Run Far, Stay Awhile
A Carson Valley Runcation
You want me to travel for what?
To run. On purpose. For 50 miles. Before you put away the suitcase, hear us out.
Trips built around running and racing, affectionately dubbed “runcations,” are having a moment in the tourism world right now. And the best runcations aren’t simply about collecting miles; rather, they’ve emerged from the increasingly popular practice of using those miles to experience a place differently, in every aspect from its landscape, its food, and its people. Ideally, there’s also a good soak in a hot tub waiting at the end of it all. That sounds a lot like Carson Valley.
On November 7, the Ferris 50 Endurance Run will return for its second year, sending runners across the high-desert landscape at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. Named in honor of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr (yes, that Ferris, inventor of the Ferris Wheel, whose story has roots right here in Carson Valley), the event offers 50-mile, 50K and 15K distances, plus a new 1.5K kids race designed for young athletes in the making.
The courses mix single-track and OHV trails with minimal pavement, carrying runners through the foothills of eastern Carson Valley with views across the wide-open landscape toward Job’s Peak. Translation: your legs may have questions about your vacation choices, but your camera roll won’t.
Last year’s inaugural race proved there was plenty of appetite for this particular brand of adventure. The first Ferris 50 drew 135 participants for its three distances, establishing a new fall tradition built around the kind of grit, open space, and community spirit Carson Valley knows well. And that’s where the “vacation” part comes in.
Make a long weekend of it and give yourself time to explore beyond the course. Wander historic Genoa, Nevada’s oldest permanent settlement, or stretch tired legs with an easy stroll through Minden or Gardnerville. If running 50 miles somehow leaves you wanting more trail time, Carson Valley has plenty of routes for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. But if you prefer to admire the landscape without the need for constant motion, there’s always an opportunity to slow things down, keep an eye out for wildlife, and simply enjoy those big Nevada skies.
You’ll also want to arrive hungry. Carson Valley’s food and beverage scene runs from hearty Basque traditions and classic Nevada watering holes to cozy cafés, local restaurants, and craft beverages. This is the kind of place where a good meal feels earned, especially at the end of a long day outdoors—and where swapping trail stories over dinner is practically part of the itinerary.
After all, a vacation centered on fitness would be incomplete without factoring in recovery.
The Ferris 50 finishes at TJ’s Corral, just steps from its host hotel Carson Valley Inn, which lends itself to a blissfully uncomplicated post-race plan: find the indoor pool, settle into one of the hot tubs, and let your legs reconsider all the things you asked of them that morning. A hearty dinner at CV Steak or Katie’s, both conveniently located onsite and conveniently delicious, can handle the rest.
Or, if you care to branch out and make your recovery just as historic as the accomplishment of completing a 50 mile race on foot, consider nearby Genoa, where David Walley’s has been welcoming travelers to its mineral-rich hot springs since 1862. A warm soak in one of their thermal tubs surrounded by Sierra views after a day on the trail? Suddenly the whole running-vacation idea starts making a lot more sense.
And the fall season gives you more reasons to stay just a little bit longer—or return for a trip that does not include physical exercise quite as intense as an endurance race. Carson Valley’s calendar includes iconic seasonal highlights from the wonderfully quirky Fall Festival & Coffin Races into Día de los Muertos celebrations, before December brings Carson Valley Christmas with tree lightings, festive gatherings, and the annual Parade of Lights.
So, you want me to travel for what?
For the run, sure. But also, for the views. The stories. The food. The people cheering at the finish line. The hot springs waiting afterward. Come to Carson Valley for the miles. Stay for everything between them.
