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Trails Collective

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 100k Division

Despite their being fewer options, some of the northeast’s biggest cult classic trail races are over the 100 km distance. 100 km is long enough to take you into, and hopefully out of, the second waive of pain cave miles. Several in the lineup below start runners at night, and, in two in the dead of winter as an extra kick in the gut. But so goes the setting that yields legendary adventure and stories. A couple are distance step-children to their 100 mile siblings. One is not only run over signature #BeastCoast technical terrain, but also provides no supplemental markings or aid. One is one of the oldest trail races in our region. A few are some of our only Western States qualifying opportunities.

For those arriving directly here, check out our lineup of the Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast across distances. We also have related articles on Most Scenic, Historic, Flat & Fast, and others to come. Here’s the Trails Collective ranking of the top 12 toughest 100k’ish distance trail races in the Northeast.

Toughest 100k Trail Races in the Northeast, Ranked

#12

DUC 100k

Pocomoke, MD

It’s not the glitz, distance, technicality, or elevation gain that place the DUC on this list. Kinda like the Fight Club, you’re not going to find much information on the DUC. As with TWOT, if you have questions, or need details in advance, the DUC aint for you. Like Black Forest, you’re in for the front half run at night. As a bonus kick in the teeth provided at Hellgate, those night miles are also run in the thick of unpredictable winter conditions.

Month:

February

Distance:

62 miles

Elevation Gain:

~1,500′

Gain / Mile:

~24′

#11

Vermont 100k

West Windsor, VT

Month:

July

Distance:

61.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

9,507′

Gain / Mile:

155′

#10

Oil Creek 100k

Titusville, PA

Month:

October

Distance:

60.8 miles

Elevation Gain:

9,751′

Gain / Mile:

160′

Oil Creek 50k Elevation Profile which 100k runners complete twice

#9

Laurel Highlands Ultra

Ohiopyle, PA

Month:

June

Distance:

66.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,215′

Gain / Mile:

153′

Laurel Highlands Ultra Elevation Profile

#8

UROC 100k

Vesuvius, VA

Month:

May

Distance:

62 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,405′

Gain / Mile:

168′

Route map for UROC 100k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

UROC 100k Elevation Profile

#7

Cloudsplitter 100k

Norton, VA

Month:

October

Distance:

66.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

13,322′

Gain / Mile:

201′

Cloudsplitter 100k Elevation Profile

#6

Twisted Branch 100k

Naples, NY

Month:

August

Distance:

63.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

11,338′

Gain / Mile:

179′

Twisted Branch Trail Run Elevation Profile

#5

Virgil Crest 100k

Cortland, NY

Month:

September

Distance:

61.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

13,224′

Gain / Mile:

215′

Route map for VCU 100k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Virgil Crest 100k Elevation Profile

#4

SRT 70

Rosendale, NY

Month:

September

Distance:

70.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

11,573′

Gain / Mile:

164′

#3

Black Forest

North Bend, PA

Month:

October

Distance:

63.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

12,147′

Gain / Mile:

190′

Black Forest Ultra Elevation Profile

#2

Hellgate

Natural Bridge Station, VA

Month:

December

Distance:

67.1

Elevation Gain:

14,588′

Gain / Mile:

217′

Hellgate 100k Elevation Profile

#1

World’s End 100k

Forksville, PA

Month:

June

Distance:

61.1

Elevation Gain:

11,134′

Gain / Mile:

175′

World’s End 100k Elevation Profile

100k Trail Race Ranking Grid

RankEventTownStateMonthStravaPlotarouteHello,DrifterTopoFusionAvg ElevationMileageGain Per MileDivision
12DUC100kPocomoke CityMDFebruary15006224100k
11Vermont 100kWest WindsorVTJuly9993950488329699950761.5155100k
10Oil Creek 100kTitusvillePAOctober904290681078810106975160.8160100k
9Laurel Highlands UltraOhiopylePAJune1114599501125785061021566.6153100k
8UROC 100kVesuviusVAMay10463103871201487551040562168100k
7Cloudsplitter 100kNortonVAOctober142171117113343145551332266.2201100k
6Twisted Branch 100kNaplesNYAugust11025996711650127091133863.4179100k
5Virgil Crest 100kCortlandNYSeptember135241217213990132081322461.4215100k
4SRT 70RosendaleNYSeptember12329968013425108591157370.5164100k
3Black ForestNorth BendPAOctober132691181113320101871214763.9190100k
2HellgateNatural Bridge StationVADecember137991461616106138311458867.1217100k
1World’s End 100kForksvillePAJune12,4001092511158100541113463.6175100k
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