Sidewinder
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Sidewinder : Montour Woods Conservation Area, Coraopolis PA
Sidewinder is a trail race held at Montour Woods Conservation Area with proceeds benefiting the Hollow Oak Land Trust. The event starts from the Clearview Pavilion in Moon Park and offers three trail distances with measured vertical gain for each.
Distances
- 50K: trail race, approximately 4500 ft vertical gain.
- 20 Mile: trail race, approximately 3200 ft vertical gain.
- Half Marathon: 13.1 miles, approximately 1900 ft vertical gain.
The course is divided into three parts: Liftoff, Orbit, and Final Approach. Liftoff is a 1.3 mile downhill segment from Moon Park into Montour Woods that includes a wooden boardwalk. Orbit is a roughly 9 mile loop through Montour Woods featuring a reclaimed concrete clearing of an old missile site, a powerline crossing, rocky and rooty singletrack, a scenic stretch beside Meeks Run with waterfall and cave features, and an old oil well; aid stations are placed about every 3-4 miles. Runners complete one, two, or three Orbit loops depending on distance. Final Approach differs by distance: a 2.9 mile mostly double track loop for the 50K and half marathon, and the reversed 1.36 mile Liftoff segment as an uphill finish for the 20 mile.
All finishers receive a medal. T-shirts are guaranteed for registrations completed by July 31, 2026. Awards are presented to the top male and female finishers in each distance. The event will be timed by a timing company. Volunteer opportunities and a course preview run on July 12 are included in the event program. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
