The Naples Trail Day Challenge
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The Naples Trail Day Challenge
The Naples Trail Day Challenge is a free, community event held in support of the Naples Trail Collective. Participants complete a series of marked hill-loop courses around Naples, record their loop times with a GPS platform of their choice, and return to Engine 14 Brewery later in the day to compare results. Donations to the Naples Trail Collective are appreciated and will be used to improve the trails.
For safety, participants must check in at Engine 14 Brewery before heading to the trails. Only loop times count toward the results; there is no official event timing and results are based on participant-provided GPS evidence. There is no aid on course, so participants are responsible for their own hydration and fuel. Maps and GPX files are available for the routes and participants are encouraged to bring a charged cell phone. Participants must provide their own transportation and follow the rules of the road and parking when traveling between course locations.
The challenge includes several named climbs and loops. The Marty Dodge Climb starts at Naples Community Park and follows the Twisted Branch Trail into the High Tor Wildlife Management Area, then descends via the Hatch Hill Trails. The Demoralizer begins at Conklin's Gully and requires a creek crossing before a climb and a connector trail to a downhill section. The Great Hill and Clark Gully loop follows the course used by the Great Hill Ultra and passes sites associated with the Seneca Nation and regional cultural history. Running between all loops would total about 17 miles with roughly 2,500 feet of elevation; organizers do not recommend that option. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
