BLACK BEAR TRAIL RACES
WATERVILLE VALLEY, NH
The Black Bear Half Marathon is returning to Waterville Valley in 2024! Get ready for a day full of family-fun in the mountains with events for everyone - 5k, fun run, 1 mile, plus kids races too!
Students, parents, and teachers are beyond grateful for your support last year, which helped to maintain the after-school program at the Waterville Valley Elementary School. Once again, proceeds will support the school's PTA and their work in the community. The races will take place on Saturday, August 31st, 2024. Sign up before race day to guarantee yourself a spot in the race with a medal, custom hat, and race bib to take home.
SATURDAY RACE DAY SCHEDULE
7:30AM Check-In Opens | Ultra Check-In Allowed
9:00AM Black Bear Half Marathon Start
10:00AM Black Bear Short Trail Start
11:00AM 1 mile Bear Cub Fun Run Start
SUNDAY ULTRA RACE DAY SCHEDULE
5:00AM Check-In Opens | Saturday Check-In Allowed
6:00AM Black Bear Ultra Trail Start
7:00PM Black Bear Ultra Cutoff
THE BLACK BEAR ULTRA TRAIL
Embark on a 50-kilometer journey with us around the 4000 foot peaks surrounding Waterville Valley. The course starts near Town Square, covering a total of 7,700 feet of cumulative elevation gain as it climbs Snow's Mountain, East Osceola, Osceola, and Tecumseh, before sending it back to Town Square for a hero's welcome. Racers will be supported with multiple aid stations along the way. THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT! Do not undertake this challenge lightly. Stay tuned for more details and signup to open in the near future. View the course here.
THE BLACK BEAR HALF MARATHON
You get a finisher’s medal (if you finish), post-race snacks, and the chance to win prizes. Be sure to pace yourself as you race along the 13.1-mile course on the oldest maintained trail network in the US. Starting and finishing in the picturesque Town Square, the route rolls along the valley floor and into the hills as you travel in the shadows of the towering 4,000 foot peaks of Tecumseh, the Osceolas, and the Tripyramids. Three aid stations with water, hydration supplement, and nutrition. Terrain: 85% double-track trail, 13% single-track trail, and 2% road.
THE BLACK BEAR SHORT TRAIL
4 miles and 600 feet of trail through White Mountain forests and streams around the valley floor. You get a finisher’s medal, post-race snacks, and the chance to win prizes in the raffle. The course runs along a mix of single track and wide dirt double-track around the valley’s south-end trails with NO ROAD! Terrain: 50% double-track, 50% single-track.
THE BEAR CUB FUN RUN
The whole family, including Grandma and Grandpa, will enjoy the scenic 1-mile Bear Cub Fun Run! Whether you take in the Valley's grand views at a walk or make a mad dash for the finish line, you'll lend your valuable support to students at WVES and take home a signature Black Bear medal waiting for you at the finish line. If parents want to run with their children, they must also be registered. Terrain: 100% double-track trail.
KIDS RUN FREE!
Waterville Valley Ski Resort is well known for its unique “Kids Ski Free” program. Now introducing, Kids RUN Free! Children under 13 years old may sign up to run in the 1 mile or short trail distances. Kids Run Free participants MUST sign up online or on race day. Parents must register to run with their children.
