Eastern States 100

Eastern States 100

Eastern States 100 takes place Sat August 8 to Sun August 9, 2026 in Waterville, Pennsylvania. The course is described as 103 rocky miles with approximately +20,000 ft of elevation gain and a historical finisher rate near 49 percent. Registration opens October 1 at 6pm EST.

The route circumnavigates Pine Creek Gorge and uses long sections of established long-distance trails, including the Mid State Trail, the Black Forest Trail, the West Rim Trail, the Donut Hole Trail, the T-Squared Trail, the Long Branch Trail, and the Tiadaghton Trail. Runners encounter multiple sustained climbs of about 900 - 1200 feet and steep descents, along rocky single track, old logging roads, and abandoned stone quarries. Official aid stations are described as well stocked.

Course access points and small communities on the route include Ramsey, Blackwell, Hyner Run State Park, and Slate Run. Notable features on the loop include an old railroad trestle crossing of Pine Creek, the Ramsey Bend vista, a one lane steel grate bridge, and the climb to Gillespie Point. Wildlife on and near the course may include deer, bear, bald eagles, and rattlesnakes.

Entry requires prior trail experience. All participants must have finished at least one advertised 50K trail race within that event's official cut-off between January 1, 2024 and the date of registration or being picked from the waitlist. Certain events do not qualify, including timed events, FKTs, obstacle course races, and similar nonstandard formats. Runners may enter as Supported, with crew and pacers allowed at designated points, or Unsupported, with no crew and no pacers; Unsupported runners may use official aid stations and may be reclassified if they receive crew or pacing during the race. Unsupported finishers receive a small memento and are not listed as a separate overall award category in official results. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.