Description
In 2026, this is a NIGHTTIME event, that will start and end in the dark. It will return to being a daytime event in 2027. This is a rocky, challenging, and scenic trail run at Coopers Rock State Forest in north central West Virginia. The 50 km course covers nearly every trail on the south side of the forest, features several scenic overlooks of the Cheat Canyon and Cheat Lake, towering boulder formations, and has 5000 feet of elevation gain. The half marathon (21 km) course is a shorter version of the same trails and has 2000 feet of elevation gain. There are no repeating loops on either the 50 km or half marathon course.
Location
Coopers Rock State Forest is located at Exit 15 off of I-68, roughly 15 minutes east of Morgantown, WV. The race starts at the Overlook Area. After exiting the interstate, turn towards Coopers Rock State Forest and continue south down the main forest road for 3 miles until reaching the Overlook Area.
Date and Time
Both the 50 km and half marathon Events will start at 8:30 pm, Saturday April 25, 2026. There will be a brief pre-Event meeting at 8:10 pm on April 25.
Entry Fees
50 km: $100 if registered by 2/1/2026. $115 if registered between 2/2/2026 and 3/8/2026. Registration between 3/9/2026 and 4/17/2026 is also $115 but you are not guaranteed to receive a shirt. Online registration closes after 4/17/2026. You can register for the Event in person during packet pickup (see times below) for $130 cash or check but you are not guaranteed to receive a shirt. If you don’t get a shirt then check back with us after the Event at the finish line to see if we have any extras.
Half Marathon: $75 if registered by 2/1/2026. $90 if registered between 2/2/2026 and 3/8/2026. Registration between 3/9/2026 and 4/17/2026 is also $90 but you are not guaranteed to receive a shirt. Online registration closes after 4/17/2026. You can register for the Event in person during packet pickup (see times below) for $105 cash or check but you are not guaranteed to receive a shirt. If you don’t get a shirt then check back with us after the Event at the finish line to see if we have any extras.
Switching Distances: 50 km entrants may switch to the Half Marathon by editing their registration in Ultrasignup before the Event, or during packet pickup, but the difference will not be refunded in either case. Half Marathon entrants may switch to the 50 km before the Event by editing their registration in Ultrasignup and by paying the difference in fees, or during packet pickup and by paying $25 in cash or check at that time.
Refund Policy: A 70% refund will be granted until 3/8/2026. Ultrasignup processing fees will not be refunded. After 3/8/2025 no refunds will be allowed – NO EXCEPTIONS. Absolutely no deferrals to next year’s Event will be allowed at any time – NO EXCEPTIONS. However, you may transfer your entry to another runner until 4/17/2026. Your entry fee may be considered a donation to the Coopers Rock Foundation whether you participate in the Event or not. Please do not register for the Event if you don’t agree to the terms of this refund policy.
Race Cap
Both races combined will be limited to 250 entries.
Packet Pickup
Packets can be picked up on Saturday, 4/25/2026 from 5:00 pm – 8:10 pm at the Overlook Area at Coopers Rock State Forest. There will be no Friday packet pickup this year.
Aid Stations
There are 6 aid stations on the 50 km course and 3 aid stations on the Half Marathon Course, spaced 3 – 7 miles apart. Please carry water and food between aid stations. Aid stations will be stocked with a standard ultra-marathon cuisine, including cookies, potato chips, pickles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, and gatorade. Aid station #1 will have a limited selection of food, as well as water and gatorade. We strongly encourage you to help us reduce waste from disposable cups. Please bring and carry your own collapsible cup on the course to use at aid stations, or use your running water bottle.
Cutoff Times
You absolutely must stop running/walking and follow instructions from the Event volunteers to return to the start/finish area if you miss one of the cutoff times. You may not continue on if you miss a cutoff time. You cannot meet the cutoff times for either the 50 km course or the half marathon course by walking the entire way.
50 km Aid Stations
Aid 1: 5.0 miles Cutoff time: 10:05 pm
Aid 2: 10.4 miles Cutoff time: 11:40 pm
Aid 3A: 15.9 miles Cutoff time: 1:25 am
Aid 3B: 19.8 miles Cutoff time: 2:35 am
Aid 4: 26.9 miles Cutoff time: 4:35 am
Aid 3C: 29.5 miles
Finish: 31.1 miles Cutoff time: 6:00 am (9 hours 30 minutes total)
Half Marathon Aid Stations
Aid 1: 5.0 miles Cutoff time: 10:20 pm
Aid 4: 9.3 miles Cutoff time: 11:55 pm
Aid 3: 11.9 miles
Finish: 13.5 miles Cutoff time: 1:30 am (5 hours total)
Rules
1. Because this is a nighttime event, you are required to carry a light source with you and either extra batteries or an extra light source at all times.
2. You are required to carry your cell phone having the same phone number provided in your registration information for the duration of the Event. You are required to install the Caltopo app on your cell phone prior to the event, to sign into it using your real name, and scan a provided QR code that will allow the Event directors to track your location during the Event.
3. All participants must be at least 18 years of age or older on the day of the Event to enter either of the Event distances.
