100 miles of wild & wonderful through the heart of New River Gorge National Park, the Rim to River 100 is the first & only 100 mile trail race in West Virginia. This out and back course consists of winding single track & rail-to-trail, traversing multiple times from the rim of the Gorge to down along the banks of the New River. Along with the natural beauty of waterfalls, whitewater, & dramatic views, you’ll also find ghost towns, centuries old cemeteries, & abandoned mine shafts throughout the course. Come experience the New River Gorge like few others have.

2022 RACE INFORMATION & SCHEDULE

The 2025 Rim to River 100 Lottery will open December 1 - 10th

with the roster and waitlist announced December 31st @ 10am EST.

Friday, October 24
• 3:00 – 6:00pm - Check-in, packet pick-up, and prize giveaways at the ACE Adventure Resort(Lost Paddle Bar & Grill).
• 6:15pm - Pre-race meeting (runners are highly encouraged to attend)
• 6:15pm – All drop bags must to be turned in.

Saturday, October 25
• 5:00 – 5:45am - Race day packet pick-up is discouraged but will be available
• 6:00am - Start

Sunday, October 26
• 2:00pm - Final Cut-Off for official finishers

Participants will have 32 hours to complete the course. All finishers in allotted time will receive a custom Rim to River 100 belt buckle and locally hand-made finisher mug. Runners finishing under 24 hours will receive a special sub-24 belt buckle.

All participants registered on or before September 1 will receive a custom Rim to River 100 race shirt by RECOVER Brands. Registration after September 1 may result in not receiving a t-shirt.

100% refunds will be offered through July 4. Deferrals/rollovers to the following year and/or partial refunds will be determined on an individual basis. We will do our best to accommodate life events such as pregnancy, military deployment, family death, and serious illness. Please contact us directly to discuss.

Proceeds from the race help to fund Adventure Appalachia, our non-profit working to facilitate empowering, educational outdoor adventure experiences for adolescents and adults. We strive to eliminate barriers & expand access to outdoor adventure in the New River Gorge region of WV, providing funding & connecting people to existing outdoor programs offering guided experiences in wilderness settings. To learn more, visit adventureappalachia.org.

Rim to River 100 course Stats

100 miles – Trail: 84 miles, Dirt Road: 6 miles, Paved: 10 miles

12,000 ft. ascent/ 12,000 ft. descent

Elevation Range: 823ft - 2,015ft

start - cunard aid station (mile 0-27)

cunard aid station - long point aid station (mile 27-38)

long point aid station - hawks nest aid station (mile 38-52.25)

hawks nest aid station - long point aid station (mile 52.25-63.75)

long point aid station - cunard aid station (mile 63.75-80)

cunard aid station - finish (mile 80-100)

CREW, PACER, & DROP BAG INFO

All crew members must abide by the following rules:

• A crew member is defined as a person who provides material support to a runner.

• Crews can only meet and assist their runners at designated points on the course. Crew access will be available at the following Aid Stations: Concho Rim (mile7/93), Cunard (mile 27/80), Fayette Station (mile 43/58.5), & Hawks Nest (mile 52.5).

• Extreme caution must be taken while driving Thurmond Rd, Cunard Rd, & Fayette Station Rd, all of which are part of the course. Crew vehicle may not drive next to their runner on these sections in order to give assistance (including lights at night) or information. Any assistance in this manner will not be tolerated & will result in disqualification of the runner.

• Crews must adhere to instructions of all aid personnel and/or race officials

• Crew will be limited to one vehicle per aid station.

• Crews must obey all speed limits & existing traffic laws.

• Crews must never park in a way to block traffic, trailheads, or other cars.

• Failure to follow rules will result in the disqualification of the runner.

All pacers must abide by the following rules:

• All pacers must register by visiting UltraSignup

• Pacer may join their runner at the Hawks Nest Aid Station & Turnaround (mile 52.5).

• One pacer per runner at a time. Changing of pacers can only happen at the following Aid Stations: Fayette Station (mile 58.5), Cunard (mile 80), & Concho Rim (mile 93).

• Each pacer must sign a release form before participating.

