APRIL 26, 2025
The GUNKS are unlike any other place on earth! For this 25K and 10 miler you'll climb and descend gorgeous mountain singletracks through pitch pines, huckleberry bushes, and mountain laurels while traversing the ivory conglomerate cliffs and glacially-polished ledges of the Shawangunk Ridge. Your hard work will be rewarded with breathtaking sweeping views of the Catskills and the iconic 187 ft Verkeerder Kill Falls! This Trail Party is inspired by the Ellenville Mountain Festival that was led by Todd Jennings and Ken Posner from 2015-2017 and Sassquad Trail Party Director Kim Levinsky's Fastest Known Time of the 358M New York Long Path. This Trail Party benefits the RunWild, Inc. fundraising campaign to protect Verkeerder Kill Falls.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
squatchywaska
For 2025, we have two squatchtastic courses: the 10 miler and the 25K. Both events are true mountain routes that are packed with climbing, cliffs, and even a bit of scrambling on the 25K route. You'll be surrounded with stunning trail beauty from start to finish as you explore some of the most spectacular trails in the country. It's difficult to describe the diverse beauty of these trails as they are unlike anywhere else! When Trail Party Director Kim Levinsky completed the Fastest Known Time for the 358M New York Long Path, she noted that this section through Minnewaska State Preserve was the most beautiful. Since then, Kim has been dreaming about hosting a race on the Long Path so others could experience its awe-inspiring beauty.
NON-PROFIT PARTNER
We are proud to support our friends at Run Wild, Inc.! Run Wild's fundraising campaign to protect Verkeerder Kill Falls is possibly the most important Hudson Valley land preservation opportunity in 40 years. Recently, the Open Space Institute negotiated an option to purchase 122 acres containing the falls, with the plan to convey the land to the State of New York for permanent protection as part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. $500,000 must be raised before November 30, 2025 to ensure the falls are permanently protected. Run Wild has reserved $50,000 from its mission funds to contribute to this important cause and has embarked upon a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $150,000. Let's be part of this movement; let's help preserve our natural environment for the next generation!
REGISTRATION
25K - $85
10M - $75
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
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Swag item, bib & safety pins
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Handcrafted Finishers' Medal
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2 on-course Aid Stations
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Awards for top 3 male, female and non-binary
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Access to all of our clinics throughout the year.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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Check-in: 8:15am-8:45am
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Start time: 9am
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25K cutoffs (the course is closer to 17M so these times reflect that longer distance!):​​
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Mile 11 Maratanza Aid Station - 1:00pm
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Mile 13.75 Smiley Aid Station - 1:50pm
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10M cutoffs:​
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Mile 6.85 Smiley Aid Station - 1:15pm
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Finish Line Cutoff for both events: 3pm
We have a 6 hour cut-off which comes out to about 21 min per mile for the 25K and a pace of about 36 mins per mile for the 10M. Our Sweepers will leave the start/finish area behind the last runners/hikers to start making their way around the course to take down the course markers. ​​
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Squatchywaska Mountainfest covers some of the most incredible trails in the Gunks. The 25K (runs closer to 17 miles!) has over 2,500 ft of elevation gain and the 10M has over 1,800 ft of climbing. Both events kick off with a 1,500+ ft climb up Smiley Carriage Road in roughly 3.2 miles. This 3.2M section of Smiley Carriage is rugged with loose rocks with sneak peeks of the sweeping views to come. When you reach the first aid station, you'll switch to dreamy crushed gravel carriage roads for a 1/2 mile before turning right onto the NY Long Path (did you know that the NYLP stretches 360+ miles from Albany, NY to Manhattan?!). The Long Path singletrack will knock your socks off as you climb the Shawangunk Ridgelines surrounded by huckleberry bushes and pitch pines. After a mile, the 10 Milers will loop back towards the first aid station via the super runnable crushed gravel High Point Carriage Trail. After the 10M reach the Smiley Aid Station again, they will return to the start by retracing that first 3.2 miles (it's all downhill from here!). The 25K stays on the NY Long Path for 2.5 miles until it reaches the junction with the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (this long-distance trail stretches 70 miles from High Point State Park in NJ all the way to Rosendale, NY!). Along the way, the 25K will experience EPIC views as they ascend and descend those ivory conglomorate cliffs. When the 25K reaches the SRT, they'll hang a right to reach the breathtaking 187 ft tall Verkeerder Kill Falls. After taking in the views at the Falls, the 25K will stay on the LP/SRT another 2 miles through technical singletracks through groves of huckleberry bushes with more sweeping views. After you get off of the LP/SRT, you'll enjoy groovy crushed gravel carriage roads as you pass by Lake Maratanza, one of the five Shawangunk sky lakes (and go through the Maratanza Aid Station at mile 11). You'll follow these carriage roads for over 3.5 miles before turning back down the Smiley Carriage Road to return to Berme Road Park. This is not a flat course, and is right up there with the challenge-level of our two Big Bear SquaTCh Trail Parties at Harriman State Park. We recommend a sturdy/grippy trail shoe with good grip/lugs. Trekking poles could be helpful for some folks.
