Eastern States 100

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

Eastern States 100 is 103 rocky miles with +20,000ft of elevation gain and a finisher rate of about 49 percent. Welcome to Pennsylvania!

🌲 Course Description

• Scenic Route: Circumnavigation of Pine Creek, known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.
• Challenging Terrain: Multiple 900 – 1200 foot climbs and punishing descents.
• Trail Variety: Experience the Mid State Trail, Black Forest Trail, and West Rim Trail, among others.
• Flora and Fauna: Encounter wildlife such as deer, bear, bald eagles, and rattlesnakes along the course.

🌄 Key Locations

• Ramsey: A small collection of houses where you'll cross over Pine Creek on a former railroad trestle.
• Blackwell: A tiny village with the historic Blackwell Hotel restaurant/bar.
• Unique Crossings: Cross a one-lane steel grate bridge that bends in the middle before climbing Gillespie Point.
• Connection Points: Civilizations you will pass include Ramsey, Blackwell, Hyner Run State Park, and Slate Run.

🏔️ Trail Experience

• Trail Conditions: Expect a mix of single track, old logging roads, and abandoned stone quarries.
• Diverse Landscapes: Traverse through rocky hollows and diverse forests with endless views.
• Local Trails: Trails include Wolf Path, Cougar Run, Hemlock Mountain, and Panther Run.
• Aid Stations: Well-stocked aid stations will be provided throughout the course.

📋 Qualifying for Eastern States

We no longer require a qualifying race to enter Eastern States. We’ve found that success at other races and shorter distances has little bearing on your ability to succeed here, so we leave it up to you to decide if you are capable and ready for our mountains. But please believe us when we say that our climbs are relentless, our trails are rough, our weather can be hot, storms are frequent and sometimes severe... if you are inexperienced or underprepared, you are likely to fail here. (Consider that the overall finish rate at ES100 since our start in 2014 is 50.3%, and has been in the 30%s in the hot years.)

Check the maps, read race reports, ask other runners on social media — do your homework before you decide to enter. But this decision is on you, and we will ignore any emails asking us if we think you are ready for this race (if you have to ask, the answer is probably "no").

🗓️ Event Details

Date: 2025-08-09

Location: 4205 Little Pine Creek Road, Waterville, PA

For more information, visit the official race page: Eastern States 100.