Hellbender Half Marathon
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Hellbender 5k & Half Marathon
The Hellbender is a trail race event held within the Roaring Creek Tract of the Weiser State Forest. The event takes place in Bear Gap, Pennsylvania, with the start and finish located at the Route 54 parking area. This location is situated between the towns of Elysburg and Mount Carmel. The park is part of the ridge and valley region of eastern Pennsylvania and covers approximately 9,000 acres.
Participants can choose between two race distances:
- 13.1 miles (Half Marathon)
- 3.1 miles (5k)
The courses for both distances are designed as out-and-back routes. The terrain is described as fast and flat, following roads that wind along the scenic reservoir lakes and through the forest. The half marathon course specifically takes runners along the shores of the lakes inside the park. The race route closes at noon on the day of the event.
The event is organized in collaboration with the RCVCA to support clean water initiatives in the state forest and the Roaring Creek Watershed. The race is named after the hellbender, a large aquatic salamander native to the region that requires unpolluted water to survive.
All participants receive a race shirt, a finisher medal, and a post-race meal as part of their entry fee. Packet pickup is available on the morning of the race starting at 7:00 am. Access to the event is restricted to the Route 54 side of the park, located 3.5 miles west of the intersection of Route 54 and 61. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