• Pacers must be 18 years of age or older

• Pacer bib must be visible at all times

• Pacers must check into and out of aid stations at the same time as their runner

• Pacers must stay with their runner at all times on the course

• Pacers cannot "mule" any items for their runner

• Pacers must follow any and all rules that are set forth for runners

Drop Bags:

• Drop Bag service will be available at the following Aid Stations: Concho Rim (mile 7/93), Cunard (mile 27/80), Fayette Station (mile 43/58.5)

• All drop bags must be turned in by 6pm on Friday, November 5 at the check in area. Drop Bags will not be accepted the morning of the race.

aid Stations

GPS info for Crew Access:

Concho Rim - https://goo.gl/maps/qbeLUUhqKT9Zof537 , 37°58'00.6"N 81°05'10.4"W

Cunard - https://goo.gl/maps/GrBcF7w6yGMbu1aK6 , 37°59'52.9"N 81°01'22.7"W

Fayette Station - https://goo.gl/maps/f2JLCjRE8gqxGYL27 , 38°03'56.1"N 81°04'49.1"W

Hawks Nest State Park - https://maps.app.goo.gl/uX5CqduKpEFEgKxs6 , 38.122040”N, 81.117993 “W

DETAILED Course description

The Rim to River 100 is a 100-mile “out-and-back” ultramarathon through the New River Gorge in West Virginia. The race will begin and end at ACE Adventure Resort, with the first and last 14 miles of the course taking place on ACE’s property.

     The start/finish is in the main parking area at ACE Adventure Resort, directly in front of the Lost Paddle Bar & Grill. From the starting line, the course will head out of the main parking area, following a paved road leading up towards Mtn. Top Campground. After about one half mile, turn right on the Froghopper Trail and follow it for 2.5 miles. Cross the paved road and join the Thurmond Mountain Loop Trail. Follow the Thurmond Mountain Loop Trail for approximately 2.5 miles before dropping steeply down a trail to the left which will bring you to a paved road.

     Turn left on the paved road and follow to the junction with Spring Hollow Trail on the left. The course heads back near the start/finish area, alongside ACE Lake and then out of the resort’s main entrance where the Thurmond Overlook Trail is joined near mile 6.5.

     Thurmond Overlook Trail is followed to the Concho Rim Aid Station(mile 7.5). From the aid station, head up through the parking area and turn right on the dirt road. Follow the dirt road to around mile 9 and turn left to join East Froghopper Trail. At mile 10, turn right to climb up the Roy’s Ridge Trail. At top of the climb, turn right to continue on the Sunset Trail to mile 11 where it will take you under some of ACE’s zip line course. The trail will cross a dirt road(River Rd) and will then soon meet with the same dirt road again further down. Turn right on the dirt road. At the Erskine Trail near mile 11.75, turn right again. Pass multiple abandoned mine shafts along the Erskine Trail before its junction with the Waterfall Trail near mile 13.25. Turn right and follow the trail for .3 miles. Take a sharp left on the Julie’s Jaunt Trail for a steep descent to Arbuckle Creek and Finn’s Falls. After passing Finn’s Falls, follow the Waterfall Trail along Arbuckle Creek until the Arbuckle Creek crossing.

     Around mile 14, the course will cross Arbuckle Creek. This is the largest creek that is crossed without a bridge. **There are numerous wooden bridges along the course, and caution should be used while crossing them. Often they are extremely slippery and can have broken boards. It is recommended that they are not run across at a fast pace.**

     After crossing Arbuckle Creek , the course will travel through the ruins of Wee-Win, a late-1800s coal mining community. Just before the small creek, turn right (mile 14) and head up the Arbuckle Connector Trail to its junction with the Rend Trail. Course then travels left(south) on the Rend Trail to the trailhead at Dunloup Creek. Course turns left to follow Thurmond Road (paved)to the historic town of Thurmond. **While on Thurmond Road, please use caution with vehicles. The creek side of the road has the largest shoulder and is recommended for runners.** After crossing over the New River to reach the Thurmond Aid Station (mile 17), retrace the route back up Thurmond Road, turn right on the Rend Trail and right on the Arbuckle Connector. 

     **The Thurmond out-and-back section of the course will only be utilized on miles 14-20 of the course. It will not be retraced on the back-half of the course.** 

    At the bottom of the Arbuckle Connector Trail(mile20), turn right to get to the junction with the Southside Trail. **Pay close attention to mileage markers and directional markings at this trail junction area.** Turn left on the Southside Trail which will be followed all the way to Cunard and the Cunard Aid Station (mile 27). Multiple ghost town ruins exist along this six mile section of the course, with remnants of buildings, mine shafts, coke ovens, and mining structures from the towns of Rush Run, Red Ash, and Brooklyn found throughout.

     From the Cunard Aid Station, the course travels up the Cunard River Access Road(paved) to the Kaymoor Trailhead on the right(mile 28.5). **Please use caution concerning vehicular traffic on this road. Expect traffic due to crew vehicles accessing the Cunard Aid Station.** On the Kaymoor Trail, the course travels about 6.5 miles to its junction with the Kaymoor Miners Trail(mile 35). Kaymoor was one of the largest coal mining communities in the New River Gorge. Multiple ruins exist along this section. Turn left on the Kaymoor Miners Trail, traveling up the wooden steps. This is the steepest section of trail on the entire course. Near the top of the climb, turn right on a narrow single-track trail that follows the cliffline for about half a mile until it joins with the Butcher Branch Trail. Turn right on the Butcher Branch Trail and follow to its intersection with the Long Point Trail at mile 36.4. Turn right on the Long Point Trail to find the Long Point overlook at mile 37. At the overlook, runners must take one of the colored plastic keychains from the yellow Rim to River 100 labeled box. This keychain will be turned in at the Long Point Aid Station at mile 38 as proof that you went all the way to the overlook. From the overlook, follow the Long Point Trail back to the Long Point Trailhead Aid Station (mile 38).

