Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 100M Division
Although the Speedgoat’s motto may be “100 miles is not that far”, for nearly everyone else, it really is. Nearly all will experience significant mileage in the pain cave. Moments of doubt and darkness. Mental refrains where you question not just whether you’re physically capable of going on (you’re pretty certain you’re not), but emotional anguish. When the glitz has faded, when you question what the hell you’re doing out there and what you were thinking, if I can offer one bit of advice, it would be to just make it to sunrise.
To toe the line let alone finish a 100, whether on a technical mountain course, or a flat as a pancake rail trail is an amazing feet. Every one is tough. In related articles we’ll highlight both flat and mid-elevation gain 100’s in our region. For this round, I’m ranking 11 of the “toughest” 100 mile trail events in the Northeast as measured by elevation gains of roughly 150’/mile or more.
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. For now, let’s dig in to the Trails Collective ranking of the Toughest trail 100 Milers in the Northeast.
#11
Vermont 100
West Windsor, VT
Month:
July
Distance:
98.8
Elevation Gain:
15,646′
Gain / Mile:
158′
Cut-Off Time:
30 Hours
#10
Oil Creek 100
Titusville, PA
Month:
October
Distance:
98.1 miles
Elevation Gain:
14,556′
Gain / Mile:
148′
Cutoff Time:
32 Hours
#9
Infinitus 100
Goshen, VT
Month:
May
Distance:
105.4 miles
Elevation Gain:
16,579′
Gain / Mile:
157′
Cutoff Time:
48 Hours
#8
CUT 112
Connecticut
Month:
June
Distance:
114.9 miles
Elevation Gain:
16,766′
Gain / Mile:
146′
Cutoff Time:
When You Finish
#7
Cloudsplitter 100
Norton, VA
Month:
October
Distance:
100.4 miles
Elevation Gain:
20,700′
Gain / Mile:
206′
Cutoff Time:
40 Hours
#6
Peak Bloodroot 100
Pittsfield, VT
Month:
May
Distance:
96.6 miles
Elevation Gain:
20,541′
Gain / Mile:
213′
Cutoff Time:
38 Hours
#5
Grindstone 100
Swoope, VA
Month:
September
Distance:
99.6 miles
Elevation Gain:
21,424′
Gain / Mile:
222′
Cut-Off Time:
38 Hours
#4
Massanutten Mountain Trails 100
Fort Valley, VA
Month:
May
Distance:
101.3 miles
Elevation Gain:
19,145′
Gain / Mile:
189′
Cutoff Time:
35 Hours
#3
Virgil Crest 100
Cortland, NY
Month:
September
Distance:
101 miles
Elevation Gain:
22,616′
Gain / Mile:
224′
Cutoff Time:
36 Hours
#2
Eastern States 100
Waterville, PA
Month:
August
Distance:
101.8 miles
Elevation Gain:
20,178′
Gain / Mile:
198′
Cut-Off:
36 Hours
#1
The Wild Oak Trail 100
(Winter TWOT Edition)
Mt. Solon, VA
Month:
February (there is an October running as well)
Distance:
110.4 miles
Elevation Gain:
30,756′
Gain / Mile:
279′
Cutoff Time:
48 Hours
The passage below is from founder Dennis Herr on the TWOT. To me it’s a reflection of 100’s. At some point they will strip you bare. Require that you dig in not as motivated by glitz but by character. Finish not because of your desire for notoriety or because of the support of your crew. You set out because doing so makes no sense. You finished because in the most simplest way, you never gave up on putting one foot in front of the other.
TWOT
Since this is a semi-invitational, here are some guidelines to help you determine if you are “invited”, or, more aptly, not invited:
- If you are even the least bit worried or concerned about getting lost, don’t come.
- If you have questions, don’t come.
- If you need a crew, don’t come.
- If you need toilet paper, don’t come.
- If you expect to be pampered in any way shape or form, don’t come.
- If you’re a whiner, don’t come.
- If you’re a freeloader, don’t come.
- If you’re seeking fame and/or fortune, don’t come.
- If you’re thinking about writing a report about your experience at Wild Oak, don’t come.
- If you crave abuse, if you yearn for abuse, if you are addicted to abuse in any way shape or form (be it physical, mental, sexual, verbal, mathematical, artistic or whatevah), please send an request for entry!
- The above bullet point applies to abusees only. Abusers are not welcome. The only abuser allowed is the trail.
| Rank | Event | Town | State | Month | Strava | Plotaroute | Hello,Drifter | TopoFusion | Avg Elevation | Mileage | Gain Per Mile | Division |
| 11 | Vermont 100 | West Windsor | VT | July | 16344 | 15645 | 14626 | 15968 | 15646 | 98.8 | 158 | 100m |
| 10 | Oil Creek 100 | Titusville | PA | October | 14055 | 14104 | 14728 | 15336 | 14556 | 98.1 | 148 | 100m |
| 9 | Infinitus | Goshen | VT | May | 18048 | 16909 | 17067 | 14291 | 16579 | 105.4 | 157 | 100m |
| 8 | CUT112 | CT | June | 16329 | 13497 | 18363 | 18873 | 16766 | 114.9 | 146 | 100m | |
| 7 | Cloudsplitter 100m | Norton | VA | October | 22,079 | 16365 | 21975 | 22379 | 20700 | 100.4 | 206 | 100m |
| 6 | Peak Bloodroot | Pittsfield | VT | May | 20423 | 18664 | 21975 | 21100 | 20541 | 96.6 | 213 | 100m |
| 5 | Grindstone | Swoope | VA | September | 21961 | 21020 | 22569 | 20147 | 21424 | 96.6 | 222 | 100m |
| 4 | Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 | Fort Valley | VA | May | 18634 | 17539 | 19711 | 20694 | 19145 | 101.3 | 189 | 100m |
| 3 | Virgil Crest 100m | Cortland | NY | September | 23,083 | 20610 | 24032 | 22737 | 22616 | 101 | 224 | 100m |
| 2 | Eastern States 100 | Waterville | PA | August | 21,186 | 19,560 | 20066 | 19900 | 20178 | 101.8 | 198 | 100m |
| 1 | The Wild Oak Trail 100 | Mt. Solon | VA | February | 30,140 | 28764 | 32140 | 31980 | 30756 | 110.4 | 279 | 100m |
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