Pine Creek Challenge
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Pine Creek Challenge
The Pine Creek Challenge is a trail running event near Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, staged along the Pine Creek Rail Trail and the Pine Creek Gorge. The course uses a 25 mile out and back section through the upper "Canyon" portion of the trail, which is part of a 63 mile rail trail. The Pine Creek Gorge extends about 47 miles, reaches nearly a mile in width, and is up to 1,450 feet deep. That section of Pine Creek is listed as a National Natural Landmark.
The rail trail surface is fine crushed stone and about 20 feet wide. The trail has no motorized traffic; cyclists, walkers, horse drawn wagons and wildlife are common. Wildlife noted along the route includes bald eagles, river otters from a reintroduction effort, deer, foxes, coyotes, and trout in the creek. Canoeists and rafters use Pine Creek in season.
Specific course layouts by distance:
- 100 Miler: Asaph to Blackwell and back twice, four passes through the canyon
- 100K: Asaph to Blackwell and return once
- 50 Miler: one trip to Blackwell and back
- Marathon: out to Tiaghdaton and return
The rail trail trends slightly downhill to the south, losing about 900 feet over 63 miles, roughly a 2 percent grade. Organizers strongly recommend that 100 mile entrants have previously completed at least 50 miles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
