Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 50k Division

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 50k 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 50k distance represents that gateway. It’s long enough to reach the mythical wall and have nearly half your distance left to go. In the lineup of toughest rankings it may be the deepest in offerings. In the lineup we have mild classics such as HAT (bonus for those who know what HAT stands for). #BeastCoast originals such as Mt. Masochist and Promise Land. Beautiful new kids on the block such as Megunticook.

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 50k’s in the Northeast.

#39

HAT Run 50k

Havre de Grace, MD

Month:

March

Distance:

29.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,111′

Gain / Mile:

139′

Route map for HAT Run 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#38

Patapsco Valley 50k

Baltimore, MD

Month:

October

Distance:

33 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,420′

Gain / Mile:

134′

Route map for Patapsco Valley 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#37

Kanawha Trace 50k

Ona, WV

Route map for Kanawha Trace 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

August

Distance:

30.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,366′

Gain / Mile:

158′

#36

Haulin’ In the Holler

Eleanor, WV

Running and Camping in WV | Haulin' in the Holler 25K

Month:

November

Distance:

30.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,818′

Gain / Mile:

158′

Route map for Haulin’ In the Holler 25k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Haulin’ In the Holler 25k Elevation Profile (50k runs it twice)

#35

Pisgah Mountain Race

Winchester, NH

Route map for Pisgah Mountain Trail Race 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

28.4

Elevation Gain:

4,440′

Gain / Mile:

156′

#34

Vermont 50k

Brownesville, VT

Month:

September

Distance:

32 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,777′

Gain / Mile:

181′

#33

Fire On the Mountain 50k

Little Orleans, MD

My first ultra marathon --- Fire On The Mountain 50K --- Road To Ultra

Month:

November

Distance:

32.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,119′

Gain / Mile:

157′

Route map for Fire On The Mountain 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Fore On the Mountain 50k Elevation Profile

#32

Grayson Highlands 50k

Mouth of Wilson, VA

GRAYSON HIGHLANDS 50M | 50K |1/2 MARATHON

Route map for Grayson Highlands 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

May

Distance:

28.5

Elevation Gain:

4,829′

Gain / Mile:

169′

#31

Big A 50k

York, ME

Month:

May

Distance:

30.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,268′

Gain / Mile:

170′

Route map for Mount Agamenticus 10 Mile Loop by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#30

Coopers Rock 50k

Bruceton Mills, WV

Month:

August

Distance:

31 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,896′

Gain / Mile:

158′

Route map for Coopers Rock 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#29

Catamount Ultra

Stowe, VT

Month:

June

Distance:

29.8 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,126′

Gain / Mile:

172′

Route map for Catamount Trail 25k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Catamount 25k Elevation Profile (50k / Ultra runs two loops)

#28

Catoctin 50k

Frederick, MD

Route map for Catoctin 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

July

Distance:

32.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,400′

Gain / Mile:

166′

#27

Oil Creek 50k

Titusville, PA

The Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs Documentary

Route map for Oil Creek 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

October

Distance:

30.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,878′

Gain / Mile:

160′

#26

Eagleton Trail Challenge

Lock Haven, PA

Route map for Eagleton Trail Challenge 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Eagleton Trail Challenge 50k Elevation Profile

Month:

April

Distance:

30 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,088′

Gain / Mile:

170′

#25

Cloudsplitter 50k

Norton, VA

Month:

October

Distance:

29.7

Elevation Gain:

6,021′

Gain / Mile:

203′

Route map for Cloudsplitter 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#24

UROC 50k

Raphine, VA

Month:

May

Distance:

30.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,004′

Gain / Mile:

166′

Route map for UROC 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#23

Eastern Divide 50k

Pembroke, VA

Month:

June

Distance:

30.8 Miles

Elevation Gain:

5,418′

Gain / Mile:

176′

Route map for Eastern Divide Ultra by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#22

Lost Turkey Trail 50k

Blue Knob, PA

Lost Turkey Trail 50 Mile Ultramarathon, November 8, 2020 (GoPro Edit)

Route map for Lost Turkey Trail 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

June

Distance:

33.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,962′

Gain / Mile:

148′

#21

Hungry Mother 50k

Marion, VA

Month:

April

Distance:

30.4 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,300′

Gain / Mile:

240′

Route map for Hungry Mother 25k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Hungry Mother 25k Elevation Profile (50k runs two loops)

#20

Virgil Crest 50k

Cortland, NY

Route map for Virgil Crest 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

30.8

Elevation Gain:

5,992′

Gain / Mile:

195′

#19

Mt. Masochist 50k

Montebello, VA

Month:

November

Distance:

32.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,117′

Gain / Mile:

188′

Route map for Mt. Masochist 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#18

Jarmans Invitational Marathon

Crozet, VA

Route map for Jarmans Invitational Marathon by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