4. All participants must provide their real, legal name and actual contact information when registering for the Event, including the number of the cell phone that you will carry during the Event, and an email address to which we can send administrative information about the Event. You may be asked to provide a state issued photo identification as verification at check-in.
5. You must start on time. Late starts will not be permitted.
6. You must follow the marked course and check in at every aid station. One of the Event volunteers will record your bib number and time at every aid station.
7. Your bib number must be worn in a place that’s clearly visible on the front of your shirt or shorts.
8. If you miss a cutoff time, you must follow the instructions from an Event volunteer on how to return to the start/finish area.
9. If you drop out of the Event before finishing, you must tell one of the Event volunteers before leaving the course. If you don’t check in at an aid station, then a team of rescuers will be dispatched to search the forest and find you. By not telling us that you’ve dropped out of the Event, you’re taking away resources that may be needed for other runners who are actually lost or injured.
10. You must comply if the Event management asks you to discontinue the Event at any time, if they believe that you are unfit to continue, or for any other reason deemed necessary by the Event management.
11. Crews are not allowed at Aid Station #3 (near the McCollum Campground) unless they park at the Overlook area or the Day Use parking lot and walk or ride a bike to the aid station (approximately 1.5 miles from either parking lot via the Roadside Trail – we don’t recommend walking or biking on the roadway). Cars are absolutely not allowed to be parked at Aid Station #3, at McCollum Campground, or at the RV dump station near the campground. Crews may park at the large gravel parking lot at the Overlook Area to access Aid Stations #1 and #2, or at the Day Use parking lot to access Aid Station #4.
12. 50 km runners must finish the Event with two punch marks on their bib from the two out-and-back sections to be considered an official finisher.
13. Pacers are not permitted.
14. Disrespectful behavior by the participants or their crews towards any of the event volunteers or the WV Division of Natural Resources staff may result in being disqualified from the Event and banned from future Events.
15. Failure to follow any of these rules will result in being disqualified from the Event and banned from this Event in the future. Please do not register for this Event if you are unable to abide by any of the rules, terms, or waiver conditions.
Shirts
All entrants who register by 3/8/2026 will receive a Sweat Vac technical shirt. Both men’s and women’s sizes will be offered. If you don’t get a shirt because you registered late, then check back with us after the Event at the finish line to see if we have any extras. You must pick up your shirt in person at the Event to receive it. Sorry, we can’t mail t-shirts to you. Specific details of the shirt to be provided are subject to change without notice.
Awards
Awards will be given to the top men and women finishers of each Event. There will not be a formal awards ceremony. Awards will be given out as the top finishers cross the finish line. All finishers will receive a finisher’s gift that is customized with Event graphics.
Lodging
There are campsites available at Coopers Rock State Forest at the Rhododendron Campground and McCollum Campground, which are reservable in advance (61 County Line Drive, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, https://wvstateparks.com/places-to-stay/campgrounds/coopers-rock-state-forest-camping/). There are a limited number of star gazing cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest that are also available for rent. Additional camping is available nearby at Chestnut Ridge Campground (346 Chestnut Ridge Camp Road, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, 304-594-1773, http://www.chestnutridgepark.com). There are many hotel options available in and around Morgantown.
Post Race Meal
A post-Event meal of meat or vegetarian sandwich burritos, and dessert will be free to registered runners after the Event, starting around 10:30 pm. Extra meals are available for purchase. Specific details of the post-Event meal to be provided are subject to change without notice.
Drop Bags
For 50 km runners only, you may leave a bag inside Picnic Shelter #1 at the Overlook Area. This picnic shelter will be Aid Station #2 in the 50 km Event. Please label your drop bag with your name and bib number. Alternatively, you may return to your car to pick up items as needed after checking in at Aid Station #2. You will run through the parking lot immediately after stopping in Aid Station #2, so it’s easy to get into your car at this point. Because this is a nighttime event, you are required to carry a light source with you and either extra batteries or an extra light source at all times.
Finishing Times
Finishing times will be posted on Coopersrock.org under the Blog tab and at Ultrasignup.com nominally within 3 days of the Event. Finishing times are provided on a best effort basis with no guarantee for accuracy or against the loss or withholding of finishing times if necessary for unforeseen reasons.
Photography
We do not hire paid, professional photographers for this event, but in the past we have been fortunate to have volunteer photographers who have donated their time and services to the Event participants. If we have volunteer photographers available on the day of the Event, then photographs will be distributed to the Event participants after the Event as we receive them. Photographs are not guaranteed, and there is no guaranteed timeline for receiving them. Because the 2026 Event is being held at night, photography will be limited with the possibility of no photography at all.
Contact Us
For other questions, please use the Contact Us form on our website, coopersrock.org.
About Us
The Coopers Rock Foundation is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that is dedicated to service projects at Coopers Rock State Forest. Any profit from this race will be reinvested into maintenance of the trails and facilities at Coopers Rock. We’re looking for new volunteers who are willing to get involved in making a difference at Coopers Rock State Forest. If you’d like to help, then get in touch.
Event's current local time: 12:08 AM ET
