Coopers Rock 50 Km
Bruceton Mills, United States • 25 Apr 2026
Event Overview
The Coopers Rock 50 km and Half Marathon Night Run is a trail running event at Coopers Rock State Forest in north central West Virginia. For the 2026 edition, it is a nighttime event starting and finishing in the dark. The courses are rocky and scenic, covering trails on the south side of the forest and featuring overlooks of the Cheat Canyon and Cheat Lake, as well as large boulder formations.
Distances and Course
The event offers two non-looping trail distances:
- 50 km: This course covers nearly every trail on the forest's south side and involves 5000 feet of elevation gain.
- Half Marathon (21 km): This is a shorter version of the 50 km course with 2000 feet of elevation gain.
Key Requirements and Information
All participants must be at least 18 years old. Because it is a nighttime event, carrying a light source with extra batteries or a backup light is required for all runners. Participants must also carry a cell phone with the Caltopo app installed for location tracking. Pacers are not permitted. The combined entry cap for both races is 250 participants.
Aid Stations: The 50 km course has 6 aid stations, and the Half Marathon has 3. They are stocked with standard ultra-marathon food and drinks. Runners are encouraged to carry their own cup or bottle to reduce waste.
Cutoffs: Both courses have strict cutoff times at various aid stations. The final cutoff for the 50 km is 9 hours and 30 minutes from the start, and for the Half Marathon it is 5 hours.
Registration and Logistics
Entry fees vary by distance and registration date, with price increases after February 1, 2026. Online registration closes on April 17, 2026. A technical shirt is guaranteed for those registered by March 8, 2026. A 70% refund is available until March 8, 2026, after which no refunds are granted, though entries can be transferred to another runner until April 17, 2026.
Packet pickup occurs on race day at the Overlook Area starting point. The event is organized by the Coopers Rock Foundation, a non-profit organization, with any profit reinvested into trail and facility maintenance at the state forest. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.