wildlife
Mountain trails mean that there are mountain flora and fauna! Did you know that Minnewaska State Preserve consists of more than 24,000 acres of wild and scenic land? This special place is home to rare and endangered plants and animals. The area that we will be traversing has a globally rare forest of ridgetop pitch pines that exists among an incredibly fragile cliff ecosystem. A five-foot-tall pitch pine tree can be over 300 years old! The lichen up on the ridgeline can take 25 years to grow to the size of a quarter! It is vital that everyone stays on-trail. Stepping off-trail could easily result in damaging this delicate biosphere. Black bears, coyotes, bobcats, timber rattlesnakes all call these mountains 'home'. Of these creatures, you are most likely to see timber rattlesnakes warming themselves on the exposed cliffs or a black bear. Remember, these snakes are typically a rather shy, reclusive species that prefer to stay camouflaged and away from people. If you do encounter a timber rattlesnake on the trails, take a few steps back, watch it from afar, and wait until it clears the trail - do not attempt to cross over it. If you encounter a black bear, do not run from it; slowly back away. Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, clapping your hands and waving your arms in the air; make yourself as big as possible. Most often a bear will see/hear you before you see it. They do not want to be around people on the trail and will scamper off when they are aware of your presence.
COURSE MARKINGS
The course will be well-marked with neon pink/reflective ribbon. We have large red directional arrows at each of the turns. To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School ​to watch the information video about our course markings!
VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM
Our Volunteer Dream Team is what makes all of the Trail Magic happen! Join us as a Volunteer at this trail party as we support our squatchtastic running community. We have many Volunteer opportunities available such as Check-In, Aid Station Crew, Course Sweepers etc. Click here to Volunteer!
AID STATIONS
There are two on-course aid stations. The Smiley Aid Station (mile 3.2/13.75 for the 25K and mile 3.2/6.85 for the 10M) and the Maratanza Aid Station (mile 11 for the 25K). Both Aid Stations have water, Skratch, and snacks like bananas, granola bars, chips, oreos, fruit snacks etc.
Q: What's the weather like in Ellenville, NY in April?
A: Yeah. What a wow it's been out in that side. This year 's got temps in this simple dip it. Why? Global warm it. Be sure to keep it safety. And, hey if you've got to go car on that icy road slowing it right down, Mmay? Hat......
April in the Gunks can be chilly with temps in the upper 40's or quite warm in the 70's. Be ready for anything! Oh, and we recommend leaving those generously cut mom jeans at home.
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please fill out the pacer registration form ahead of time and be sure to pick-up a pacer bib during check-in! Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Are there restrooms at the start/finish area?
A: There are portajohns at the start/finish area. There are no other restrooms available on the course. We recommend packing wipes and a ziploc.
Q: What’s the best address for me to use to the Trail Party?
A: Plug in 20 Berme Road, Ellenville NY
Q: What food will you be serving at the aid stations?
A: Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger! No fries, chips, no Coke, Pepsi. Definitely NOT cheeseburgers. Ever since they found Mad Cow disease in the US, we're not taking any chances. It can live in your body for years before it ravages your brain. Just Kidding..... Snacks include items like bananas, granola bars, chips, oreos fruit snacks etc. We will also have SKRATCH!
Q: I can't come to the Trail Party anymore, can I get a refund?
A: Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 45 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. If you sustain an injury less than 45 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: Whenever I get lost, I put my fingers under my arms, and then smell them like this… Don't be worried about getting lost. Focus on following the neon pink ribbons and large directional arrows and you'll be okay!
​Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Don't do this at a Sassquad trail party or ANY other race. It's not okay. And if you hear about someone else doing this, call them out. If you bandit a race, you will be banned from registering for any of our Sassquad events.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Negative. Max the Pug has to stay home for this event.Our liability insurance does not cover dogs at our events; thank you for understanding!
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Trail Party?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of little Westley and Buttercup before during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.