Pincushion Hill Climb

The Pincushion Hill Climb is a one-mile, chip-timed uphill race at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area near Friant on September 12, 2026. The event runs from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Registration is $43 for the one-mile race and $48 for the Mountain Goat edition.

The Course The race starts at the San Joaquin River Trailhead in the South Finegold picnic area, at the end of Sky Harbor Road, and finishes at the top of Pincushion Mountain. The climb is one mile straight up. Every runner receives a custom finisher award and an event shirt.

The Mountain Goat Edition The Mountain Goat option scores your first climb for the regular race, then gives you until noon, a four-hour window, to make as many trips to Pincushion Peak as possible. The first descent must take the longer route of just over 1.5 miles. After that you may descend the same way you climbed. Finishing at least two trips to the top earns Mountain Goat status.

Awards The top three male and female finishers earn prizes, along with age-group winners and Clydesdale and Athena division winners. The trailhead is about a 30-minute drive northeast of downtown Fresno.