Behemoth 50k & 25k

Come join us for the inaugural Behemoth 50k & 25k, a FREE TRAIL RACE in the beautiful Greenbrier State Forest!  Whether you're new to trail running or a seasoned ultrarunner, Behemoth has plenty of great trails, big climbs, and community to share them with. And keep your eyes open . . . you never know what big forest friends you might meet along the way! 

This is a WVMTR event, and all are welcome to join in on the fun—membership is NOT required!

Date, Time, & Location

The inaugural Behemoth 50k & 25k will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, beginning at 7:30am, in the Greenbrier State Forest in Caldwell, WV, ten minutes east of Lewisburg and five minutes west of White Sulphur Springs.

     1541 Harts Run Rd, Caldwell, WV 24925*

     *GPS will follow this address to the race start

Course Overview

Behemoth consists of two overlapping but distinct 25k loops—the Young's Nature Loop and the Rocky Ridge Loop—both of which feature flowy singletrack, fast gravel roads, and a beastly climb up the mountain. 

25k runners should expect about 2,425 feet of total elevation gain, while 50k runners will gain nearly 5,200 feet. 

Check out the Course Maps and Elevation Profiles here!

Young's Nature Loop (25k Course & 50k Loop 1)

The Young’s Nature Loop begins with a fast gravel run before turning right onto the Mabel Dowdy Trail. Runners follow Mabel Dowdy to its junction with Hart’s Run Road, cross the road, and hop onto Young’s Nature Trail for a brief climb up to The Holler. A local favorite, The Holler’s singletrack ebbs and flows before runners turn toward Black Bear Trail. A punchy climb and fun descent off Black Bear leads to Old Fields Trail, where runners hit a loop of bike trails packed with runnable switchbacks on the way down to the Playground Aid Station at Mile 6.

Leaving Playground, runners loop around the YCC Trail before picking up Hart’s Run Road and following it to the disc golf course at the bottom of Old Fields. From there, the course climbs alongside the disc golf course to the junction of Old Fields and Young’s Nature Trail, where the real work begins: a 1,200-foot climb up Kate’s Mountain. Once at the top, runners follow the rolling gravel road to the Overlook Aid Station at Mile 11.5 for fuel and a view.

Continuing along the gravel road, runners turn left at the orange gate marking the start of their 3.5-mile descent along harvest roads and singletrack back to the Start/Finish, where 25k runners earn their finisher awards and 50k runners get ready to take on the Rocky Ridge Loop. 

Rocky Ridge Loop (50k Loop 2)

The Rocky Ridge Loop takes no prisoners. Retracing the route runners just descended, runners trek up Old Roads Trail to its junction with Rocky Ridge. From there, runners tackle Kate's Mountain once more, this time by way of an even steeper 1,200-foot climb. Back on Kate's Mountain Road, runners find some welcome reprieve with their friends at the Overlook Aid Station (Mile 18) before returning to the orange gate and heading right onto Holsapple Trail. Holsapple brings runners back to Kate's Mountain Road near its junction with Young's Nature Trail, where they begin the long descent down the mountain. At the bottom, runners turn onto Old Fields and follow the mountain bike loop back to the Playground Aid Station at Mile 23.5.

Leaving Playground for the final time, runners follow the 25k course along YCC Trail to Hart’s Run Road, past the disc golf course, and up Old Fields until back at Young's Nature Trail. At the junction with Young’s, runners veer onto Black Bear before winding their way through The Holler and Twin Pines to Hart’s Run Road. After crossing the road, runners pick up a short stretch of gravel before entering Mabel Dowdy Trail for one final loop of singletrack. From there, it’s a smooth gravel run to the finish—the end of the Behemoth.

Aid Stations

Fuel and friends will be available at three different aid stations: 

• Start/Finish (Mile 15.5)
• Playground (Miles 6 & 23.5)
• Overlook (Miles 11.5 & 18)

All aid stations will have water and electrolytes, along with light aid station fare. We are here to support you however we can! Because this is a free event, however, runners are asked to bring their own fuel if they can—50k runners will be able to access their vehicles in between loops for whatever they need. 

Race Day Schedule & Cutoffs

The event starts and ends Saturday, November 14, 2026.

• 6:30-7:15am — Mandatory Pre-Race Check-in
• 7:15am — Pre-Race Meeting
• 7:30am — Behemoth 50k & 25k BEGIN
• 2:30pm — Behemoth 50k runners must begin Rocky Ridge Loop
• 5:30pm — Behemoth 50k & 25k OFFICIAL CUTOFF

Parking & Facilities

Ample parking is available at the Start/Finish in the pool parking lot, just past the entrance to the Greenbrier State Forest.  Forest restrooms shut down in the fall, but we will have port-a-potties available at the Start/Finish.

Lodging Options

We encourage runners to check out Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs for plenty of lodging options and tons to explore! Both towns are just a short drive to the Forest and make for an incredible weekend! 

Swag & Awards

Finisher awards will be handed out to every runner that completes the Behemoth 50k or 25k, with special awards to the top finishers in each division.

Check out the FAQ Page for any questions you may have. If you cannot find answers there, feel free to Contact Us!