     **The Long Point Overlook out-and-back section of the course will only be utilized on miles 37-38 of the course. It will not be retraced on the back-half of the course.**

     From Long Point Aid Station, the course will follow the Timber Ridge Trail to Fayetteville Trail. Near mile 39.6, turn left on the Park Loop Trail. This will be followed for about one mile. Take a left at the Fayetteville Trail junction  at mile 40.5 and follow until its junction with Fayette Station Road(mile 42). The course will travel down Fayette Station Road(paved) to the Fayette Station Aid Station(mile 43). **Please use caution while on the road concerning vehicular traffic. Fayette Station Road is the busiest park road on the course.**

     From Fayette Station Aid Station, the course will travel across the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge over the New River and back up the north side of Fayette Station Road to a dirt road turnoff on the left(mile 44.5). About one half mile down this dirt road, the Hawks Nest Connector Trail(mile 45) is on the right. Follow the Hawks Nest Connector Trail to its junction with the Hawks Nest Rail Trail(mile 48.25). Turn right, traveling alongside Mill Creek and up to the Ansted Aid Station and turnaround point at mile 50.5. 

     The route is backtracked from the turnaround point in the same reverse progression to the Long Point Aid Station(mile 62). From here, follow the Long Point trail for .75 miles to the junction with Butcher’s Branch Trail. Turn right and follow Butcher’s Branch Trail to its trailhead(mile 64).

  Travel through the trailhead parking area and follow the dirt road straight ahead. While on the dirt road, take a right at the junction with the Dalton Trail. Follow the trail markers along the loop using the Dalton, Le Croix, Adena, and Clovis trails which will bring you to the Arrowhead Trails Parking area and the Arrowhead Aid Station(mile 71). ***This section of the course is only utilized on the way back(mile 64-71).***

  From the Arrowhead Aid Station, follow the Craig’s Branch Trail down to its junction with the Kaymoor Trail. Turn right on the Kaymoor Trail and follow it to its junction with the Cunard Access Road and down to Cunard Aid Station(mile 80).

  From the Cunard Aid Station, follow the dirt road for approximately one mile before reaching the gate and Southside Trail Trailhead. Follow the Southside Trail along the New River to the Erskine Aid Station(mile 85.5). When leaving Erskine, follow the dirt road and then turn right on the Southside Trail and cross the bridge over Arbuckle Creek. Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn right and then follow the trail straight through the junction to then cross over Arbuckle Creek again. The remainder of the course is on ACE’s property and the route is backtracked in the same reverse progression to the finish.

RACE RULES

• 74 miles of the Rim to River 100 take place within the boundaries of New River Gorge National River which is governed by the National Park Service. All NPS rules and regulations apply during the race while on NPS property. Any violation of NPS rules and regulations are grounds for disqualification. Participants and crew must follow any requests made by NPS Rangers during the event. A link to NPS rules and regulations in provided below:

https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/management/superintendents-compendium.htm

• Bib numbers must be visible. They can be worn on front or back but must be on the exterior and visible.

• Be courteous to other trail users. The Rim to River 100 takes place largely on NPS lands and trails which are public property and will remain completely open to the general public during the event.

• No Littering!! Leave No Trace ethics are to be practiced. Relieve yourself away from the trail and water sources. Bury all human waste.

• The entire 100 miles of race are on designated trails and roads. Going off trail and/or cutting switchbacks is prohibited and is grounds for disqualification.

• Rim to River 100 is a cup-free race, so all participants are required to carry some form of hydration pack, water bottle, or reusable cup. This includes having something for hot drinks(coffee) and foods(broth, mashed potatoes).

• Any participant dropping out must immediately notify race personnel at the nearest aid station.

• Cutoff times at aid stations are non-negotiable. Participants must be out of the aid station before the cutoff time or will be listed as DNF.

• Participants who get lost during the race must return, without transportation assistance from others, to the spot where they left the trail to continue. Any runner accepting a ride for any reason is disqualified and will be listed as DNF.

• No aid or assistance is allowed other than at designated crew access stations.

• Participants must carry all their own gear. Absolutely no muling by pacers.

• All participants are required to carry a headlamp at night.

• Violating any rule will be grounds for disqualification. Race management reserves the right to disqualify any participant from competing in this or any future Rim to River Endurance Races event.