Trails Collective

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 5k 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. However, shorter distances don’t require consumption of life in training and breakdown. Furthermore, mile for mile, the events measuring 5k or below layed out below may take the cake for most elevation gain per mile.

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 5k’s and under in the Northeast.

#11

King of the Mountain

Lynchburg, VA

#10

Race to the Top of Bradford

Bradford, VT

#9

Mt. Abram Ascent

Greenwood, ME

#8

Toughest 5k (Between the ADK’s & Rockies)

Canandaigua, NY

#7

Battle at Bristol Mountain 5k

Canandaigua, NY

#6

Jay Peak Trail Festival Black Diamond 5k

Jay, VT

#5

Gunstock Mountain Race

Gilford, NH

#4

Mohawk Mountain Race

Cornwall, CT

#3

(Technically not trail, but giving them a pass)

Race to the Top of Vermont

Stowe, VT

#2

Sugarloaf Uphill Climb

Carrabassett Valley, ME

#1

Whiteface VK

Wilmington, NY

Rank	Event	Town	State	Month	Strava	Plotaroute	Hello,Drifter	TopoFusion	Avg Elevation	Mileage	Gain Per Mile	Division
12	King Of the Mountain	Lynchburg	VA	March	346	298	348	417	352	1	352	5k
11	Race to the Top of Bradford	Bradford	VT	June	1003	928	1024	1062	1004	3.4	295	5k
10	Mt. Abram Ascent	Greenwood	ME	October	1081	1026	1109	1075	1073	3.4	316	5k
9	Toughest 5k (Between the ADK’s & Rockies)	Canandaigua	NY	October	1170	1154	1161	1140	1156	3.1	373	5k
8	Battle at Bristol Mountain 5k	Canandaigua	NY	July	1318	1270	1266	1269	1281	3.3	388	5k
7	Run It To the Summit	Tully	NY	August	1279	1135	1184	1279	1219	2.1	581	5k
6	Jay Peak Trail Festival Black Diamond 5k	Jay	VT	September	1312	1217	1253	1277	1265	3.1	408	5k
5	Gunstock Trail Festival Mountain Climb	Gilford	NH	June	1276	1253	1266	1272	1267	1.5	845	5k
4	Mohawk Mountain Race	Cornwall	CT	October	1416	1414	1388	1400	1405	3.2	439	5k
3	Race to the Top of Vermont	Stowe	VT	August	2566	2532	2615	2623	2584	4.3	601	5k
2	Sugarloaf Uphill Climb	Carrabassett Valley	ME	October	2408	2349	2369	2400	2382	2.22	1073	5k
1	Whiteface VK	Wilmington	NY	July	3,115	3114	3097	3114	3110	2.44	1275	5k