August

Distance:

28.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,808′

Gain / Mile:

273′

Jarmans Invitational Marathon Elevation Profile

#17

Terrapin Mountain 50k

Sedalia, VA

Route map for Terrapin Mountain 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

March

Distance:

31 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,558′

Gain / Mile:

244′

#16

Iron Mountain

Damascus, VA

Month:

September

Distance:

29.3 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,155′

Gain / Mile:

210′

Route map for Iron Mountain 30 Mile by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#15

Cayuga Trails 50k

Ithaca, NY

Month:

May

Distance:

31.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,882′

Gain / Mile:

218′

Route map for Cayuga Trails 50k 2021 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#14

Green Monster 50k

Wellsboro, PA

Month:

October

Distance:

31.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,053′

Gain / Mile:

221′

Route map for Green Monster 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#13

West Virginia Trilogy 50k

Circleville, WV

Route map for West Virginia Trilogy 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

October

Distance:

29.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

4,977′

Gain / Mile:

169′

West Virginia Trilogy 50k Course Profile

#12

Ragged 50k

Danbury, NH

Route map for Ragged 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

August

Distance:

35.1 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,468′

Gain / Mile:

184′

#11

Macedonia 50k

Kent, CT

Route map for Macedonia 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

30.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,144′

Gain / Mile:

231′

#10

Traprock 50k

Bloomfield, CT

Month:

April

Distance:

32.5 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,596′

Gain / Mile:

172′

Route map for Traprock 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

#9

Promise Land

Bedford, VA

Route map for Promise Land 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

April

Distance:

34.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

8,520′

Gain / Mile:

249′

#8

World’s End 50k

Forksville, PA

Route map for World’s End 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

June

Distance:

30.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,313′

Gain / Mile:

174′

#7

Hyner Trail Challenge

Hyner, PA

Route map for Hyner View 50k 2021 by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

April

Distance:

32.1 miles

Elevation Gain:

7,838′

Gain / Mile:

244′

#6

Megunticook 50k

Camden, ME

Month:

September

Distance:

29.8 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,814′

Gain / Mile:

229′

Route map for Megunticook50 by David Hirschfeld on plotaroute.com

#5

Elizabeth Furnace 50k

Fort Valley, VA

Route map for Elizabeth Furnace 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

March

Distance:

30.6 miles

Elevation Gain:

6,332′

Gain / Mile:

207′

#4

Blue 2 Blue Trail Challenge

New Haven, CT

Route map for Blue 2 Blue Trail Challenge by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

September

Distance:

32.9 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,595′

Gain / Mile:

170′

Blue 2 Blue Trail Challenge Elevation Profile

#3 (* If under winter snow, ~#26 if not)

Frozen Branch

Bath, NY

Route map for Frozen Branch 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

February

Distance:

31.7 miles

Elevation Gain:

5,073′

Gain / Mile:

160′

#2

Call of the Wilds 50k

Waterville, PA

My First Ultramarathon | Call of the Wilds Mountain Fest 50K 2019

Route map for Call Of The Wilds 50k by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Month:

October

Distance:

29.2 miles

Elevation Gain:

8,933′

Gain / Mile:

306′

#1

Jay Peak 50k

Jay Peak, VT

Race Review-Jay Peak Trail Running Festival

Month:

September

Distance:

33 miles

Elevation Gain:

11,849′

Gain / Mile:

368′

Route map for Jay Peak Trail Festival Freehand Loop by Ian Golden on plotaroute.com

Jay Peak Trail Festival 11m Loop (50k runs 3 loops)

