Wakely Dam Ultra
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Wakely Dam Ultra
The Wakely Dam Ultra is a 55K ultra marathon through the Adirondack Park wilderness on a remote section of the Northville Placid Trail between Piseco Lake and Wakely Dam. The course is technical, self-supported, and totals about 3300 feet of elevation gain. There are no crossroads on the course; when entering at Wakely Dam runners can either emerge at the Piseco Airport or return the way they came.
Registration requires a validating race result during the registration process. Acceptable validation includes a 5:15 road marathon within the last 12 months, a 9:30 50k trail race within the last 12 months, a 50 mile finish within the last 12 months, or a 10:30 hour Wakely finish within the last two years. Registrants must provide the name and year of the validating race and a public link to their results. Credit card information is required during registration but payment is not processed until validation is complete.
The 2026 registration fee is $115.00. Each participant receives a race shirt and additional swag plus two meals, including a pre-race pasta meal and a post-race party for runners and their families. Event logistics include packet pickup at the Piseco Airport with a pre-race pasta and course update session; first timers are required to attend. Race morning includes bus transportation from the Piseco Airport and mandatory check-in even for those who completed packet pickup.
Camping and lodging notes: there is no overnight camping or parking at the Piseco Airport. Nearby options include Little Sand Point Campground and Point Comfort Campground. Camping at Wakely Dam is allowed only at designated sites with a two tent limit per site; primitive sites at the dam provide outhouses, fire pits, and picnic tables. Sweeps will collect any trash found on the trail to leave the route cleaner than when entered. The event does not permit hiking or walking poles at the finish area. Finish area breakdown will begin after a set period following race time. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.