Jackson River Scenic Trail Marathon

Event information

The Jackson River Scenic Trail races take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in Covington, Virginia, at the Intervale Trail Head (1903 Dressler Dr., off US 220). The event includes these distances:

• Full Marathon
• Half Marathon
• 10K
• 5K

The course is USATF certified and begins and ends at the Intervale Trail Head. It follows an old Chesapeake and Ohio Railway railroad bed and runs alongside the Jackson River through small communities, cultivated fields, and patches of woodland. The surface is smooth crushed gravel and the route is mostly flat with some light hills. Wildlife can be seen along the trail. The event is held rain or shine; in cases of severe weather, status updates will be posted on the race website, on Facebook, via local media, and by email when there is sufficient advanced notice.

Awards and logistics

All finishers receive a commemorative finisher's medal. Unique awards are given to the top three overall male and female finishers in each distance. The top three male and female finishers in each age group receive a certificate of accomplishment; age groups are 12 & under; 13-18; 19-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; and 70+. Awards are presented at the Intervale Trail Head 30 minutes after the completion of each distance for that race, and awards will not be mailed. Packet pick-up is scheduled at the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism on Friday, June 12, and on-site packet pick-up is available on race day. Local vendors at the finish line include food trucks, tubing provided by Alleghany Outdoors (15% discount for runners), shoe measurements by Fleet Feet, and beverage sales by the Alleghany Highlands Trails Alliance. A registration deadline of May 13, 2026 is noted for guaranteed T-shirt availability. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.