Rank	Event	Town	State	Month	Strava	Plotaroute	Hello,Drifter	TopoFusion	Avg Elevation	Mileage	Gain Per Mile	Division
39	HAT Run 50k	Havre de Grace	MD	March	4432	3444	4272	4296	4111	30	139	50k
38	Patapsco Valley 50k	Baltimore	MD	October	4269	3963	4321	5128	4420	33	134	50k
37	Kanawha Trace 50k	Ona	WV	August	5242	4101	4357	3764	4366	30	144	50k
36	Haulin’ In the Holler	Eleanor	WV	November	4340	4316	4666	5950	4818	30	158	50k
35	Pisgah Mountain Race	Winchester	NH	September	4388	4094	4869	4407	4440	28	156	50k
34	Vermont 50k	Brownsville	VT	September	5610	5042	6988	5466	5777	32	181	50k
33	Fire On the Mountain 50k	Little Orleans	MD	November	5313	4379	5988	4795	5119	33	157	50k
32	Grayson Highlands 50k	Mouth of Wilson	VA	May	5017	4580	5079	4640	4829	29	169	50k
31	Big A 50k	York	ME	May	5634	4761	4932	5745	5268	31	170	50k
30	Coopers Rock 50k	Bruceton Mills	WV	August	4807	4504	5102	5171	4896	31	158	50k
29	Catamount Ultra	Stowe	VT	June	4632	4250	5688	5934	5126	30	172	50k
28	Catoctin 50k	Frederick	MD	July	5787	5137	5906	4771	5400	33	166	50k
27	Oil Creek 50k	Titusville	PA	October	4521	4543	5394	5053	4878	30	160	50k
26	Eagleton Trail Challenge	Lock Haven	PA	April	5454	4455	5449	4992	5088	30	170	50k
25	Cloudsplitter 50k	Norton	VA	October	6205	5187	6073	6618	6021	30	203	50k
24	UROC 50k	Raphine	VA	May	5018	4947	5581	4468	5004	30	166	50k
23	Eastern Divide 50k	Pembroke	VA	June	5410	5173	6020	5067	5418	31	176	50k
22	Lost Turkey Trail 50k	Blue Knob	PA	June	4757	5003	4961	5127	4962	34	148	50k
21	Hungry Mother 50k	Marion	VA	April	6048	6514	7860	8778	7300	30	240	50k
20	Virgil Crest 50k	Cortland	NY	September	5,832	5568	6339	6230	5992	31	195	50k
19	Mt. Masochist 50k	Montebello	VA	November	6292	5866	6348	5961	6117	33	188	50k
18	Jarmans Invitational Marathon	Crozet	VA	August	7680	7680	8081	7791	7808	29	273	50k
17	Terrapin Mountain 50k	Sedalia	VA	March	6763	7286	8261	7922	7558	31	244	50k
16	Iron Mountain 50k	Demascus	VA	September	5136	5088	6283	8111	6155	29	210	50k
15	Cayuga Trails 50k	Ithaca	NY	May	6,305	5393	8471	7359	6882	32	218	50k
14	Green Monster 50k	Wellsboro	PA	October	7477	6896	7444	6393	7053	32	221	50k
13	West Virginia Trilogy 50k	Circleville	WV	October	4979	5052	5121	4754	4977	30	169	50k
12	Ragged 50k	Danbury	NH	August	6484	5800	7001	6588	6468	35	184	50k
11	Macedonia 50k	Kent	CT	September	8011	7224	8005	5334	7144	31	231	50k
10	Traprock 50	Bloomfield	CT	April	6310	4317	5725	6030	5596	33	172	50k
9	Promise Land 50k	Bedford	VA	April	7573	8018	9522	8967	8520	34	249	50k
8	World’s End 50k	Forksville	PA	June	6019	5295	5259	4679	5313	31	174	50k
7	Hyner View Trail Challenge 50k	Hyner	PA	April	8165	7051	8232	7902	7838	32	244	50k
6	Megunticook	Camden	ME	September	7258	6440	7136	6423	6814	30	229	50k
5	Elizabeth Furnace 50k	Fort Valley	VA	March	6164	5862	6496	6807	6332	31	207	50k
4	Blue 2 Blue Trail Challenge	New Havent	CT	September	6387	5026	6742	4225	5595	33	170	50k
3	Frozen Branch 50k	Bath	NY	February	5177	4,547	5843	4723	5073	32	160	50k
2	COTW 50k	Waterville	PA	October	9,111	9140	10,295	7185	8933	29	306	50k
1	Jay Peak Trail Festival 33m	Jay Peak	VT	September	12,600	11,208	11673	11916	9479	32.2	294	50k

Ian Golden

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Trails Collective

Toughest Trail Races in the Northeast: 50k Division

#39

Havre de Grace, MD

#38

Baltimore, MD

#37

Ona, WV

#36

Eleanor, WV

#35

Winchester, NH

#34

Brownesville, VT

#33

Little Orleans, MD

#32

Mouth of Wilson, VA

#31

York, ME

#30

Bruceton Mills, WV

#29

Stowe, VT

#28

Frederick, MD

#27

Titusville, PA

#26

Lock Haven, PA

#25

Norton, VA

#24

Raphine, VA

#23

Pembroke, VA

#22

Lost Turkey Trail 50k

Blue Knob, PA

#21

Marion, VA

#20

Cortland, NY

#19

Montebello, VA

#18

Crozet, VA

#17

Sedalia, VA

#16

Damascus, VA

#15

Ithaca, NY

#14

Wellsboro, PA

#13

Circleville, WV

#12

Danbury, NH

#11

Kent, CT

#10

Bloomfield, CT

#9

Bedford, VA

#8

Forksville, PA

#7

Hyner, PA

#6

Camden, ME

#5

Fort Valley, VA

#4

New Haven, CT

#3 (* If under winter snow, ~#26 if not)

Bath, NY

#2

Waterville, PA

#1