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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.
Come and support Young Life as you run through the histroic town of Thomas, WV. This is the start of Mountaineer Days in Thomas, WV. Come and enjoy the day and finish it off with fireworks in the evening as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States.
All proceeds from the race will go to Young Life.
Event details and schedule
Packet Pickup 6:30- 7:45 July 4th 2026
Race will start near the Thomas Fire Hall. End on the railroad grade below the Post Office.
There is parking near the finish line.
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!
All Team Members will have a timing chip on their bib.
The Distance Challenge will be scored by total laps run (by Solo, or per team).
All/Any Distance Challenge Team Members can run at the same time and at any point throughout the night.
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.
Final Laps for the Distance Challenge must be started before 6:00 AM
On-course parking is allowed for all Distance Challenge Participants to set up your own aid stations and make refueling easy.
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).
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!
Join us for the second annual Woodly's Great Gravel Adventure on Saturday, September 19, 2026!
About the Race
Woodly's Great Gravel Adventure is presented by the Mountain State Forest Festival, one of the largest and oldest festivals in West Virginia. This year's 88th annual event will be held September 26 - October 4. The MSFF is a real cultural landmark that showcases WV in all its autumn glory. Due to the changing fall leaves and the Mountain State Forest Festival, autumn is a great time to visit the Elkins area with family and friends. Visit Mountain State Forest Festival | Elkins, WV to see all that the MSFF has in entertainment, food, and events while in town for the ride!
The race will traverse through the beautiful Cheat-Potomac District of the Monongahela National Forest. Race headquarters will be stationed in Stuart Recreation Area nestled along the banks of the Shavers Fork River. Stuart Recreation Area is 7 miles east of Elkins and was built in 1937 by CCC labor. Known to locals as Stuart's Park, the area provides great hiking trails and excellent fishing.
Woodly's Great Gravel Adventure is part of the WV Gravel series. Please visit WVGS website www.wvgravelseries.com for rules and regulations.
The majority of the race will be on gravel roads with some rail trail and paved roads mixed in.
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Aid Stations
2 aid stations will be along the course. The short course will pass only one aid station. The medium and long course will go by two. We recommend bringing appropriate fuel and drinks. Please monitor the weather and dress accordingly. Elkins weather can range from hot to snow in the autumn season.
Package Pick-Up
Package pick-up will begin Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 AM at Stuart Recreation Area in the small pavilion. (we were in the large pavilion last year, the small pavilion is a little past the large in Stuarts Recreation Area).
The Start
All riders will begin at the Small Pavilion in Stuart Recreation Area and head out of the park to Forest Road 91 and turn left on Shaver Fork Road. All riders will continue approximately 16 miles to the first aid station. Long, medium, short and e bike riders will start at staggered times. Long course rides will begin at the start finish line beside the small pavilion at 9:00 AM, Medium course will begin at 10:00 AM and Short course and e bikes at 10:30AM.
