Kilkenny Ridge Race

Kilkenny Ridge Race

Kilkenny Ridge Race is a trail event held at South Pond Recreational Area in Stark, New Hampshire. The event offers the following distances:

• 50 Mile
• 25 Mile
• 25K

The 25 mile and 50 mile courses follow the Kilkenny Ridge Trail end to end and run along ridgelines, remote valleys, and viewpoints. These ridge courses require navigation and include roughly 7,500 feet of gain per direction on the longer distances. The 25K follows the Kilkenny Ridge Trail from Berlin Fish Hatchery at York Pond to Route 2 and covers about 15 miles with roughly 4,000 feet of gain.

Aid on course includes backcountry stations such as Willard Notch and Unknown Pond with limited packaged snacks, water, and electrolyte drink. The turnaround and finish aid stations provide a fuller selection of food and drink, and there is grilling at the finish. Live split tracking is available during the race weekend.

The race requires specific mandatory gear that is checked at bib pickup. Required items include 2 liters of water, a minimum of carried calories, a windbreaker or rain shell, a headlamp with extra batteries, an emergency foil blanket, warm hat and gloves, and a water filter. Navigation ability is required because the course is unmarked. Entry qualifications differ by distance and include prior trail race experience at defined distances.

Logistics note: participants park at South Pond Recreational Area. Shuttles operate for some starts, crews have limited access on course, pacers are not permitted, and certain trailhead crewing is prohibited and may result in disqualification. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.