BIG BEAR SQUATCH SOUTH
Sassquad Trail Running and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are proud to present the Big Bear SquaTCh South at Harriman State Park in Tuxedo, New York! Join us at 10am on SUNDAY October 18, 2026 for this trail half marathon and 10K. All runners and hikers will experience non-stop trail beauty on this single loop course through Harriman State Park! Your race registration is directly helping the Trail Conference maintain and protect the trails that we will be enjoying on race day. Please visit our website for the complete details on this race, course maps, gpx files etc!
NYNJTC
We are proud to be co-hosting this trail party with our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference! Please consider donating by using the add-on feature during registration. The NYNJTC maintains and protects over 2,000 miles of trails in New York and New Jersey.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
The race will start and finish at Powerhouse Park: 57 Powerhouse Lane, Tuxedo, NY 10987 (please note: there is a $3 parking fee for the Tuxedo Commuter Lot). We pushed back the start time to 10am so our friends from NYC can take the train directly to Tuxedo Station (across the street from the start/finish!)
9:15am-9:45am Check-in for both events
10am 13.1M Start
10:15am 10K Start
*there are no on-course cut-offs for the 10K*
13.1M - Mile 4.75 Aid Station Cutoff: 11:45am
13.1M - Mile 9.5 Aid Station Cutoff: 1:45pm
Finish line cutoff for both events: 3pm (5 hours)
13.1M participants need to maintain a 22 min and 54 sec per mile pace to make each cut-off and finish by 3pm
10K participants needs to maintain a 38 min and 42 sec per mile pace to finish by 3pm
Runners and hikers will take home a swag item of their choice, we will have buffs, hats, travel mugs, beach towels available! 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 use this form to pre-register your pacers. Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director. Members of the Trail Conference will be at the race to chat with you about the amazing work they are doing in New York and New Jersey.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course Maps and GPX files The Half Marathon has 2,200+ ft of cumulative gain; There is 1,000 ft of gain in the first 4 miles! The 10K has over 1,200 ft of vertical gain. Both courses are very technical route, which means that there are a lot of rocks and roots. There are steep climbs, rocky cliffs and even a short scramble. We want to emphasize that this is a very challenging course and very different from our other events! If we have rain (or snow?), the course will be extra challenging. All of that being said - this is a beautiful course! Your hard efforts will be rewarded with sweeping views as you get to enjoy peak foliage in the Hudson Valley. Since we started hosting this event in October, we have always lucked out with amazing fall colors!
REQUIRED GEAR
REQUIRED GEAR FOR HALF MARATHONERS:
Charged cell phone
Water bottle or hydration pack
At least 200 calories
Whistle (we will give you one at check-in)
GPX of course map on phone or device
REQUIRED GEAR FOR 10K:
Charged cell phone
Water bottle or hydration pack
Whistle (we will give you one at check-in)
GPX of course map on phone or device
RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR BOTH EVENTS:
Trekking poles
Wipes and ziploc bags (there are no restrooms anywhere on the course)
Extra layers
Buff/hat/gloves
External battery pack for phone
HARDSHIP ENTRIES
If you are experiencing a financial hardship and would not be able to participate otherwise, please choose the "Hardship Entry" option. When we receive your registration, we will contact you with a code to register; at that time, you can let us know if you need a full or partial scholarship. If you are a community member who wants to contribute to our Squatch Community Fund, you can make a donation on our website.
SQUATCH KIDS CLUB
**We do not recommend this event for kids under the age of 16** Kids under the age of 19 can score 15% off their registration with the code SQUATCHKIDSCLUB. We also have some free entries available for youth athletes; email us to learn more! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register so we can give you the code! We recognize and celebrate our young adventurers by giving out wooden star medallions to kids who are registered AND to kids who come to spectate with their families. It's our way of saying thank you for being a part of our community and for embracing the spirit of adventure! We want families to come to our Trail Parties! We have a range of fun games that your family can enjoy: corn hole, connect four, a giant rainbow parachute and the Squatch Hunt. Don't be shy, head on over to the Finish Line and join in on the fun! Learn more about our Squatch Kids Club!
BE A HERO
Join the Sassy Volunteer Dream Team! We need help with check-in, aid stations, sweeping the course and cleaning up. Are you registered for a race that requires volunteer hours? We can sign-off on the hours that you log at the Harriman Big Bear SquaTCh. We love our volunteer team and we are always looking to add more sassy members to the Volunteer Squad! Email us at trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com if you would like to volunteer!
SQUATCH DISCOUNTS
Sassquad Trail Running is proud to offer 20% off all events to all active duty military and Veterans, hospital workers and teachers. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register for an event so we can provide you with a discount code. We extend a 10% discount to our Wise Elder Squatch Squad (folks who are over the age of 60); email us for the the code! New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Members and South Mountain Conservancy members can receive 10% off of registration; please email us for the discount code!
