughtful tourism through education and opportunity.
Is there a particular course, location, or moment during Trailfest that you think really captures what makes running in Mammoth Lakes special?
Dragon’s Back Ascent! Join us on the summit for donuts, dirt, and 360 degree views of this magical place.
What would you say to someone who isn't a trail runner but is thinking about coming out to experience Trailfest?
Join us! We are everyone from the cutoff chaser to course record breaker and want to help you fall in love with trailrunning!
What are you most excited about for this year's event?
This year, we have more involvement from our local business and non-profit groups around town. For the first few years we were building the plane while flying and struggled to reach out. Now that we’ve hit cruising altitude it’s been wonderful to engage with more local partners and our hope is to serve as a platform to unlock pain points anyone may be having. Together we can continue to build something we are all proud of
Where can people learn more, register, volunteer, or find the schedule of events?
Easy! mammothtrailfest.com has a full festival line-up, free shuttle schedule, and link to volunteer with us.
A few fun rapid-fire questions:
Favorite Mammoth trail? Dragon’s Back!
Best post-run meal? Carne asada tacos
Sunrise run or sunset run? Sunrise!
Uphill or downhill? Downhill!
Favorite Trailfest tradition? Hugging every finisher!
One piece of advice for someone running their first Trailfest? Put down your phone and ENJOY!
Three words that describe Mammoth Trailfest? Impermanent, imperfect, incomplete.
Thank you Tim for taking the time to chat with us; we are looking forward to another incredible mammoth trailfest!
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.