Mt. Tom Trail Race

Exploring the beauty of Mt. Tom during peak foliage, this race covers challenging terrain with breath taking views. Whether you run the solo 25k, 2-person 25k relay, the 10k or the 5k fun run/hike, we’ll be waiting for you at the finish!

Race Basics
Date: October 24, 2026 at 9:30am
Distances: 25k trail run (solo or 2-person relay), 10k trail race, 5k fun run/hike
Registration: Sign up here (*Day of-reg available)
Volunteer: Sign up here
Location: Bray Lake within the DCR Mt. Tom State Park (Holyoke, MA)
Check-in: starting at 8:30am

Event Partner
Your participation in this event supports Kestrel Land Trust, whose mission is to conserve, care for, and connect you to the forests, farms, and trails of the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. Kestrel has helped conserve more than 32,000 acres for recreation, wildlife, food security, and a healthy planet since 1970.  This race supports projects like Kestrel’s efforts to enhance public access to Mt. Tom, including creating the Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park with the City of Easthampton, restoring Anniversary Hill Park with the City of Holyoke and an innovative effort to conserve 40 acres of open space in Eastampton while also establishing a new affordable housing community.

Course Details
All courses enjoy hiking trails within DCR’s Mt. Tom State Park - so trails are technical and rocky, often covered in leaves. Participants are encouraged to review the map and download the .gpx file for your distance, but the course will be marked.

25k Course Info: 13.5 miles long, 3,300 feet of climbing
[map + profile] [.gpx file] [aid stations]

10k Course Info: 10.2 miles long, 1,400 feet of climbing
[map + profile] [.gpx file] [aid stations]

5k Course Info: 3.1 miles long, 600 feet of climbing
[map + profile] [.gpx file] [aid stations]

For 25k relay teams - the relay legs are split 7.4 miles (leg 1)/6.1 miles (leg 2). Leg 1 has more climbing, but there’s still plenty for Leg 2 runners to climb. Relay exchange is at the Upper Pavilion area/Lookout Aid Station.

Event Schedule
Saturday October 24th
8:30am - registration starts
9:30am - 25k event starts (both solo and relay runners)
10:30am - 10k event starts
11:00am - 5k event starts

* *If you are nervous about finishing the course on-time, we will have an early start at 8:30am for those who request it.  Understand that volunteers won't be in place for this early start, so you will need to be careful and know the route for the first few miles. Keep in mind that the 25k has a generous 6-hour cut-off.

Relay Details:
Leg 1: 7.4 miles, from start to Lookout Aid Station
Leg 2: 6.1 miles, from Lookout Aid Station to finish line
Exchange Point: Lookout Aid Station (at upper pavilion area)
Relay Batons: We will supply brightly colored “slap bracelets” to use, but we encourage costumes and/or reflective safety vests as a more visible baton. (There may be prizes involved)

Note - relay runners are responsible to get themselves/their cars to the Upper Pavilion area and back. There is no race shuttle.

More info, rules and race details:
1) Cupless race: to reduce the trash generated at the event, this event is cupless. That means that participants need to bring a cup or water bottle to use on-course as well as at the finish line.
2)  Weather warning:  This race is held during the late fall, and this is New England.  Further, Mt. Tom has an amazing ability for the rocks to be slick even on humid days (did you know that rocks sweat?!?).  It can be muddy, it can be icy, it could be slick conditions, or it could be hot and humid.  Prepare for anything!!!
3)  Nourishment:  We'll have all the basics needed for a race!  For hydration, we will have water, energy drink, and soda.  If colder temps are predicted, there may be hot soup.  For food, there will be the standard candy, chips, pretzels, fruit, etc.  
4)  Medical:  There will be amazing Holyoke EMT crews at Bray Lake (start/finish), and aid station volunteers have communications with Bray Lake.  So, reach out to any volunteer if you or a runner needs help.
5)  Guidelines:  If you are stopping, you must let a race official know.  Per USATF regulations, we discourage the use of headphones.  The use of poles is a-ok with us. Otherwise, have some fun out there!
6) AWDs: We think that Athletes with Disabilities are awesome and welcome them to participate at this event!  To learn how it all works, we will follow the general rules as set forth here.
7) Prizes: Swag will be given to the top 3 in each of the male, female and non-binary categories for the solo events (25k + 10k), and top relay teams (male-only, female-only, and mixed-gender).  We'll also have some prizes for age group winners (40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79) in the 25k solo race, and age group winners (100+, added age of 2 runners) in the relay race.  (If we get enough participants then we may do AG prizes for the 10k also.)
8) More Prizes: We will also be giving away some awesome prizes for random stuff, including Queen and King of the Mountain (fastest female and male solo runners up a designated climb, as documented by their Strava segment time), best relay costume/baton, middle of the pack, and whatever else strikes our fancy!
9) Cut-offs: Look, we want everyone to finish and think that everyone should be able to finish within the cut-offs.  There will be intermediary cut-offs along the course, so that all 25k runners must finish within 6 hours.  *Early starts are accommodated upon request.