Black Bear Trail Races
Waterville Valley, United States • 29 Aug 2026
Event overview
Black Bear Trail Races take place in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, with start and finish near Waterville Valley Town Square (33 Village Rd). The event day is Saturday, August 29, 2026. Distances offered include:
- 50K (listed as 30.8 miles)
- 23K (listed as 14.64 miles)
- 4 Mile (about 4.1 miles)
- Bear Cub Fun Run (short trail run, listed as 1.5 miles)
All finishers who complete their registered course receive a commemorative award. Podium awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each distance.
Course and logistics
The 50K route covers approximately 7,700 feet of cumulative elevation gain and crosses Snow's Mountain, East Osceola, Osceola, and Tecumseh, with multiple aid stations and a 12-hour time limit. The 23K uses the region's maintained trail network, lists 1,696 feet of elevation gain and three aid stations, and notes terrain as roughly 85% double-track, 13% single-track, and 2% road with a 6-hour limit. The 4 Mile course mixes single and double-track around the valley (about 600 feet gain). The Bear Cub Fun Run is a short double-track trail.
The event is cup-less: aid stations do not provide disposable cups, so participants must carry a hydration system. Drop bags are allowed at the start/finish. Crews and pacers are not permitted on course; crews may wait at the finish village. Required gear is enforced for the 50K and includes a headlamp, extra batteries, ability to carry 2 liters of water, 400 calories of food, a space or emergency blanket, and a windbreaker or rain shell. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.