Baker Trail Ultrachallenge

Baker Trail UltraChallenge

The Baker Trail UltraChallenge is a 50-mile ultramarathon held on the Baker Trail in Vowinckel and Brookville, Pennsylvania. The 2026 race covers the northern section of the trail and is a point-to-point course that begins at the northern terminus and finishes at the Brookville Methodist Church. The route includes about 6,200 feet of climbing and passes through deep forest, single-track sections that overlap the North Country Trail, and stretches through Cook Forest. Parts of the route follow dirt or paved country roads with some narrow shoulders. The Baker Trail is marked with yellow blazes on trees, poles, fence posts, and guard rails, and runners are expected to watch for these markers.

The event accepts individual runners and relay teams of up to five members. Basecamp is at the Brookville Evangelical Methodist Church, which hosts participant check-in, a pre-race dinner, camping with porta-johns, shuttle service to the start, drop-bag collection, parking, the race finish, and a post-race picnic. Participant check-in is mandatory and is offered on a Friday evening or on race morning; friends or family may check in and retrieve packets for others.

Organizers provide aid stations along the course and offer free, guided training runs to help runners learn the route. Training run dates for 2026 are Friday, July 24; Sunday, July 26; and Saturday, August 8.

The event maintains diversity, equity, and inclusion guidelines. For 2026 half the available spots are reserved for women and half for men; transgender and nonbinary guidelines and pregnancy and adoption deferrals are in place. Historically the event has varied by gender composition; the 2023 field was 52 percent women. Runners who finish within the race cutoff receive a piece of a three-piece finishers medal; completing all three race sections awards a commemorative holder. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.