Short Course
Once leaving Stuarts Recreation Area the short Course will continue along Shavers fork road which runs beside the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River until reaching the the first aid station, approximately 16 miles. At this point you will turn and go back to Stuart Recreation Area and the finish line following the Shavers Fork road for a total of 33 miles. Tentative course is posted here. Click here for: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53598614?privacy_code=9FmkGxzNAnA49KPVGykAeBXJexGSZzAp
Medium Course
The Medium Course will follow the short course until the first aide station. At this intersection a sharp right turn will be made onto Forest Road 828 to enter the Fernow Experimental Forest. At the intersection with Forest Road 709 a right turn will be made. Then a slight right will be made onto Forest Road 701. We will continue to 701 through the Fernow Forest until intersecting with Brooklyn Heights Road just East of the town of Parsons. At this intersection a left turn will be make onto a paved road. Brooklyn Heights Road will become Billings Avenue. We will continue on Billings Avenue into the town of Parsons. Billings Ave will become Railroad Ave and after a few blocks will intersect with River street. A sharp right and then left will be made to put us on the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail. The Rail trail will take us through the Town of Parsons and then continue on the trail until intersecting Shavers Fork Road. Take a left onto Shavers Fork Road. Continue on Shavers
Fork Road and it will become Clifton-Nail Run Road. We will continue along Clifton-Nail run road until coming to the Second aid station. At this point a left turn will be made to cross the river and intersect with Shavers Fork road. Turn right onto Shavers Fork Road and continue to the finish line in Stuarts Park Recreation Area for a total of 48 miles. The Course is posted here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53599343?privacy_code=JCHJNuC8ct14apg3jiZSMLhraOVlulDk
Long Course
The Long Course will follow the short course and medium course into the Fernow Forest. After traveling on forest road 701 for a short ways a right turn will be made onto forest road 324 towards McGowen Mountain. We will travel about 7 miles to the Yellow Creek trail head and turn around to return to to Forest Road 701. We will turn right off of 324 back onto 701 and continue on the Medium course route as seen above until reaching the second aide station. At the second aid station the Long Course will turn right and continue on Clifton-Nail Run Road until turning left on Log Lick Run road (also known as Timbucktoo Road). Log Lick Run will intersect with Stalnaker Run Road. A left turn will be made onto Stalnaker road. Continue on Stalnaker Run Road until coming to the “graffiti bridge.” After crossing the bridge continue until taking a right onto Shavers Fork Road and continue to Stuarts Park Recreation area and the finish line for a total of 75 miles. The Long Course is posted
here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53551094
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E-Bike Route.
The E-bike route will begin at the Stuarts recreation area and head out of the park on Forest Road 91. As soon we leave the park we will turn left onto Shaver Fork Road. We will continue on the Shavers Fork road until reaching the aid station at the Clifton Nail Road intersection. At this point the e bike route will follow the medium course loop back to the Stuarts recreation area for a total 25 miles. Click here for: E-Bike Route Map
All riders will receive a meal and t-shirt with registration and a ticket to the Forest Festival Kickoff Party and Chili Cook-Of (scheduled from 4-8pm September 26th in Elkins). Additional meals and t-shirts can be purchased.
Prizes
First, second, and third finishers for male and female open riders for the long course will receive a cash prize. All winners from each category will have prize table selection.
Lodging and Camping
Stuart Recreation Area has individual camping sites that must be reserved for tents and campers. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov Stuart Recreation Area, Monongahela National Forest - Recreation.gov
A group campsite that accommodates 40 people tent camping is also available. This site is available first come, first serve Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 for $5.00 and can be paid for day of event.
Bear Heaven Recreation Area, known by locals as Bear Haven, is a few miles away from Stuart Recreation Area, and has campsites available first come, first serve for $5.00
Monongahela National Forest | Bear Heaven Campground | Forest Service
Other local lodging can be found by visiting Elkins-Randolph County Tourism.
Sleep - Elkins-Randolph County Tourism
Visit our website to see the full Mountain State Forest Festival Schedule of Events.
Events | Elkins, WV | Mountain State Forest Festival
Thank you to our sponsors!
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This is an old school, classic single loop backcountry race. The name is from an on course incident with a rattlesnake. You have to be tough for this 24 mile back country loop in the heart of Dankness…Canaan. This is a fundraiser for Blackwater Bicycle Association. It starts in Davis on River Road Trail to Yellow Birch and then climbs up a virtual creek bed, The Davis Trail (Allegheny Trail) to Plantation Trail . You'll make a right onto Plantation Trail and then a left onto Fire Trail #6 Trail. Make a left onto Canaan Loop Road (Forest Road 13) and enjoy several miles on the gravel to Fire Trail 3. A water station will be there. Descend Fire Trail 3 to Plantation. Take a left onto Plantation back to Davis Trail (Allegheny Trail). Make a right on Davis to descend what you climbed earlier to Blackwater Falls State Park and do Yellow Birch(again) and the River Road Trail back into Davis to the full aid station. If you are a DUO Team, this is where you will tag your partner for the next
leg. After fueling up, you'll tackle the rock tech of Splashdam Trail and will start to feel the hard, slow miles. No rest for the weary as you then climb Hoodoo and descend the Moon Rocks searching for that sweet locals line. Hammer back on Trials Trail. Wet lube and extra chamois cream are recommended! Registration opens at 8:30 at Davis City Park Pavillion. Racers meeting is at 9:45 at Start. The Start of the race is at 10am at the beginning of the River Road Trail(South side of Rt 32 Bridge/Also Aid Station) Finish is at Camp 70 Trailhead. Post race meal by the fabulous SIRIANNI'S Pizza and FREE t-shirt are included in the race entry at the DAVIS CITY PARK
ROR 2025 SAME COURSE FOR 2026
This race is made possible through permission of the land owners. We would like to thank the West Virginia Land Trust for use of the trails on the Yellow Creek Natural Area that includes the Moon Rocks and Hoodoo Rocks. We thank National Youth Science Academy for use of their land. We thank the U.S. Forest Service for the permit to use Plantation, Fire Trail 6, and Davis Trail and Fire Trail 3. We also want to thank the West Virginia DNR for use of their trails in Blackwater Falls and Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area. We also want to thank Blackwater Bikes for helping with the race and all the amazing volunteers who helped with trail work and putting on the race.
