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Trails Collective

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 50M Division

Much of the mediasize and romance with trail running over the past decade + has circled around ultra. The press, the sponsorship dollars, where the bar is set for a sense of challenge and achievement. The 50 mile is often the next step after the 50k gateway drug experience. A distance where the mythical wall comes to back to remind you that you’re not dead yet. Where the wheels are most certainly guaranteed to fall off. In the lineup below, and including a few sub-50’s without a distance division home, we find events such as the beautiful Highland Sky of WV, burly newer comers such as Break’s, and competitive beauties such as Cayuga Trails.

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 checkout the ranking of the Toughest Trail 50 milers in the Northeast.

#17

Many on the Genny

Castile, NY

Month:

June

Distance:

40.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,170′

Gain / Mile:

127′

Many on the Genny Elevation Profile

#16

Highlands Sky

Canaan Valley, WV

Month:

June

Distance:

41 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,113′

Gain / Mile:

149′

Highlands Sky Elevation Profile

#15

Vermont 50

Brownesville, VT

Month:

September

Distance:

48.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

8,490′

Gain / Mile:

175′

Vermont 50 mile elevation profile

#14

Lost Turkey 50

Blue Knob, PA

Month:

June

Distance:

50.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,594′

Gain / Mile:

150′

Lost Turkey Trail 50 Mile Elevation Profile

#13

(An actual race which would prefer to not have more eyes on it.

So, either you’re in the know already, or you’re not, and don’t ask cuz we aint gonna give you the answer.)

NJ

Month:

March

Distance:

40 miles

Elevation Gain:

12000

Gain / Mile:

300

#12

Breaks Ultra

Breaks, VA

Month:

September

Distance:

42.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

12,117′

Gain / Mile:

284′

Route map for Breaks Ultra by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Breaks Ultra Elevation Profile

#11

Infinitus 88k

Goshen, VT

Month:

May

Distance:

55 miles

Elevation Gain:

9,760′

Gain / Mile:

177′

Infinitus 88k Elevation Profile

#10

Mt. Masochist

Montebello, VA

Month:

November

Distance:

48.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,893′

Gain / Mile:

225′

Mt. Masochist 50 Mile Elevation Profile

#9

Peak Bloodroot 50m

Pittsfield, VT

Month:

May

Distance:

48.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,449′

Gain / Mile:

215′

Peak Bloodroot 50 mile Elevation Profile

#8

Iron Mountain 50m

Damascus, VA

Month:

September

Distance:

50.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,240′

Gain / Mile:

203′

Iron Mountain 50 Mile Elevation Profile

#7

West Virginia Trilogy 50m

Circleville, WV

Month:

October

Distance:

48.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

8,926′

Gain / Mile:

185′

West Virginia Trilogy 50m Elevation Profile

#6

Cayuga Trails 50m

Ithaca, NY

Month:

May

Distance:

50 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,213′

Gain / Mile:

206′

Cayuga Trails 50 mile elevation profile

#5

Virgil Crest 50m

Cortland, NY

Route map for VCU 50M by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

50.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

11,020′

Gain / Mile:

218′

Virgil Crest 50 Mile Elevation Profile

#4

Wapack and Back

Ashburnham, MA

Month:

May

Distance:

49.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

10,774′

Gain / Mile:

218′

TARC Wapack and Back Elevation Profile

#3

Kilkenny Ridge Race

Stark, NH

Month:

September

Distance:

46.7

Elevation Gain:

15,258′

Gain / Mile:

327′

Kilkenny Ridge 50 Elevation Profile

#2

Wild Oak 50

Mt. Solon, VA

Month:

February

Distance:

55.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

15,378′

Gain / Mile:

279′

Route map for TWOT Loop by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

TWOT Single Loop. “50 Mile” runs two loops.

#1

Manitou’s Revenge

Windham, NY

Month:

June

Distance:

53.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

14,313′

Gain / Mile:

268′

Manitous Revenge Elevation Profile
RankEventTownStateMonthStravaPlotarouteHello,DrifterTopoFusionAvg ElevationMileageGain Per MileDivision
17Many on the GennyCastileNYJune5302403061585190517040.712750m
16Highlands SkyDryforkWVJune589059676014658061134114950m
15Vermont 50BrownesvilleVTSeptember90357847106006478849048.617550m
14Lost Turkey 50Blue KnobPAJune7423728674058263759450.715050m
13MT Tammany 10DWGNJMarch040050m
12Breaks UltraBreaksVASeptember146191120412182104611211742.728450m
11Infinitus 88kGoshenVTMay9937873612008835797605517750m
10Mt. MasochistMontebelloVANovember100981001611056124011089348.522550m
9Peak Bloodroot 50 milePittsfieldVTMay11255947510971100961044948.721550m
8Iron Mountain 50mDamascusVASeptember8427902210289132211024050.420350m
7West Virginia Trilogy 50mCirclevilleWVOctober8980905192228452892648.218550m
6Cayuga Trails 50mIthacaNYMay9,145835913274100751021349.520650m
5Virgil Crest 50mCortlandNYSeptember10,9951017711486114211102050.521850m
4Wapack and BackAshburnhamMAMay11191951110892115011077449.421850m
3Kilkenny Ridge RaceStarkNHSeptember156631461915666150821525846.732750m
2Wild Oak Trail 50Mt. SolonVAFebruary150701438216070159901537855.227950m
1Manitou’s RevengeWindhamNYJune14,3591418614,731139771431353.426850m
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