Queen of the Ridge 2026

Queen of the Ridge is a women-only Last Woman Standing trail race held on a family dairy farm near Arena, Wisconsin, approximately 40 minutes west of Madison. It adapts the backyard ultra concept into a shorter, more intense format: runners begin a 1 to 1.25 mile loop every 20 minutes, with any runner missing the cutoff eliminated. Each lap involves a 250 to 300 foot climb, making the race a test of repeatedly managing steep, technical efforts until a single woman remains. The farm is located in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, and the loop incorporates gravel access road, single-track dirt trail, prairie path, and grass trail. The course direction reverses every four hours, altering the feel of the climbs and descents as the field thins. Race activities are based in Commonwealth Village, where runners, crews, medical support, aid, restrooms, and spectators gather around the start corral. The event utilizes the same loop and rules as the spring race, Rumble on the Ridge, but Queen of the Ridge is specifically designed for a women's field and the organizer's "femininonemon" theme.