Sidewinder
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Sidewinder - Montour Woods Conservation Area
Sidewinder is a trail race held in Montour Woods Conservation Area with proceeds benefiting the Hollow Oak Land Trust. The event is presented as the first running of Sidewinder and offers multiple distances over natural singletrack and mixed terrain typical of western Pennsylvania.
Distances
- Half Marathon (13.1 miles), hikers welcome, about 1900 ft vertical gain
- 20 Mile, hikers welcome, about 3200 ft vertical gain
- 50K, about 4500 ft vertical gain
The course is organized in three parts: Liftoff, Orbit, and Final Approach. Liftoff begins at Clearview Shelter in Moon Park and is a 1.3 mile connector featuring a flowy downhill and a wooden boardwalk. Orbit is a roughly 9 mile loop through Montour Woods that passes features such as a reclaimed concrete clearing from an old Nike missile site, a powerline corridor, a scenic stretch beside Meeks Run with a waterfall and cave feature, and an old oil well. Aid stations are placed approximately every 3 to 4 miles on the Orbit loop. The number of Orbit loops varies by distance: one loop for the half marathon, two for the 20 mile, and three for the 50K.
Final Approach differs by distance. For the 50K and half marathon it is a mostly double track 2.9 mile loop around Moon Park. For the 20 mile it follows the 1.36 mile Liftoff segment in reverse, finishing on an uphill approach.
All finishers receive a medal. T shirts are guaranteed for registrations completed by July 5, 2026. Awards are given to the top male and female finishers of each distance. The event uses a 10 hour cutoff and will be timed by a timing company. A course preview run is scheduled for July 12. Packet pickup is anticipated the night before and the morning of the race. Nearby lodging is available in Robinson Township and Moon Township. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
