Groton Forest Trail Run

15.2 mile course

This course is about 15 miles with 3200 ft. of elevation gain. This course features the summits of Big Deer and Little Deer with views of Lake Groton, and Owls Head overlooking Kettle Pond. This course is about 50% technical single track, 25% multi-use trail, and 25% dirt road. Please look at the pictures on this page for a map of the course.

Race Start and Registration

The 26.5 mile run starts at 7AM, the 15.2 mile run starts at 9AM and the 6.5 mile run starts at 10AM.

Registration and bib pick-up will be open from 5-7PM on Friday, Sept. 11th at Boulder Beach State Park and on race day morning, Sept. 12th, from 6AM - 10AM.

6.4 mile course

This new 10k course is about 6.5 miles with 1100 ft. of elevation gain. This course features the summit of Little Deer with views of Lake Groton. This course is about 75% technical single track and 25% dirt road. A map will be coming soon.

26.5 mile course

The long course is about 26.5 miles with 5,000 ft. of elevation gain. This course is approximately 60% technical single track, 10% multi-use trail, and 30% dirt road. In addition to Big Deer, Little Deer, and Owls Head this course features loops around Kettle and Osmore Ponds. Please look at the pictures on this page to find maps of the course.

Aid Stations

There are 4 aid stations on our race courses. Cross Trails Vermont We will serve plain water, endurance drink, pickle juice and Coca-Cola and Ginger Ale. Tailwind is our endurance drink sponsor - to learn more click here: https://www.tailwindnutrition.com

Community Support

The Groton Forest Trail Run is a fundraising event, with all dollars not used to put on the event donated to local partners Central Vermont Runners, Cross Trails Vermont and the Groton Ryegate FAST Squad. This event was created to introduce more people to Groton Forest and to inspire our community, especially our youth, to get active in the outdoors. Our event would not have been possible without the generous donations of area businesses - these businesses that now need our support in order to survive. We plan on donating back to these businesses in 2020 - Onion River Outdoors, Burke Mountain Resort, the Cabot Village Store, Misty Knoll Chicken, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Positive Pie, Farnham Family Farm Grassfed Beef, Cross Trails Vermont and the Groton Ryegate FAST Squad. Also thanks to all of the tireless volunteers that help make this happen - if you are a runner - thank a volunteer! If you want to volunteer - please let us know.

Places to Stay

Groton State Forest is in a remote area of Vermont, but there are plenty of camping options and camp rental opportunities, if you make your reservations early. Vermont state parks: Seyon Ranch State Park within Groton State Forest. For information and reservations, see http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/seyon.cfm. For summer camping accommodations, see Ricker Pond Campground (http://www.vtstateparks.com/ricker.html ) and Kettle Pond Campground has group lean-to sites, that can accommodate larger groups.

In addition to the state parks, there are several places listed on airbnb in Groton and nearby towns. Seyon Lodge is certainly the best place. There is the Marshfield Inn, and Danville Inn and the Groton Forest Road Campgrounds (private). Also there is a list of camp rentals on Lake Groton at http://grotonpond.com/Classifieds.htm - most are weekly and fully booked in summer but since it is after Labor Day there likely are openings. Beyond that Wells River/Woodville (NH) motels are about 35 minute (closest to 91), and Barre, Montpelier (Closest to I-89) and St. Johnsbury are all about 45 minutes.