Events
Raven Rocks Run 10k Trail Race
Raven 100k Challenge
Countdown to RACE DAY!
Event Description
The Raven Rocks 10k Trail Run is BACK for NOVEMBER 8, 2026! Woo hoo!
We have also brought back the 100k Raven Challenge with all of the fun elements from last year -- plus we're looking to add a few more activities to the challenge during the month of November!
You can sign up for one or the other -- or do BOTH! Signups for both events at the same time get a discount which appears at checkout.
Shirts this year are one design and available either on long-sleeved cotton shirts (traditional) and/or short sleeved tech fabric shirts (new!). You can purchase one, both, or neither shirt. If you are a purely virtual Raven 100k Challenge runner, we will mail you your shirt if ordered along with your finisher woodallion.
As always, these Raven events support the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. During registration we encourage runners and challengers to join as members of the museum to support their non-profit educational and conservation purpose.
Once the donation vehicle has been established, we will support the Friends of the Cross River Mountain Fire Tower. We are working with the Westchester Parks Foundation who plan to raise funds to support Westchester County and NY State in the restoration of the fire tower to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. That fundraising account will be set up soon with a range of support levels. More news to come!
More information about each event
Raven Rocks Run - 10k Trail Run
The Raven Rocks Run is a challenging 10k trail run at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY.
The ELEVENTH running of the race will be in November.
Race will be in-person Sunday, November 8, 2026 starting at 9am. (Final race date approval pending county permit.)
The race will start in the Meadow near the fallen oak tree and its massive remains. The course passes by the spot where the Leatherman’s Loop begins. Instead of heading towards the river as the Loop does, the Raven Rocks Run 10k course climbs and climbs up to the two highest points in the park (Raven Rocks Overlook and the Fire Tower Summit) before heading back for a (mostly) downhill and (relatively) flat finish.
The course passes by the site of the former Blue Trail fire tower which is the highest point in the park. We are working towards getting back the tower to its former spot in the park. See Course Map page for course details.
More information about the race and tower project is on the About page and the FAQ page of our ravenrocksrun.org website.
We are looking forward to November when we will run this event for the ELEVENTH time!
Important: Our Raven Rocks Run race plans are contingent on permit approval from the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. This approval is not guaranteed but has been obtained for the prior nine races. As in all prior years we open registration with the understanding that the race will take place. We will update runners if the permit is not approved for the current year.
Raven 100k Challenge
The Raven 100k Challenge is simple: first, register for the challenge. Then run, hike, or walk 100k during the month of November 1st - 30th, 2026.
Note: You can register as late as November 15 for the 100k challenge and enter your mileage to date when you register.
This works out to an average of around 3k per day or 25k (15 miles) per week.
If you complete the challenge, you will receive a wooden finisher medallion. Shirts are optional.
The Raven 100k Challenge supports the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization based at the Trailside Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
You can also join the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation for annual membership during signup.
Bonus achievements
In addition to running, walking, or hiking 100k during November, there are several bonus achievement badges you can unlock if you are able:
- Run 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (raven badge)
- Run 5x 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (ultra raven badge - subs out the raven badge when this badge is achieved)
- Run 10x 10k on the Raven Rocks Run course (flock badge - subs out the ultra raven badge when this badge is achieved)
- Take a selfie at the Raven Rocks Overlook and send it in (photographer badge)
- Submit a photo of yourself on a run with your "I Voted" sticker or if you can't vote in the election, next to someone with an "I Voted" sticker. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on election day! (bald eagle badge)
- Submit a photo of you running on Thanksgiving. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on Thanksgiving. (turkey badge)
- Submit a photo of you running on Veteran's Day. Or simply log a run, walk, or hike on Veteran's Day. (veterans day badge)
- Photo of a raven or Raven related site, store, zoo, etc. and send it in (raven citizen award)
- Do a run in the dark to Raven Rocks (night owl badge)
- 200k distance in November (snowy owl badge)
- 300k distance in November (white raven badge)
- Run the Raven Rocks 10k course 5x IN ONE DAY (Raven Rockstar Badge)
- Run the Raven Rocks 10k course 32 times in November (Peeter Badge)
- Witness a meteor falling during a run (Meteor Badge)
- Read a stanza from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" poem and send us a link. Use soundcloud, youtube, facebook, whatever service you want. (wise owl badge)
- These badges will be displayed on the physical wooden finisher "medallion" once you complete the Raven Challenge. We will also show badges achieved on the summary page.
