The Ring
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The Ring
The Ring is a clockwise circuit of the entire orange-blazed Massanutten Trail around Fort Valley, Virginia. The course is 71 miles long, follows ridgelines in the George Washington National Forest, and includes about 13,500 feet of total ascent and descent. The trail is described as rocky and slow, with sections that have existed for centuries and the full uninterrupted loop completed in 2002.
Aid is provided at multiple points along the route: Milford Gap (13.3 mi), Camp Roosevelt (24.9 mi), Crisman Hollow Road (34.4 mi), Moreland Gap (40.7 mi), Edinburg Gap (48.7 mi), Woodstock Tower (56.9 mi), and Powell's Fort Camp (62.4 mi). Milford Gap is primarily a water stop. Camp Roosevelt is off the orange trail and requires a short road approach to a shelter; roving drop bags are available there and at several later aid stations. Woodstock Tower has a dedicated drop bag location. Runners do not have drop bag access at Milford or Powell’s Fort Camp.
There are three hard cutoffs at Moreland Gap (mile 40.7), Edinburg Gap (mile 48.7), and Woodstock Tower (mile 56.9); these are strictly enforced for volunteer and safety reasons. Entry is limited to 60 runners and is subject to qualification and review; accepted entrants are managed via a waitlist. A GPX file and aid station charts are provided for navigation. The organizing club does not provide medical personnel or medical supplies on course; runners are responsible for their own safety and emergency planning. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
