Xterra New Jersey 2026

Xterra New Jersey 2026

Presented by Ready Set Go Adventures
Trail Running
Wawayanda State Park, NJ
Apr 25–26, 2026
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About This Event

Set in Wawayanda State Park just 50 miles from New York City, XTERRA New Jersey offers a rare combination of technical trail running and stunning lakeside scenery. The 34,350-acre park provides an ideal backdrop for both marathon and half marathon distances, with 56 qualifying spots available for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

The race follows a rolling 13-mile loop design within the park. Half marathoners complete one loop, while marathoners tackle it twice. The course begins with a gravel section that feeds into the main 10K loop, which runs along portions of Wawayanda Lake for spectacular water views. The first three miles feature packed dirt with scattered rocks and roots, followed by 2.2 miles of more technical rocky terrain before finishing on fire road and lakeside sand.

What sets this event apart is its accessibility to major metropolitan areas while maintaining a true wilderness feel. Participants consistently express amazement at finding such pristine trail conditions so close to New York City. The rolling hills provide a challenging but runnable course that showcases the diverse terrain of northern New Jersey.

The event is part of the larger XTERRA weekend that includes triathlon, duathlon, and gravel events, creating a festival atmosphere. Ready Set Go Adventures produces the race with attention to creating exceptional race experiences. The park setting allows for on-site camping at $20 per tent, adding to the adventure feel.

As part of the XTERRA Trail Run World Series, this race attracts both recreational runners seeking a beautiful course and competitive athletes targeting world championship qualification spots.

Xterra Worldwide Trail Series

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The XTERRA Trail Run World Series is a globally recognized trail running series that spans more than 30 events across over 20 countries, offering an inclusive platform for both elite and amateur runners. The series showcases the natural beauty of diverse terrains, ranging from mountains and forests to deserts and coastlines. Each race in the series typically includes a range of distances, from half-marathons (15-34 km) to full-marathons (35 km+), making the series accessible to runners of various skill levels.

Notable Events in the Series:

  1. XTERRA Sugarloaf: Held at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, this event is a pinnacle series event. Runners compete in technical, challenging courses that showcase the rugged beauty of Maine’s wilderness, including steep climbs and scenic descents through Sugarloaf’s trails.​
  2. XTERRA McDowell Mountain Trail Run (Arizona): Taking place in February, this event challenges runners with a 43k marathon and a 24k half-marathon through Arizona’s desert landscape, featuring cholla forests and cactus fields
  3. XTERRA Oak Mountain Trail Run (Alabama): This race, part of the XTERRA Americas Trail Run Championship, is held in Oak Mountain State Park and offers distances up to a marathon. It draws runners from across the Americas and features a mix of flowing singletrack and technical terrain.
  4. XTERRA Black Canyon Trail Run (Arizona): This event, known for its adventurous route, includes river crossings, sandy trails, and panoramic desert views. It offers marathon and half-marathon distances, and is part of the Arizona XTERRA Trail Run series.

The series emphasizes not only competition but also community, offering a space where trail running enthusiasts can connect and explore new environments while competing for points that contribute to the overall rankings. The top performers from each event are invited to compete in the exclusive XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

Also presented by
Ready Set Go Adventures

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