QUICK STATS:
- RACE FORMAT: 5K on a flat paved loop and 10K on a rugged mountain trail
- CUTOFFS: 3.5 hour cutoff for all events (10Kers need to maintain a 33 min 45 sec per mile pace to finish by 12:30pm)
- ELEVATION/TERRAIN: The 5K is a flat, paved loop around Rockland Lake. The 10K traverses rocky terrain with steep climbs. The ridgeline getting up to the Hook Mountain Summit includes dangerous drop-offs beyond the trail. The 10K has 1,300 ft of elevation gain.
- CAPACITY: Capped at 200 participants across both events; this is a first-year event, so we do not have historical data to know if it will sell out or not
- PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
- Bus: Rockland Coaches runs buses from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Lake Rd & Route 9W near the park, with a ride of about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Train + local connection: Metro‑North Hudson Line from Grand Central or Harlem–125th Street to Ossining, then a local cab/ride to the park (commonly cited as about 1 hour 15–30 minutes total, depending on transfer).
TRAIL PARTY SCHEDULE:
- 8:15am-8:45am - Check-in
- 9:00am - Start
- 12:30pm - Course closes (3.5 hour cutoff)
**Please note: there is a $10 park entrance fee charged by NY State (you can avoid the fee by arriving before 8am)
RACE INFORMATION:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The 10K course highlights the technical trails, beautiful views, and steep climbs of Hook Mountain. This is NOT a flat course; this is a MOUNTAIN race. The 10K packs in 1,300 ft of elevation gain on rugged, rocky terrain and has steep climbs/descents, cliffs, and scrambling. The 10K course includes dangerous dropoffs beyond the edge of the trail as you approach the Hook Mountain Summit.
The 5K is a fully accessible paved loop around Rockland Lake, perfect for runners, walkers, families, and athletes using wheelchairs. This scenic course winds along the lake’s shoreline, offering wide-open views of the water, lush parkland, and gentle terrain throughout. The loop is mostly flat, making it a fast, fun, and inclusive trail party experience!
COURSE MARKINGS & MAP:
The course will be marked with ribbons, and we have large directional arrows at each of the turns. The 5K course is marked with yellow/black striped ribbons. The 10K course is marked in pink ribbons. To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School to watch the information video about our course markings!
WHEELCHAIR DIVISION:
The 5K Wheelchair Division follows the same fully accessible paved loop around Rockland Lake as the main 5K. Designed to welcome athletes of all abilities, this course provides smooth, even terrain with wide paths and gentle curves, allowing participants to enjoy the beautiful lakeside scenery and the energy of the Sassquad trail party. Whether racing or rolling at your own pace, this division ensures a safe, fun, and fully supported experience from start to finish.
AID STATION:
There are no aid stations for the 5K... The 10K has one on-course aid station, called "9W" at mile 4.25. We will have snacks, water, and Skratch at the 9W Aid Station. Please note: this aid station is NOT crew-accessible! The 9W is only accessible via a very small gravel pull-off on the very busy 9W. Breaking this rule will jeopardize our permit and standing in the good-local community, so please be respectful of this rule.
PACERS:
As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please pre-register your pacer with us before the start of the Trail Party. Pacers are not allowed for folks under the age of 60 and who are not an AWD.
CREW:
All runners/hikers can have a Crew join them at Squatch HQ (the start/finish) for the duration of the event. Crew access is only available at Squatch HQ. Crew cannot aid their runner/hiker at any other spot on the course. Crews are encouraged to bring ice if they anticipate their runner/hiker needing ice during the event. The parking lot at Rockland Lake is MASSIVE; plenty of room to hang out.
