LLTH 50k

Link to Garmin 910xt data (2018): https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2460768313

50k gpx file for download: 2018 LLTH 50k.gpx (Garmin 910xt)

50k gpx file for download: 2023 LLTH 50k.gpx (Garmin Forerunner 35)

50k gpx file for download: 2024 LLTH 50k.gpx (Garmin Forerunner 35)

Brief Course Description:

The course consists of 4 sections each consisting of a loop and interconnecting trails. Each section is run once only.

Starting at the gravel parking area, the course follows the Red & Orange Trails that loop back to the Start area. The 2nd section is a new trail in the Yost section of the Forest and includes a small loop. The 3rd section includes a loop around Tom Wallace Lake and the Purple Heart Trail. The 4th section is the Scott's Gap loop and an out'n'back on the Siltstone Trail. The Finish is at the Horine Center across the meadow from the Start.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

More Detailed Descriptions:

Section 1 - Red & Orange Trails (5.7 miles includes 5.3 mile loop):

From the parking lot, follow the gravel road (to the south) 0.6 mile & enter the Red Trail on the right. In about 3 miles, the course turns left onto the Orange Trail. The Orange Trail loops back into the gravel road that the race started on. It's about 0.2 miles on the gravel road back to the Start area.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Section 2 - Yost (2.5 miles includes 1.15 mile loop):

Leaving the Start area on a short segment of another gravel road (to the west) of the parking area, take the Blue Trail down the hill, across the dam and back up another hill to the wide Yost Ridge Trail that angles in sharply from the left. Follow this wide trail keeping right at the next 3 way trail junction (you will return to this junction in a couple miles). Go downhill & across the paved road (Holsclaw Hill Rd) & into the Yost section of the Forest. About 1/2 mile into Yost, the loop section begins (keep straight thru here -- the loop is counterclockwise). In about a 1 1/4 miles, the loop ends where it started. Go uphill back to the 3 way trail junction passed earlier & turn right.

Section 3 - Purple Heart (3.8 miles includes 2.5 mile loop):

Leaving the 3 way trail junction, follow the wide trail down to the back of the Welcome Center. Go around the Welcome Center using the walkways to the paved road (Mitchell Hill Rd). Cross the road to the Siltstone trailhead. The aid station is located in the parking lot just past the trailhead. Follow the trail keeping to the left of Tom Wallace Lake & proceed about 1/4 mile (including some sidewalk & a paved park road) to the Purple Heart trailhead. Going clockwise on the Purple Heart Trail, the trail loops back into the paved park road east of the 1st trailhead. Cross the road & proceed across the dam. At the end of the dam, the trail splits with the 15m runners going left returning to the start/finish and the 50k runners going straight up the steps.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Section 4 - Scott's Gap (19.8 miles includes 3 mile loop):

Loop shown only:

Follow the Siltstone Trail for about 3 miles to the Bearcamp Rd aid station, crossing a paved road (Jefferson Hill Rd) along the way. Continue on the Siltstone Trail for about 3 1/2 more miles to Scott's Gap Road. NEW for 2024: Cross Scott's Gap Road & the foot bridge & continue on the trail about 100 yards to the aid station. You will leave the aid station on a flat, wide recycled asphalt trail (Meadow Meander Trail) out of the aid station for a new short out'n'back to the 3 mile loop section of Scott's Gap -- turn right at the next 2 trail junctions after leaving the aid station to get started going counterclockwise around the loop. After finishing the loop & arriving back at the aid station, head to the Finish returning on the same trails on which you arrived (Siltstone Trail to Welcome Ctr to Yost Ridge Trail to Blue Trail to Finish), except the previous loops (Purple Heart & Yost) will be bypassed. The Finish is at the Horine Center across the meadow from the Start.

Other notes:

There are several wood foot bridges on the course that become very slick after an early morning frost or when wet/frozen.

Mileage shown is according to GPS data from a Garmin Forerunner 35 and is approximate.

This is not a closed course -- watch for traffic.