New River Gorge Trail Festival

Description

Experience America's Newest National Park

Experience New River Gorge National Park through this one-of-a-kind event! Starting at Fayetteville Town Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia, this challenging trail race goes into the National Park, through the forest, and loops back to the start, offering views of the river hundreds of feet below. With significant elevation gain, each race offers a difficult yet scenic course. The New River Gorge National Park offers a wide variety of activities and sites to see post-race as well!

"The course is well marked so you can't get lost!" - 2021 Participant

50k Course Description

Travelling the same course as the Half Marathon, the 50k is 2 loops with a scenic out and back along the rim of the gorge. With nearly 3,500 ft. of elevation gain and loss on trails, the 50k is a course that will push you...but the views will be worth it. The rhododendron tunnels, high passages along the rim, breathtaking vistas, and historic forests perfectly represent West Virginia as Wild and Wonderful!

Half Marathon Course Description

Explore the National Park Trail System with this challenging yet scenic course. The trail surface consists primarily of dirt and gravel. Take in stunning views of the New River Gorge Bridge on Fayetteville Trail and gaze at the gorge below while running over Kaymoor Top!

5K Course Description

Run under the longest single span arch bridge in the western hemisphere on this challenging 5k trail! This point to point, dirt, single-track course has nearly 500ft of elevation gain and over 700 ft. of elevation loss.

"It feels like you're in a rainforest!" - 2021 Participant

Race Swag

All participants will receive:

Short Sleeve Performance Shirt
Custom-Crafted, Commemorative Finisher Medal
Custom Race Bib with Your Name
New River Gorge Trail Festival Sticker

Awards

Awards will be given to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female Open & Masters Finishers as well as the top 3 male and female finishers in the following age groups: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.

All finishers of the Bridge Double will receive a custom crafted Bridge Double medal.

Restrooms and Aid Stations

Portable restrooms will be placed at start/finish area and Kaymoor Top. See course maps below for more detail.
Aid stations will be equipped with first aid kits, water, sports drink, cookies, bananas, granola bars, candy, etc. A more detailed list of exactly what foods will be at each aid station will be released in an email closer to the race date. Aid station locations are listed on the race maps below in the Course Details section.