"Our course is designed to reward those who have trained and to punish those who haven't."--Trail Guy

The Rothrock Trail Challenge Map and Elevation Profile:
Download Trail Map Here.
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Trail map & Profile-- There will be one additional water station at mile 12.5

View Elevation Profile Here.
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Course Description:

Mile 0- 0.8 miles: Start out on a paved forest road that takes you into Rothrock State Forest Land. As much as we hate roads, this gives runners/hikers a chance to get spread out before the first climb.

 

Mile 0.8- 3.8: First, climb the infamous Spruce Gap Trail. It’s a mile climb that will make hikers out of most runners. Expect a 17 minute mile pace going up. Once on top, you’ll get a short breather before heading down the Kettle Trail. Watch your speed because Kettle is steep and rocky. Kettle will bring you to the intersection of Longberger Trail. This is a sharp right turn so be ready!! Longberger will take runners out to the North Meadows Rd where they’ll pick up the Jean Aaron Trail. For the next  half mile, you’ll be running through a tight canopy of forest. This will give everyone a break before pulling into Water Station #1.

 

Mile 3.8- 7.8: After fueling up, runners/hikers will follow the Bear Meadows Loop Trail. This trail meandors through thick rodadendrons and through some wet terrain so be prepared for muddy and soggy feet. This 1.65 mile section is relatively flat and an excellent opportunity to gain some ground. Runners/hikers will then start the climb up the Sand Springs Path. This trail offers a gradual climb at first before getting steep towards the top. Legs will be burning here!! Once on top, runners/hikers will jump on the Mid State Trail for a nice mile and a half jaunt over to the North Meadows Trail. Enjoy the view at Indian Wells as you’ll be able to look down at Bear Meadows Natural Area, where you started out from checkpoint #1. After starting down North Meadows, get ready for a steep, knee-jarring section that will use every once of energy in trying to stop your forward momentum. Quads will take a beating here (If you cramp up later, remember this section). North Meadows Trail brings you out to a dirt road and to Water Station #2.

 

Mile 7.8- 12.8: We apologize for the brief road section but it’s the only way to link the trails. Just put your head down and bear it. It’s only a 1/8mile of dirt!! This will lead you to the Sand Spring Trail (not Path). It’s a brutal climb that brings you to the Mid State Trail overlooking Shingletown. Get ready for another steep descent as this trail taxes the quads once again. After leveling out, runners will take the Shingletown Trail for the next 2 miles down into Shingletown Gap. This is where the event gets interesting. Once into the Gap, runners will pick their way through a slew of boulders and cliffs that will bring them out to Water Station #3. Please slow down, especially if wet,  as you’ll find yourself scooting on your butt.

 

Mile 12.8- 15.8: After resting, stretching, and re-fueling, runners will then be challenged with another maze of boulders and cliffs on the north side of the mountain. Many runners will be forced to use their hands to crawl up this section. Be careful where you put your hands, though, this area attracts our little reptile friends that make that nasty rattle!!! Once on top, enjoy the new addition of trail. The trail is technical, but a nice break from the grind of last year’s Bald Knob Ridge Trail. We’ll still use most of it, but will give runners a nice downhill run followed by a nice uphill back (see map) to the Bald Knob Trail in order to break it up some. Once to Bald Knob, runners will descend straight down the Clemons Trail, an old grassy logging trail that brings you out to Checkpoint #4.

 

Mile 15.8- 18.6: The end is almost near. Bad news is that there is still one more climb left. The Shingletown Trail is a gradual climb that brings runners to the Tower Rd. Once there, you’ll have about 30 yards before descending down to the finish. Runners will follow an old logging trail called the Old Laurel Run Trail downhill for a mile to the Three Bridges Trail. This trail winds around and brings runners out to Spruce Gap, where they started earlier in the day. From here it's 3/4 of a mile back to the finish. Congratulations....you just completed the Rothrock Challenge!!!