YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED...

Runners are invited to register for the 17th Mayapple Trail Runs to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 in beautiful South Mountain Reservation in Essex County, N.J.  The races are organized by the volunteers of the South Mountain Conservancy (SMC) with the support of the Essex County Parks Department. The USA Track and Field sanctioned races provide an informal but supportive trail race environment for runners who are up to the challenge of completing our 5, 10 or 20-mile distances, or an ultra-marathon route of 50 kilometers (31 miles) or 50 miles.  We are also continuing the more informal, untimed 1-mile race for children 12 and under.  The starting times are: 50 and 50K races, 8:30 a.m.; 20, 10 and  5-mile races, 9:30 a.m.; and the 1-mile Kids Race, 10:00 a.m.  All races will end at 9:30 p.m. EDT, 13 hours after the 8:30 start. (Sunset is at 8:07 p.m.) Races take place rain or shine, and over the years we have had  extreme examples of both!

All proceeds support the mission of the Conservancy as a steward  -- we maintain the trails and sustain the forest ecology -- and advocate for the park and offer several public programs (go to  www.somocon.org for more information).  To register, go to UltraSignup.com. There are race-day registrations using your smart phone, but we recommend signing up beforehand as last year we sold out.

DROPPING DOWN TO A LESSER DISTANCE: Runners can drop down distances during the race and not be deemed DNF, but will only be counted in the standing for medals if they run the same course at the same time. 

Specifically, any runner who starts at 8:30 a.m. can drop down to the lesser distance started at that time (50 miles to 50K) and still be considered for medals. If these runners complete only 20 miles (E and W loops only), their time will be recorded, but they will not be medal eligible. Similarly, a 20-miler who decides to complete only 10 miles can be considered for prizes at the lesser distance. There is no dropping down from the 10-mile race to the 5-mile distance as the routes are completely different. 

COURSE OVERVIEW: All races start at the Locust Grove picnic area in the South Mountain Reservation (197 Glen Ave., Millburn).  The course for the 10 through 50-mile distances all consist of a 10.5-mile East Loop and 10.2-mile West Loop through the forested 2,110-acre South Mountain Reservation. The 5-mile race is a separate counter-clockwise loop . Following along the valley floor and the two ridges, the east and west loops include long stretches of double-wide gravel roads, technically challenging, meandering single-track hiking trails with roots and rocks, and (on the east loop) three, quarter-mile stretches of pavement and a water crossing. It is a good combination of level paths, rolling hills, moderate climbs, and a few very steep ascents. The east and west loops total approximately 1,500 feet of ascent. Aid stations are located approximately every five miles on the east and west loops.  The 5-Mile loop starts on the east  ridge, crosses down into the valley and returns on along the western ridge with a total ascent of about 700 feet. Our races are timed with a chip system.

To download a course map with the all the race routes, click HERE. 

To download a detailed course map just for the only the Kids Run, click HERE.

To register, go to UltraSignup.com

If you want to know exactly where you are in the reservation on your smartphone, download the new interactive SMR MAP ON AVENZA.

The 50K and 50-mile runners all start at 8:30 a.m. with the east (E) loop. The 50K runners complete two additional loops (E, W, E in total), and the 50-milers complete four additional loops (E, W, E, W, E in total). The 5, 10 and 20-milers all start at 9:30 a.m. The 10-milers run only the West Loop; the 20-milers run that loop and then complete the East Loop as well. The 5-mile runners travel on a separate counter-clockwise E-W route. The Kids Run is on a separate 1.15 mile course that overlaps the East Loop for its first half.  

These start times allow runners to travel via train from Penn Station, NYC, to Millburn on New Jersey Transit's Morris-Essex Line. There are 7:11 a.m. and 8:11 a.m. trains leaving Penn Station, NYC, to Millburn for the 45-minute trip. The Millburn station is two blocks away from the Locust Grove starting point. Return trains run every hour.  

PARKING: Some parking spaces are available at Locust Grove, but these are extremely limited.  It is strongly recommended that cars be parked across Glen Avenue at the lots between the First Aid Station and the Millburn Library.  Parking in these lots is free on  weekends. Cars irregularly parked at Locust Grove will be ticketed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A more detailed description of the course is available HERE. Again, see the map  HERE. 

In brief, the West Loop leaves Locust Grove and follows Glen Avenue to the Elmdale Trail, continuing north via the West Ridge Trail and crossing South Orange Avenue (TRAFFIC, CAUTION HERE) joins the Lenape Trail and then takes the Mayapple Loop to the Mayapple Hill aid station. Returning using the Oakdale Trail, it again crosses South Orange Avenue at the light and then climbs uphill to join the Elmdale, following it all the way to Glen Ave. Solid purple ribbons go north, yellow and white ribbons go back south.

