Run For It!

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Please Note: Start time of 7:30 is tentative.

We are excited for you to join us for the Canaan Valley Running Company's 4th Annual Canaan Valley Trail Run on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, in Canaan Valley State Park. This race will take place on the Promised Land Trail and will be a fun, fast, and exciting race for runners of all levels. The Promised Land Trail starts and finishes directly behind Canaan Valley Resort and is approximately 5.9 miles; we will have a one-loop 5.9 mile and a 2 Loop 11.8 mile option.

All participants will receive a Finisher Medal and a McClumsy T-shirt, as well as a Tasty Beer (must be 21 or older), post-race snacks, and more.

Our destination Trail Race, features the scenic brilliance of Tucker County, West Virginia. Above all is a place known for its endless outdoor opportunities. Furthermore, Canaan Valley is just miles from the rugged and beautiful backcountry of Dolly Sods and Canaan Mountain, the amazing vertical feet of Blackwater Falls State Park, and the luxury of Canaan Valley Resort. The neighboring towns of Davis and Thomas offer eclectic restaurants, multiple breweries, art galleries, and live entertainment. Fortunately, they are just miles from the racecourse and make the Canaan Valley Trail Run a perfect runcation.

Although it is a world away, Canaan Valley is only a half day’s drive from major metropolitan areas, including Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Columbus. So if you are looking for a Trail Race in West Virginia, you should consider running with us.

Join us for the 6th Annual Moonlight on the Falls Marathon on August 29-30, 2026, at beautiful Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County, West Virginia. Beat the summer heat run with us under the stars and enjoy the perfect running temperatures of our cool late summer mountain nights.

This race will be a nighttime race featuring a Marathon, Half Marathon, Distance Challenge (Ultra Marathon), Relay, and Quarter Marathon. It will be an approximately 6.55-mile (Quarter Marathon) looped course beginning and ending at Pendleton Point in Blackwater Falls State Park. The Distance Challenge will begin at 10 PM and go until 7:45 AM with options to run Solo, 2 Person Relay, 4 Person Relay, and 6 Person Relay. In addition to being held in one of West Virginia's most visited and beautiful state parks running conditions should be perfect, average nighttime temperatures during the end of August here in the mountains are 55 degrees.

As with all of our races, the Moonlight on the Falls Marathon is meant to be a true destination experience. We plan on a festival-like atmosphere for Packet Pick Up and Pre-Race on Saturday with live music, vendors, food, and more! In addition to our festivities, we encourage everyone to check out the endless outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as our funky little mountain towns of Davis and Thomas.

ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A REFLECTIVE VEST OR SIMILAR GEAR AND A HEADLAMP. The roads in the park are closed at night to outside traffic and anyone not staying in the park, however, for safety purposes, we will require runners to wear a reflective vest and have a headlamp. Have fun with your lighting; glow sticks and other fun lighting for your outfits are highly encouraged!

Swag - All participants will receive a Super Soft Triblend McClumsy long-sleeve T-shirt, finisher medal, and more!

Course - The Moonlight on the Falls Marathon Course is an all-paved 6.55-mile (Quarter Marathon Course) that starts and finishes at Pendleton Point in Blackwater Falls State Park.

Distance Challenge Teams - One person will be responsible for setting up their Teams. Once they register, they will set up a password to give to additional teammates. To make the Team Challenge more approachable, each participant in the relay will register and pay individually.

The below format is for 2025. We may change it slightly for 2026, but will be keeping the 'total cumulative laps' format.

We made some changes to our Teams Categories for 2027 because we want more of you to run with us all night long!

1. All Team Members will have a timing chip on their bib.

2. The Distance Challenge will be scored by total laps run (by Solo, or per team).

3. All/Any Distance Challenge Team Members can run at the same time and at any point throughout the night.

4. TEAMS ONLY: Each lap Run from 10 PM (Race Start) through 4:59 AM will count as 1 lap. All Laps started between 5 AM & 5:59 AM will be worth 2 laps.

5. Final Laps for the Distance Challenge must be started before 6:00 AM

6. On-course parking is allowed for all Distance Challenge Participants to set up your own aid stations and make refueling easy.

7. At 7 AM, we will have a Sunrise Celebration for all Distance Challenge Participants, which will include breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit, coffee, juice, and more! Show your Distance Challenge bib and get it marked for breakfast (Non-DC and spectators can purchase).

8. Last But Not Least We are also going to be giving away: 2 Nights of Lodging and Free Entry to the 2027 Moonlight on the Falls for the Solo Distance Challenge Male and Female Winners, 2 Person Team Winners, 4 Person Team Winners, and 6 Person Team Winners.

The Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon will take place on the Blackwater Canyon railroad grade and Allegheny Highlands Trail running from Thomas, WV to Mill Race Park in Parsons, WV. Please join us for this epic event in support of the Highlands Trail Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to trail development in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.

The Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon is a point-to-point race. The trail is made of pavement, dirt, and crushed stone. The race course will descend about 1400'. The 9:00 am race start is located on the rail trail below First/Front Street in Thomas, WV. The race finish is in Parsons, WV. At 8:00 am, a bus will transport runners from Parsons to the race start in Thomas.

RACE ENTRY WILL CLOSE AT 200 RUNNERS!

Individual Entry Fees:

• Before August 12, 2026 - $60

• After August 12, 2026 - $75

Awards

Custom handmade mugs by MUD Ceramics, Thomas, WV, will be awarded to:

• Overall Top Male and Female finisher - $100 gift certificates

• Top 3 Male finishers in each age group (0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)

• Top 3 Female finishers in each age group (0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)

SWAG: Gender specific shirts, speed cup and locally made finishers medallions. Please note: we cannot guarantee shirt size after August 12, but will try to have one that works for you.

Black-Hel Double

Looking for a challenge? In coordination with the West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners' Helvetia 10k Mountain Run, we have the Black-Hel Double! This is a two part racing event. First complete the Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon on Saturday. Then travel to Helvetia on Sunday and finish the 10k Mountain Run. Finishers of both races receive a special hat with the Black-Hel Double logo. Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the Helvetia 10k Mountain Run. No additional purchase necessary. More information about the Helvetia 10k Mountain Run is available at https://www.wvmtr.org/races/helvetia/

RACE WEEKEND DETAILS

Packet Pickup:

Friday evening packet pick up will take place in Thomas, WV from 5:30-7:00 pm at the rail yard. Race day packet pickup will take place at the Mill Race Park in Parsons, WV from 6:45 - 7:45 am.

Shuttle Bus Leaves:

Buses will leave Mill Race Park in Parsons for the starting line in Thomas at 8:00 am. Note: Please board the bus as soon as you can. The bus ride will take approximately 35-45 minutes.

Race Start:

The race will start at 9:00 am just below Tip Top (on State Hwy 32, Thomas, WV 26292), along the rail yard road. This crushed stone road parralles the North Fork Blackwater River and East Street.

Bag Drop Off:

Bags and extra layers you need on the bus can be left in the box at the starting line. They will be under the pavilion in the finishers area for you to pick up after the race.

Aid Stations/Restrooms:

Three Aid stations will be provided along the course. Stations will include water, Skratch hydration, and various energy packed snacks. THIS WILL BE A CUPLESS RACE! It is suggested that each runner carry the cup provided or water bottle, we won’t have cups at the aid stations.

Restrooms are located at the Mill Race Park, Parsons, WV. Portapotties will be provided at the start line.

See you there!