Intro

The Highlands Trail Festival course and metrics are not easy and each of the distances some of the toughest on the East Coast if not Country. The Highlands are loaded with rock gardens, boulders, and root networks. You’ll run points with sheer drops and exposure. It could be said that they are not beginner courses. But, I’ve seen total beginners prove as likely to finish if they put in the time and commit to finishing even when it gets really ugly, as much as experienced runners. The tradeoff is the opportunity to run a beautiful course with awesome elevation, vistas, and the gratification of having every finish be earned.

Timeline

Monday, December 6, 2021:
00:00 - Registration opens

Tuesday, May 10, 2022:
11:59 PM - Registration closes (unless already sold out)

Friday, May 13, 2022:
17:00 - 21:00 - Pre-Race check-in at the Jungle Habitat

Saturday, May 14, 2022:
04:00 - 04:45 - Race morning Check-In 100k / 50 Mile ONLY
05:00 - Start of the 100k / 50M distances
07:00 - 07:50 - Race morning Check-In for 25k / 50k ONLY
08:00 - Start of 25k / 50k distances
13:00 - Estimated leader finishes 50k
14:30 - Cut Off 25k
15:30 - Estimated leader finishes 50M
17:20 - Estimated leader finishes 100k
20:00 - Cut Off for 50k
23:59:59 - Cut Off for 50 Mile & 100k Finish

Course Configuration

The course starts and finishes at the Jungle Habitat, a former Warner-Bros.-owned animal theme park in operation between 1972 and 1976. Ruins remain, including massive parking lots adjacent to magnificent trail networks which will be used as the staging area and central aid station.
Entrants will open with a clockwise 18 mile lollipop circuit on the burly and beautiful Stonetown Circular circuit forming the shoulders, neck and head of the Wanaki. You’ll cross several peaks and with views of the Wanaque Reservoir before arriving back to the Jungle Habitat.
From there you’ll head south for an out-back configuration in Southern Norvin Green with a host of other high points in the Wyanokie Mountain Range. The turn-around point will depend on the event / distance.

Aid Stations and Cut Offs

The Aid Station and Time Grid can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G5KlZVeuJfHcWXgjkErhjdYGu9ZB7caOLDc9cT1-u5E/edit?usp=sharing

The shortest stretch between aid is between the Jungle Habitat and Burnt Meadow at 3 miles The longest is between Burnt Meadow and Stonetown at 7 miles. Some sections, such as that 7 mile stretch, will have significant elevation gain as well as technical terrain and may run more like a 10 mile trail stretch on easier courses. Plan to carry supplies accordingly.

Distance Start Times, Cutoffs, and Elevation Metrics

The 100k will start at 05:00 and have a 19 hour cutoff (00:00). The course is roughly 61.2 miles (no doubt will get tweaked a bit before race day). The course elevation gain total, per various reputable mapping programs, ranges between a low of 11,400’ and a high of 18,400’ with an average of 15,500’ (254’/mile). You can find a link to the course map, with downloadable course tracks on Plotaroute, Strava, CalTopo, and Gaia.

The 50 Mile will start at 05:00 and have an 19:00 cutoff (00:00). The course is roughly 50.4 miles (no doubt will get tweaked a bit before race day). The course elevation gain total, per various reputable mapping programs, ranges between a low of 9,400’ and a high of 14,400’ with an average of 12,400’ (246’/mile). You can find a link to the course map, with downloadable course track, on Plotaroute, Strava, Caltopo (link is to 100M - an originally planned distance offering), and Gaia.

The 50k will start at 08:00 and have a 12 hour cutoff (20:00). The course is roughly 31.5 miles (no doubt will get tweaked a bit before race day). The course elevation gain total, per various reputable mapping programs, ranges between a low of 6,200’ to a high of 9,500’ for an average of 8,100’ (260’ gain / mile). You can find a link to the course map, with downloadable course track, on Plotaroute, Strava, Caltopo (link is to 100M), and Gaia.

The 25k will start at 08:00 and have a 6.5 hour cutoff (14:30). The course is roughly 17.5 miles (no doubt will get tweaked a bit before race day). The course elevation gain total, per various reputable mapping programs, ranges from a low of 3,700’ to a high of 5,400’ with an average of 4,800’ (270’/mile). You can find a link to the course map, with downloadable course track, on Plotaroute, Strava, Caltopo (link is to 100M), and Gaia.

Drop Bags

Drop bags will be permitted for 50k, 50M, and 100K runners. They will be permitted at roughly 10 mile intervals and at the following Aid Station locations: Stonetown, Jungle Habitat, New Weis

Distance Changes

Registered entrants are able to change distances up to one week before and / or by May 7. Entrants should be able to make that change on their own in UltraSignUp. No refunds will be given for dropping down in price-tiers. Entrants moving up in distance can pay the difference via check (Payable to RedNewtRacing) at check-in on race weekend.

Refund Policy

Registered entrants who are not able to run and notify the event by March 15th may receive a 75% refund or rollover of entry fee (less CC processing fee amount which the event does not receive).

Registered entrants who are not able to run and notify the event after March 15th but before April 15th are able to have 75% of their registration fee (less original CC processing fees) rolled over into 2023 or another RNR event in 2022.

Registered entrants who are not able to run and notify the event between April 16 and May 1 are able to have 50% of their registration fees (less original CC processing fees) rolled over into 2023 or another RNR event in 2022.

NO REFUNDS or ROLLOVERS will be issued regardless of reason to any registered entrant not providing notification prior to May 1st including not showing up on race-day.

Event's current local time: 6:31 PM ET