Trails Collective

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

#16

Highlands Sky

Canaan Valley, WV

#15

Vermont 50

Brownesville, VT

#14

Lost Turkey 50

Blue Knob, PA

#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

#12

Breaks Ultra

Breaks, VA

#11

Infinitus 88k

Goshen, VT

#10

Mt. Masochist

Montebello, VA

#9

Peak Bloodroot 50m

Pittsfield, VT

#8

Iron Mountain 50m

Damascus, VA

#7

West Virginia Trilogy 50m

Circleville, WV

#6

Cayuga Trails 50m

Ithaca, NY

#5

Virgil Crest 50m

Cortland, NY

#4

Wapack and Back

Ashburnham, MA

#3

Kilkenny Ridge Race

Stark, NH

#2

Wild Oak 50

Mt. Solon, VA

#1

Manitou’s Revenge

Windham, NY

Rank	Event	Town	State	Month	Strava	Plotaroute	Hello,Drifter	TopoFusion	Avg Elevation	Mileage	Gain Per Mile	Division
17	Many on the Genny	Castile	NY	June	5302	4030	6158	5190	5170	40.7	127	50m
16	Highlands Sky	Dryfork	WV	June	5890	5967	6014	6580	6113	41	149	50m
15	Vermont 50	Brownesville	VT	September	9035	7847	10600	6478	8490	48.6	175	50m
14	Lost Turkey 50	Blue Knob	PA	June	7423	7286	7405	8263	7594	50.7	150	50m
13	MT Tammany 10	DWG	NJ	March					0	40	0	50m
12	Breaks Ultra	Breaks	VA	September	14619	11204	12182	10461	12117	42.7	284	50m
11	Infinitus 88k	Goshen	VT	May	9937	8736	12008	8357	9760	55	177	50m
10	Mt. Masochist	Montebello	VA	November	10098	10016	11056	12401	10893	48.5	225	50m
9	Peak Bloodroot 50 mile	Pittsfield	VT	May	11255	9475	10971	10096	10449	48.7	215	50m
8	Iron Mountain 50m	Damascus	VA	September	8427	9022	10289	13221	10240	50.4	203	50m
7	West Virginia Trilogy 50m	Circleville	WV	October	8980	9051	9222	8452	8926	48.2	185	50m
6	Cayuga Trails 50m	Ithaca	NY	May	9,145	8359	13274	10075	10213	49.5	206	50m
5	Virgil Crest 50m	Cortland	NY	September	10,995	10177	11486	11421	11020	50.5	218	50m
4	Wapack and Back	Ashburnham	MA	May	11191	9511	10892	11501	10774	49.4	218	50m
3	Kilkenny Ridge Race	Stark	NH	September	15663	14619	15666	15082	15258	46.7	327	50m
2	Wild Oak Trail 50	Mt. Solon	VA	February	15070	14382	16070	15990	15378	55.2	279	50m
1	Manitou’s Revenge	Windham	NY	June	14,359	14186	14,731	13977	14313	53.4	268	50m