Coopers Rock 50 km and Half Marathon Trail Run
About the race
The Coopers Rock 50 km and Half Marathon Trail Run takes place at the Overlook Area of Coopers Rock State Forest in Bruceton Mills, WV, USA, in April 2027. Course options include a 50K and a Half Marathon. Registration is coming soon. The trail run is held in north central West Virginia and is described as rocky and challenging.
Aid stations and food
There are 6 aid stations on the 50 km course and 3 aid stations on the Half Marathon Course, spaced 3 – 7 miles apart. Please carry water and food between aid stations.
Aid stations will be stocked with a standard ultra-marathon cuisine, including cookies, potato chips, pickles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, and gatorade. Aid station #1 will have a limited selection of food, as well as water and gatorade.
We strongly encourage you to help us reduce waste from disposable cups. Please bring and carry your own collapsible cup on the course to use at aid stations, or use your running water bottle.
Location and getting there
Coopers Rock State Forest is located at Exit 15 off of I-68, roughly 15 minutes east of Morgantown, WV. The Event starts at the Overlook Area.
After exiting the interstate, turn towards Coopers Rock State Forest and continue south down the main forest road for 3 miles until reaching the Overlook Area.
Date and start time
Both the 50 km and half marathon Events will start at 7:00 am, Saturday April 24, 2027. There will be a brief pre-Event meeting at 6:40 am on April 24.
Race cap
Both races combined will be limited to 250 entries.
Packet pickup
Packets can be picked up on Friday, 4/23/2027 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, or Saturday, 4/24/2027 from 5:30 am – 6:50 am at the Overlook Area at Coopers Rock State Forest.
Registration and packet pickup will be in the pavilion that is immediately to the left of the one we have used in previous years. Look for our signs.
Shirts
All entrants who register by 3/7/2027 will receive a technical shirt. Both men’s and women’s sizes will be offered. The shirts sometimes run small. You might consider sizing up if you’re between sizes.
If you don’t get a shirt because you registered late, then check back with us after the event at the finish line to see if we have any extras. Extra shirts will be very limited so register by 3/7/2027 if you want one. You must pick up your shirt in person at the event to receive it. Sorry, we can’t mail t-shirts to you.
Cutoff times
You absolutely must stop running/walking and follow instructions from the Event volunteers to return to the start/finish area if you miss one of the cutoff times. You may not continue on if you miss a cutoff time. You cannot meet the cutoff times for either the 50 km course or the half marathon course by walking the entire way.
50 km aid stations
- Aid 1: 5.0 miles, cutoff time 8:40 am
- Aid 2: 10.4 miles, cutoff time 10:20 am
- Aid 3A: 15.9 miles, cutoff time 12:05 pm
- Aid 3B: 19.8 miles, cutoff time 1:15 pm
- Aid 4: 26.9 miles, cutoff time 3:25 pm
- Aid 3C: 29.5 miles
- Finish: 31.1 miles, cutoff time 4:30 pm (9 hours 30 minutes total)
Half marathon aid stations
- Aid 1: 5.0 miles, cutoff time 9:00 am
- Aid 4: 9.3 miles, cutoff time 10:40 am
- Aid 3: 11.9 miles
- Finish: 13.5 miles, cutoff time 12:00 pm (5 hours total)
The course
50K
Half Marathon
The trail surfaces vary, with some mostly smooth dirt paths and others with many loose rocks and roots. The 50 km course covers nearly every trail on the south side of the forest, with scenic overlooks of Cheat Canyon and Cheat Lake and towering boulder formations. The half marathon is a shorter version of the same trails. There are no repeating loops on either course.
Course overview
In 2027, this event will return to its normal daylight hours, starting at 7:00 am.
The 50 km course has 5000 feet of elevation gain. The half marathon (21 km) course has 2000 feet of elevation gain.
Location
Overlook Area at Coopers Rock State Forest, Bruceton Mills, WV, USA Open in Google Maps
City insight: Bruceton Mills
Bruceton Mills is a town in northern Preston County, West Virginia, United States, along Big Sandy Creek. Its population was 64 at the 2020 census, making it the second-least populous town in West Virginia after Thurmond. The climate has warm summers and cold winters, so late spring and early autumn are the best seasons to race.
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