PLEASE BE AT REGISTRATION AT 8:30am at Davis City Park (please park there as well) to sign waiver, pick up your race tag and pick up your free t-shirt. There is a porta potty on site.
PARKING : please park at the Davis Riverfront Park across from the Shop N Save.
Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact on your community while staying active and healthy? Look no further than the Run For It program, developed by the Tucker Community Foundation in 2007. This program encourages participation in healthy activities while raising much-needed support and awareness for non-profit organizations, civic organizations, and charities in our ten-county region of West Virginia and Maryland.
Join one of the many teams representing non-profit and charitable organizations and take advantage of three opportunities to raise support through the program: entry fees, team sponsorship, and race day awards. Not only does half of the $12.00 entry fee go towards your chosen cause, but team sponsors can also donate any amount to any number of causes, and all sponsor donations go directly toward your team's cause. Additionally, the Foundation provides initial funding for the race awards purse, and sponsors supplement these awards, resulting in 100% cash awards for teams across numerous categories.
By participating in Run For It, you'll be supporting a wide range of causes that make a difference in our community, including the arts, animal welfare, challenged athletes, charities, churches, civic organizations, community improvement projects, cultural organizations, educational activities, emergency services, environmental causes, historic preservation, hospital and medical programs, libraries and literacy programs, non-profit organizations, parks and recreation, senior citizen programs, Tucker Community Foundation operations, and youth organizations.
The annual Run For It campaign begins on April 1, 2026, and culminates with a 2k walk and 5k walk/run on September 26, 2026, in Davis, WV, during the annual Leaf Peeper's Festival. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to make a difference in your community while improving your health. Join a team and start fundraising today!
Welcome to The High Ground Gravel race in Terra Alta WV! Hosted by WVGS, Pike Street Bikes,Mountaineer Gravel, Alpine Lake Resort, High Ground Brewing, Reynolds
This is the 6th and final race in the WV Gravel Series Race schedule 2026. Terra Alta is an amazing venue! Setting at 2500FT above sea level, you are in the mountains of WV! Terra Alta is home to the beautiful Alpine Lake Resort where the event is hosted from!
MAPS!!!
Long Course race starts 10:00am
High Ground Long (New) · Ride with GPS
Medium Course race starts 11:00am
High Ground Medium · Ride with GPS
Short Course races starts 12:00am
High Ground Short · Ride with GPS
Packet Pickup available Friday, October 16th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Alpine Lake Resort. Also, race day morning starting at 8:00am
Online registration closes on Saturday, October 10th at midnight, but we are offering day of registration for an elevated price of $100.00 (cash, check or card accepted)
Day of Registration will be open at 8:00am
Race day food will be provided at the resort for all racers which is included in your registration fee.
Well stocked Aid Stations along with Hammer Nutrition products, one of the WVGS sponsors.
Aid Stations…
--Long--
-Aid Station #1 @17miles
-Aid Station #2 @33miles
-Aid Station #2 second time @53Miles
--Medium--
-Aid Station #1 @17miles
-Aid Station #2 @33miles
--Short--
-Aid Station #2 @19miles