Baker Trail Ultrachallenge

Baker Trail UltraChallenge

The Baker Trail UltraChallenge is a 50-mile ultramarathon run on the Baker Trail. The event accepts individual runners and relay teams of up to five members. Finishers who complete a section within the fourteen hour cutoff receive one piece of a unique three-piece medal for the series.

The course for 2026 covers the northern section of the Baker Trail, a scenic point to point route that begins at the trail's northern terminus and ends at the Brookville Evangelical Methodist Church. The route includes about 6,200 feet of climbing, deep forest, single-track sections that overlap the North Country Trail, and stretches through Cook Forest. The full Baker Trail is 134 miles and is marked with yellow blazes on trees, poles, guard rails, and other features.

The trail alternates between footpath and country roads, including dirt and paved roads with narrow shoulders. Runners must watch for blazes and be prepared to backtrack if they go off course; many participants miss a turn at least once during the event. Navigation is an important part of the race.

The Brookville Evangelical Methodist Church serves as basecamp and hosts participant check-in, a pre-race dinner, camping with porta-johns, shuttle service to the start, drop-bag collection, parking, the finish area, and a post-race picnic. Check-in is mandatory and may be completed by a friend or teammate on a participant's behalf.

Registration opened October 1, 2025. The event offers three guided training runs in July that are free and open to the public. Diversity, equity, and inclusion guidelines apply to the event, including gender equity allocations, transgender and nonbinary inclusion, and pregnancy and adoption deferral policies. Volunteers are needed for roles such as aid stations and registration; volunteers receive a Marshal t-shirt. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.