Bad Little Trail Run - 8mile Run and 2.5mile run/walk

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38 Middle Street, Whitneyville ME

Sunday, September 28th, 2025

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

Join Downeast Coastal Conservancy and Bold Coast Runners and wind through the woods and along the river in this trail running event through the Machias River Preserve to celebrate conservation in our community and help raise awareness for the protection of Downeast Maine's wild places. The Bad Little Trail Run is named from the Passamaquoddy word "Machias" meaning Bad Little Falls in reference to the falls on the Machias river.

📅 Event Details

Both races start and end in Whitneyville, followed by post-race awards and our traditional potluck food and drinks. Your race entry fees include:

Participation: Either the 8 mile run or 2.5 mile run/walk
Finisher gift: Commemorative item for all participants
Post-race celebration: Enjoy a BBQ and Pot-luck
Raffle: FREE raffle for a RunningWarehouse Gift Certificate valued at $100
Awards: Top 3 Men and Women, 1st in age categories (17 and under, 19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)

🏞️ Course Descriptions

Both races start and finish on the multi-use Downeast Sunrise Trail adjacent to the access parking lot in Whitneyville. After about 1/4 mile on the wide and level gravel trail, you cross the Machias River on the old railroad bridge where the two courses split. Please read accordingly below.

2.5 mile runners and walkers: Follow the Sunrise Trail for about 3/4 mile to the Homestead trail. Make a Left onto the Homestead trail climbing up to the old Homestead site. The trail is a narrow, twisting, undulating and sometimes muddy and slippery, but well-maintained, mile of single track. A left onto the trail and the bridge gives you a 1/4 mile sprint back to the finish.

8 mile runners: After about 1/4 mile on the wide and level gravel trail, you cross the Machias River on the old railroad bridge and make a sharp left turn into the woods on the Homestead Trail. Following the flags, you will bear left and pass your self-serve water station, continuing onto the NEW Munson Pitch Trail. This single track trail twists and winds through mossy spruce fir thickets, slowly descending to the Machias river. You turn RIGHT onto the Sunrise trail, quickly turn left and after about 50ft of Sunrise Trail, turn right on the Homestead trail for a sprint back to the Finish.

Both courses are marked with blue surveyor flags which you should keep on your right at all times. Where there are no turns, you may see the odd flag for reassurance, but if you come to a cluster of flags it means "pay attention" - there is a turn or junction.

🗺️ Course Maps

8 mile Course Map PDF
- Strava map
2.5 mile Course Map
- Strava map

📝 Registration

Registration opens at 7:00am on Monday 1 July and closes at 5pm Saturday 26 September.

Entry Fees:

$25 for the 8 mile run
$20 for the 2.5 mile run/walk

Day of Registration: (cash or check) -

$30 for the 8 mile run
$25 for the 2.5 mile run/walk

⚠ Washington County Youth can run for free! Please contact boldcoastrunners@gmail.com for details

Limited Day of Registration: Numbers are capped (we recommend you sign-up as soon as possible). If you are unable to run, please let us know as soon as possible so we can open your spot to someone else.

⏰ 2024 Race Day Timeline

8:00am - 9:15am - Registration, Check-in and Bib pick-up
9:30am - 8 Mile Race Start
9:45am - 2.5 Race and Walk Start
11:00am - Awards after the last finisher and Post-race BBQ and Pot-luck refreshments: let’s celebrate everyone!

🦠 Covid-19 Guidelines

We will be complying with all guidance regarding COVID-19 as issued by the Federal and State governments, the RRCA, ATRA, and ACORD, at the time of the event. In case of change in the official COVID-19 guidance, we may make adjustments at short notice but these will be communicated to you in advance.