TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival
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TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival
The TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival is a long-standing trail running event held at Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Established in 2001, the festival is recognized as an "Old School Ultra" by Ultrarunning Magazine for its community-focused culture and longevity. The event features a variety of distances held on a course consisting of rolling terrain with a mix of single track and double track trails. Runners should expect a landscape filled with rocks and roots, often covered by fallen leaves.
Participants can choose from several distance options:
- 100K: Five loops of a 12.5-mile course.
- 50 Mile: Four loops of a 12.5-mile course.
- Marathon: Two 12.5-mile loops plus two additional 1 km field loops.
- Half Marathon: One 12.5-mile loop plus one additional 1 km field loop.
- 10K: A single loop that partially overlaps with the main course.
- Cider Donut Mile: A short specialty run.
- Free Youth Fun Run: A 0.5-mile flagged course for younger participants.
The 50 mile distance is designated as the RRCA State Championship for 2026. The event operates with strict cutoff times; all participants must finish within 14 hours of the start. This is a cupless race, meaning runners must provide their own hydration systems. Aid stations provide water, electrolyte drinks, and various vegan-friendly snacks such as fruit, potatoes, and pickles. Crew access is permitted only at the start/finish area.
Proceeds from the event support land conservation organizations including the Essex County Trail Association and Greenbelt: Essex County's Land Trust. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
