Wild Goose Trail Festival
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Wild Goose Trail Festival - Ringwood State Park, NJ
Wild Goose Trail Festival takes place over a weekend in September 2026 and is organized by Sassquad Trail Running. The 2026 edition is relocated to Ringwood State Park; the course layout is kept close to the original plan. The festival includes an evening of panels and a film screening followed by trail events on the subsequent days.
Events range from short family distances up to ultramarathon distances. Notable details:
- 1 mile kids race for ages 3 to 12
- 100 mile race with a 36 hour cutoff
- 100K and other distances up to 100+ miles
Free camping is available to participants, pacers, and crew on Friday and Saturday evenings. The kids race includes a medal and sticker, allows parents or guardians to join at no additional cost, and there are youth discounts and some free youth entries available.
The festival partners with Bigger Than The Trail, a 501(c)(3) that advocates for mental health and funds free therapy through fundraising. Sassquad also partners with the Trail Mix Fund to offer fee waivers for under-served and under-represented communities. Financial hardship entries and community-focused deferral options are offered.
Refunds are not provided. The event has a written deferral policy that includes standard deferrals with a fee, volunteer-based deferrals for certain injury cases, and extended deferrals related to pregnancy, adoption, or community care. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.