Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: Marathon 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. Though it’s the marathon that occupies and endurance milestone for many. In the mix below you’ll find gems such as Trapp Mountain or CatsTail with prime foliage, mountain views in Maine, and one of the most technical pitches in the nation in Breakneck Point.
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 Marathons in the Northeast.
#14
Trapp Mountain Marathon
Stowe, VT
Month:
October
Distance:
25.2 miles
Elevation Gain:
3,405′
Gain / Mile:
135′
#13
Groton Forest Trail Marathon
Groton, VT
Month:
September
Distance:
27.3 Miles
Elevation Gain:
3,973′
Gain / Mile:
146′
#12
Ontario Summit
Naples, NY
Month:
June
Distance:
26.8 miles
Elevation Gain:
4,360′
Gain / Mile:
163′
#11
TARC Wapack
Ashburnham, MA
Month:
May
Distance:
22 miles
Elevation Gain:
4,934′
Gain / Mile:
224′
#10
Odyssey Trail Running Rampage
Millboro, VA
Month:
September
Distance:
25.6 miles
Elevation Gain:
5,492′
Gain / Mile:
215′
#9
Boulder Beast
Lock Haven, PA
Month:
September
Distance:
24.7 miles
Elevation Gain:
5,372′
Gain / Mile:
218′
#8
Old Glory Trail Marathon
Glen Lyn, VA
Month:
November
Distance:
26.6 miles
Elevation Gain:
6,023′
Gain / Mile:
226′
#7
Rock ‘N The Knob
Claysburg, PA
Month:
September
Distance:
26.3 miles
Elevation Gain:
6,383′
Gain / Mile:
243′
#6
CatsTail Trail Marathon
Shandaken, NY
Month:
October
Distance:
24.8 miles
Elevation Gain:
6,125′
Gain / Mile:
247′
#5
The Wild Oak Trail
Mt. Solon, VA
Month:
February
Distance:
27.6
Elevation Gain:
7,689′
Gain / Mile:
279′
#4
Mahoosuc Ridge to River
Sunday River, ME
Month:
September
Distance:
26 miles
Elevation Gain:
8,120′
Gain / Mile:
312′
#3
Kilkenny Ridge Race
Stark, NH
Month:
September
Distance:
23.4 miles
Elevation Gain:
7,704′
Gain / Mile:
329′
#2
Jay Peak Trail Festival
Jay Peak, VT
Month:
September
Distance:
22 miles
Elevation Gain:
7,900′
Gain / Mile:
367′
#1
Breakneck Point
Beacon, NY
Month:
May
Distance:
25.4 miles
Elevation Gain:
8,002′
Gain / Mile:
315′
Rank | Event | Town | State | Month | Strava | Plotaroute | Hello,Drifter | TopoFusion | Avg Elevation | Mileage | Gain Per Mile | Division |
14 | Trapp Mountain Marathon | Stowe | VT | October | 4000 | 3602 | 2287 | 3730 | 3405 | 25.2 | 135 | 26.2m |
13 | Groton Forest Trail Marathon | Groton | VT | September | 3433 | 3507 | 4711 | 4239 | 3973 | 27.3 | 146 | 26.2m |
12 | Ontario Summit | Naples | NY | June | 4204 | 4080 | 3792 | 5362 | 4360 | 26.8 | 163 | 26.2m |
11 | TARC Wapack | Ashburnham | MA | May | 5596 | 4124 | 4770 | 5245 | 4934 | 22 | 224 | 26.2m |
10 | Odyssey Trail Running Rampage | Millboro | VA | September | 5428 | 5026 | 5872 | 5642 | 5492 | 25.6 | 215 | 26.2m |
9 | Boulder Beast | Lock Haven | PA | September | 5464 | 5104 | 5456 | 5465 | 5372 | 24.7 | 218 | 26.2m |
8 | Old Glory Trail Marathon | Glen Lyn | VA | November | 6898 | 5554 | 5899 | 5739 | 6023 | 26.6 | 226 | 26.2m |
7 | Rock N’ The Knob Trail Marathon | Claysburg | PA | September | 6629 | 6166 | 6280 | 6457 | 6383 | 26.3 | 243 | 26.2m |
6 | CatsTail Trail Marathon | Shandaken | NY | October | 5963 | 5964 | 6293 | 6278 | 6125 | 24.8 | 247 | 26.2m |
5 | Wild Oak Trail Marathon | Mt. Solon | VA | February | 7,535 | 7191 | 8035 | 7995 | 7689 | 27.6 | 279 | 26.2m |
4 | Mahoosuc Ridge to River | Sunday River | ME | September | 8959 | 7516 | 8159 | 7845 | 8120 | 26 | 312 | 26.2m |
3 | Kilkenny Ridge Race | Stark | NH | September | 7981 | 7322 | 7933 | 7579 | 7704 | 23.4 | 329 | 26.2m |
2 | Jay Peak Trail Festival 22m | Jay Peak | VT | September | 8,400 | 7472 | 7782 | 7944 | 7900 | 21.5 | 367 | 26.2m |
1 | Breakneck Point Trail Marathon | Beacon | NY | May | 8579 | 7106 | 7982 | 8342 | 8002 | 25.4 | 315 | 26.2m |
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