New River Gorgeous Trail Run In WV

The New River Gorgeous Trail Run is a West Virginia trail race at ACE Adventure Resort on August 18. The run features three different race options, including a half marathon, 8 mile run, and 5 mile mountain hike. These beautiful race routes will take you into the New River Gorge, past scenic overlooks, cascading waterfalls, and abandoned coal towns. Past participants tell us it is one of their favorites. Guests return every year, and first timers are certain to fall in love with these West Virginia trails. Run wild with us this summer. Let’s have some fun on the trails!

Your New Favorite West Virginia Trail Race

Half marathoners, 8 mile runners, and hikers follow the same exact route when the run kicks off at Wonderland Waterpark. An open road section allows the pack to thin out a bit, before dropping into the woods and along the Other Trail along the rim of Arbuckle Creek Canyon. This one-mile trail runs along the base of spectacular sandstone cliffs takes racers to the rim of the New River Gorge. Here, runners pass magnificent views of the New River and the town of Thurmond. Many participants can’t help but stop here to snap a quick selfie before continuing along the racecourse.

Leaving the Concho Overlook racers will dip back into the woods and climb a short elevation change to get to the Thurmond Mountain Trail. Hitting the 2.5-mile mark and the top of your climb you are greeted with the first water station on the course. Heading down the trail this 3-mile trail takes participants around Thurmond Mountain contouring nicely and allowing for good time through this section. Walkers will bypass this section of the course by following a marked cutoff trail.

Stay Hydrated

After hydrating at your second water station and making it to the 5.5 mile point you are ready to head down onto the Froghopper trail. About 1 mile into the section you will run past the aqua blue pond which has this bright blue color due to limestone in the water. Continuing down Froghopper Trail you will have many short ups and downs as you traverse the south side of Wonderland Mountain.

The third water station will be found just past the 7 mile mark where 8 mile runners will follow the paved road down the mountain and to the finish line while half marathoners will carry on to the Froghopper North Trail and follow a bench cut into the steep hillside along the top of Wonderland Mountain. Moving along you will pop out into the paintball field woods course and up a short hill to the disc golf course. Here you will make your away across an open grass field onto buck trail taking racers back into the woods where you will begin loosing elevation as you drop halfway into the gorge.

Gorgeous Trail Run Views

Once the course hits the Vulture’s Roost trail you will be treated to a phenomenal view of the forest as you run along the top of a 50-foot cliff, hints the name Vulture’s Roost. The next few miles of the course are hands down the most beautiful, as you wind your way through the rhododendron thickets along the cliff-line of the rim of the New River Gorge. Half marathoners hit the fourth water station among this incredible section of the race route.

Once you hit the gravel road you can sprint down to the next trail intersection at Erskine Trail and onto some electrifying vistas into the New River Gorge. Keep your eyes peeled, as you will be running right past the old mine entrances to the Erskine coal mine that operated from 1890 – 1936. The trail again stays fairly flat as you follow the same elevation contour through the gorge and into the canyon of Arbuckle Creek. Here participants will face the final push in this mountain challenge as they climb up Arbuckle Creek past waterfalls and tumbling whitewater. Once you hit the road it is only a short half-mile sprint to the finish.

Burritos and Cash Prizes!

Cool off by jumping into the lake. Plunge down the slide, or BLOB your running partner sky high! All finishers receive a 2018 New River Gorgeous Trail Run race medal, plus a free burrito buffet all runners.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the overall winners of the half marathon and 10K run. Stick around for dinner and live music at The Lost Paddle. Take advantage of the free Saturday night camping for all racers. Get signed up now, and run wild with ACE Adventure Resort August 18th.