TRAIL MIX FUND
Do you want to race but can’t afford the entry fee? Are you a part of the BIPOC or LGBTQ+ community?
"Apply to the Trail Mix Fund to have your registration fee waived!" Sassquad Trail Running is proud to partner with the non-profit the Trail Mix Fund for the Squatchy Leftovers, Squatchapple, Big Bear North & South, and the Wild Goose. Founded in 2020 by our friends in Oregon at Go Beyond Racing, the Trail Mix Fund uses donations to help people who are under-served, under-resourced, and under-represented. This includes people of color and LGBTQ+, but is not restricted to those communities.
FAQ's
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: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 use this form to pre-register your pacers. Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, but Padfoot has to stay at home for this race. Our liability insurance does not cover dogs running our races; thank you for understanding!
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the race?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of little Fred and George before during and after the Trail Party. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.
Q: What's the weather like in Tuxedo, NY in October?
A: Cool, usually in the high 50's, low 60's. Odds are that the Trail Party will be during peak foliage!
Q: This will be my first trail race. Can you share some race-strategies with me?
A: Merlin's Beard! We are SO EXCITED for you! You will feel welcomed at our race and you can expect a well-marked course. Take your time out there and enjoy the experience! You do not have to run the entire time! Do some hiking and have fun.
Q: What food will you have at the aid station?
A: The Leaky Cauldron is running on their inventory of butterbeer, jelly slugs, fizzing whizbees so we have to stick with the standard trial running fare. We will have a wide variety of traditional ultra running food, as well as many vegan and gluten-free items. We will also have SKRATCH!
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: We will have bright colored ribbons along the course and plenty at all of the turns. Please note: we do not allow Apparating at this trail party. Wizards and witches who apparate wil receive a DQ.
Q: Will I encounter any wildlife on the course?
A: Besides the centaurs and hippogriffs, Harriman State Park is home to many critters, including black bears, deer, beavers and coyotes. We are utilizing heavily trafficked trails, so it is unlikely you will encounter any larger critters! But do make sure you watch out for the Whomping Willow.
Q: I don't want to run, are there any volunteer opportunities?
A: Of course! We always need Sassy Volunteers! Email us if you would like to volunteer: trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com
Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Don't do this at a Sassquad trail party or ANY other race. It's not okay. And if you hear about someone else doing this, call them out. If you bandit a race, you will be banned from registering for any of our Sassquad events.
SKRATCH
We are excited to share that our friends over at Skratch Labs are official Sassquad sponsors! We will be proudly serving Skratch Hydration at the aid stations. Sassquaders can save 20% by using the code SASSQUAD24 at skratchlabs.com
SNEAKER FACTORY
Thank you to our friends at Sneaker Factory, NJ! Sneaker Factory supports Sassquad Trail Running on and off the trails to help make the events as squatchtastic as possible! The Sneaker Factory is NJ's source for all things running: New Jersey's oldest and most well-known running store, originally opened in Millburn in 1978. Stop by one of our three convenient neighborhood locations and let us help you find the "perfect ride for every stride." Millburn, Florham Park and Basking Ridge.
SASSQUAD TRAIL RUNNERS
We are a community of SASQUATCH-lovin' trail runners and hikers. Our goal is to provide FUN and challenging events for runners of all ages and paces. We like to think that we have a good sense of humor, a full arsenal of sarcastic wit, useless trivia facts and a deep appreciation for cinematic masterpieces (as evidenced multiple times already). Follow us on Instagram , and like us on Facebook to get all of our Squatchy updates. You can also join our Facebook group, "Sassquad Trail Runners" to connect with other runners and hikers!
REFUNDS/DEFERRALS
Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double-check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text, or phone call) more than 21 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for, minus 15% of the registration fee that you originally paid. If you sustain an injury less than 21 days from the race date, we will extend a 100% deferral if you come to that race to volunteer. For distances less than 50K, you'll need to volunteer for at least 4 hours and for 50M+ distances, you'll need to volunteer for at least 8 hours to get a 100% deferral. If the race that you want to drop from is sold-out with an active wait-list and are able to fill your spot: if you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) at least 3 days before the race, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for, minus 15% of the registration fee that you originally paid. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race, minus 15% (total credit does not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please double-check that you can make the race you're deferring to.
PREGNANCY, ADOPTION, & POSTPARTUM POLICY
Whether planned or unplanned, the beginning or end of a pregnancy requires healing and recovery time. We are committed to supporting you in this regard. If you are experiencing a pregnancy or postpartum healing and recovery, or have adopted a child, we are pleased to offer a deferral of up to three years from the current event. Simply send us an email and we will arrange the deferral for you. This deferral policy includes partners and spouses and is also extended to folks who are going through the IVF process.
Event's current local time: 2:43 AM ET
