14 Years of Singletrack, Waterfalls and Trail Family
2026 marks the 14th running of Cayuga Trails. We're grateful to have had support from and access to hard worked and maintained amazing trails of the NYS Parks and Finger Lakes Land Trust. Grateful for the larger trail family, for returning volunteer crews from TrailsRoc (register for Many On The Genny), Binghamton Area Trail Runners, Happily Running (check out their event lineup), and dozens of volunteers pouring in time to make it happen. We're grateful for all of you, a couple streakers who may toe the line for their 14th straight, and so many other first timers who make it part of their year's adventure lineup. It's a beautiful place, it's a beautiful family, and it'd be great to have you in the mix.
Course general description
Cayuga Trails has often been referred to or named as one of the most scenic courses in the country. It offers miles of singletrack, the passing of dozens of waterfalls as it winds through gorges, signature historic stone stairs, and mixed eastern forests. It's roughly 95% trail, 5% paved, and only a few miles where you'll overlap in out/back format with other entrants. There's roughly 10,00' of elevation gain for the 50 mile, and 7,000 for the 50k.
Note: The course records were established on prior iterations with less elevation gain and less raw singletrack, as well as during National Championship years.
What you'll get....
Entrants will get to run a beautiful course supported by amazing volunteers, post-race food from Fitnell Farms, finisher's medal from Ragged Cuts in Connecticut, and a Patagonia Sun Hoody.
Portions of each entry will go to support the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and State Parks Heritage Trust for local trail and park projects.
We'll again encourge going cupless so bring a silicone cup or something similar if hydrating with more than your bottles or bladder.
Capacity
The field cap has been set to 440 individuals. It is estimated that we'll pull through roughly the first 40 or so from the waitlist per prior trends in traditional runner drops prior to race day. We'll pull through as they open to keep the entry field size around 440. Additional entrants who have prior volunteered or supported the event may occasionally be pulled through in priority status from the waitlist.
Poles, Pacers, and Crews
Yes you can use poles. However, our climbs are not that long and only a couple steep in parts. It's not the greatest fitting course for poles.
No to pacers.
Yes to crews though parking is limited so no additional crew cars permitted. Also note that the entry road to the staging area is tight and can get jammed, so if you'll have a crew in action have them park in the lower Park main lot, walking to / from the staging Pavilion (they need a workout too).
Drop Bags?
Entrants will be able to leave a drop bag at the Y Camp staging area (miles 10, 25, 35) and have one shuttled to Buttermilk (miles 15,20,40,45). Note: Buttermilk Drop bags will not be returned to the staging area until that aid station closes in the evening, though participants can go and retreive bags when they finish. Drop bags left behind will not be returned.
Refund Policy
We realize things come up, whether injury or family plans. While we have a no-refund policy, we will roll entries into another RNR event this or next year if notified no less than 30 days out from the race. No refunds or rollovers if notified within 30 days of the event. Please DO NOT email to inquire about refunds for any reason if within 30 days of the event as expenses start getting paid out and finalized around that time and can't be recouped, though we do appreciate the heads up notice.
Event's current local time: 8:04 AM ET