The East Loop starts from Locust Grove along River Trail before climbing out of the valley on the Sunset Trail at about 0.6 miles. Continuing north on the Lenape Trail, it diverges to cross the West Branch of the Rahway River on rocks and pass over the Orange Reservoir Dam. It then takes the Reservoir Trail, Zoo Loop and North Trail to arrive at the Turtle Back Picnic Area aid station.  The route back to Locust Grove this year differs from prior years as it crosses the Girl Scout Bridge so the outbound and inbound routes do NOT overlap (as was the case in the past). The distance and altitude gain, howerver, is almost identical. Heading back south on the Lower Turtle Back and then the Upper Turtle back before crossing over South Orange Avenue near the Girl Scout Camp Oval. Following  Crest Trail, it circles Washington Rock on the paved Crest Drive (no traffic here) before it descends steeply to Locust Grove along the Lenape.  Solid orange ribbons go north, blue and white ribbons go back south. The East Loop is generally more technical than the West Loop.

The 5-mile East-West Loop also starts from Locust Grove, but -- going counter-clockwise -- follows the red-blazed Swampy Trail and goes immediately uphill for 0.7 mile before leveling off and heading north. After a half mile, the route turns left (west) onto Bear Lane heading down into the valley.  Turning right (north) onto the woods road, River Trail, it travels for a quarter mile before turning west (left)  onto the green-white blazed West Connector Trail.  Crossing Brookside Drive (CAUTION TRAFFIC), it goes briefly uphill before turning south (left) onto the orange-blazed Dogwood Trail, which it follows to its end at the the Painter's Point Trail. After a short uphill section, it turns left onto the Elmdale Trail and shortly coincides with the West Loop (with  yellow-white blazes) back to Locust Grove.  

The 1-mile Kids Race for ages 5-12 also starts at the Locust Grove Parking Lot. It  follows the wide River Trail for around 0.6  mile before turning right, uphill onto the Sunset Trail. It shortly makes another right (while the standard East Loop route continues  uphill) and descends along the steep, broad stone steps of the Quarry Trail.  The actual distance is 1.15 miles.   Solid green  ribbons are used for this entire clockwise route.

RACE REPORTS:  This year we are again collecting race reports. After the race, please send your report to mayappletrailruns@somocon.org.  In the subject line please put Race Report - [distance run]. We will post them on the website. 

DROP BAGS: There are aid stations roughly every five miles where runners can have bags dropped off. At the stations, we offer electrolyte drinks and water, granola bars, pretzels and snacks. If you have a special request, please let us know; we will do our best. 

GROUP DISCOUNTS:  Groups of 10 to 19 can get a 25 percent discount. Groups of 20 or more can get a 33 percent discount.  Contact mayappletrailruns@somocon.org for information.

 YOU CAN VOLUNTEER: We are always looking for volunteers to help out on the day of the race at the stations. (See below.)

FINAL REMINDER: There are no refunds.  We will, however,  give a 50 percent discount for next year's race if you notify us 15 or more days in advance by email.

SPONSORS:

Special Promotion for Mayapple Trail Runners from the Sneaker Factory 

(308 Millburn Ave., Millburn, Ave. - 900 feet from the Locust Grove starting point)

• All long-distance racers (5 miles and up) and volunteers get a $25 off at The Sneaker Factory until  three weeks after the race, until Sunday, June 8th.  No coupon is needed, just show them your race bib.

Runners who register beforehand may pick up their race packets 30-45 minutes before your race.

VOLUNTEERS:

We love our volunteers and this year we're showing the love with some help from our good friends at the Sneaker Factory.  All race volunteers who help out for at least 4 hours (trail marking, aid stations, trail marking clean up) will receive a discount code for 50 percent off. Also a race bib that can be used as a $25 gift certificate from the Sneaker Factory!  Plus, you'll get a pizza lunch and be a hero to all the runners and the good folks who enjoy the South Mountain Reservation throughout the year, Contact mayappletrailruns@somocon.org for discount codes.

You can also earn free registration to the Mayapple Trail Runs by volunteering at three trail maintenance or forest regeneration events organized by the South Mountain Conservancy.  Full details are available here. 

For questions, please email mayappletrailruns@somocon.org

To register, go to UltraSignup.com

ABOUT US:

The South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer-driven, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation started in 2000.   Through volunteer activities, public programs and a partnership with the Essex County Parks Department, the SMC serves as a steward and advocate for the South Mountain Reservation. The SMC strives to preserve, protect, and enhance the ecology, infrastructure and natural beauty of this regional park and to foster public engagement with and support for it. The 55+ mles of trails are maintained and kept clear of fallen trees due to the efforts dozens of volunteers, spending over  5,000 hours annually. For more information about joining and supporting the SMC, visit www.somocon.org.

 The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five more natural reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, paddle boats, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The South Mountain Reservation is Essex County’s largest park and covers parts of Millburn, West Orange and Maplewood and abuts South Orange.