- Any other badge ideas? We are open to suggestions :)
In addition, we will have recognition for:
- First 3 men and First 3 women to 100k
- Top 3 men and Top 3 women in total kilometers.
- Anyone in contention for these Top 3 awards must make their entries in a timely manner:
- All entries must be made within 36 hours of your run/walk.
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If you do not enter your results within 36 hours you will not be eligible for any "Top 3" challenge recognition. We want our top participants to be in a 'virtual race' with each other. Without timely distance entries, this is not possible.
- This is to discourage participants from "batch entering" their results and leaping to the top or near the top of the standings.
- Keep your results up to date if you are in the running!
- Note: In order to win these awards distance submissions need to be made via GPX files.
- See instructions submitting results on RunSignUp Raven 100k Challenge page.
HALFWAY (50K) bonus search
For those in the area near Ward Pound Ridge Reservation we have a special treat in mind. If you opt-in via the badge update form (AFTER you pass the 50 kilometer mark on your Raven 100k Challenge) we will send you GPS coordinates to somewhere in the park where we have hidden a small challenge surprise for you to find. It will be obvious once you get there, but not easy to find unless you have the coordinates. Complete instructions and advice come with the GPS challenge confirmation email.
Everyone will have a different and unique spot somewhere in the park. Some will be further off-trail than others depending on how familiar you are with the park. You can ask for harder or easier location in the request and we will do our best to accommodate your request! Difficulty estimates can be subjective though!
Let us know when you find your halfway bonus (or if you can't find it!).
Contact Form
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Event Location
Reservation Road
Cross River, NY 10518 US
View Location on Map
$635
Raised of $3,500
Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs
https://ravenrocksrun.org/directions/ has links to many maps of the course and it also has directions to the race.
There are no water crossings like the Leatherman's Loop and there are no course features like the Mud Flats of the Leatherman's Loop. If there has been significant rain before the race (or during the race) the course might be muddy or have small streams on the trails.
The course is in the same park as the Leatherman's Loop and it is the same 10k distance, but the Raven Rocks Run takes runners through a much more hilly part of the park. At the four mile mark it reaches the highest point in the park (the summit of Cross River Mountain where the fire tower is being restored). It also goes to Raven Rocks overlook before then which is another high point in the park.
No, registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. We do not carry over registrations from year to year.
Unfortunately we do not offer refunds or deferments for the race. We get a number of no-shows and do not have staff to handle all of the potential requests -- everyone involved with the race is a volunteer. Our policy is a no refund no exchange one so we don't have to hire staff to process refund requests which would cause us to raise the entry fees across the board. Nobody wants that.
In essence, we hope you understand our simple approach meets our desire to do four simultaneous things:
• Put on a top quality event;
• Keep the registration fees modest;
• Maximize the efforts of our volunteers toward race-related duties; and
• Raise money to improve the trails and farm.
Shirts are optional and additional cost.
Category and overall 1-2-3 winners receive race pies.
We will have a water station at the site of the fire tower - the 4 mile mark of the course. It is also the highest point in the park and the course.
The start and finish are in the meadow area of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
The start is next to the fallen meadow oak tree in the middle of the meadow.
The finish is in the grass area north of the meadow parking lot (close to the cars and registration tent).
Parking is at the Meadow parking lot with overflow if needed in the upper meadow.
Parking is free. Park entry usually costs $10 but it is included with race entry.
We discourage headphone use but if you need your tunes we ask that you keep one ear clear so you can hear others on the course.
Yes there will be race day registration. But we encourage pre-registration so that race morning goes as smoothly as possible for you.
There are porta potties at the start/finish area. In addition there are also porta potties near the course at several points but not right on the trail (they are in parking areas adjacent to the course). If you are in need you may have to ask to be pointed in the correct direction when you come out to a parking area during the race.
Dogs are not allowed to run unfortunately. Our insurance provider does not provide coverage for races with dogs.
There is no pre-race pickup the day before. On race day if you arrive with another runner they can pick up your bib for you and bring it to you if you are doing a warm up or can't get to the tent.
Our race timer will have the timing equipment set up for around 2 ½ hours give or take. If we are doing awards the timer may be busy and not able to get your time - if that's the case you should note it and let us know. That should only happen in rare cases as there should be a timer or assistant at the finish line until the sweeps come through.
In the meadow area next to the parking lot we will have a registration / bib pickup tent set up.
There is no gear check. The parking lot is right near the registration / finish line area and it is easy to get to cars to stow gear.
