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Black Forest Ultra race photo

Black Forest Ultra

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOct 3, 2027100km
Retro101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 321 days
Oct 3, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
North Bend · 100km
Entry fee
$150Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenSee how to enter ↗
2027Date Oct 3, 2027 · Entry Nov 1, 2026 ~
2026
2026Date Oct 4, 2026 · Entry Jan 1, 2026 ~ Sep 20, 2026 · Entry fee $180 · Start 00:00
Official website ↗Marathon · Jack and Jill's Downhill MarathonD-day as of Nov 16, 2026
Black Forest Ultra race photo
Retro101 · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Black Forest Ultra — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Runners follow the Black Forest Trail deep in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Cresting each climb reveals surrounding peaks and valleys,

and the course passes through pine plantations and forests of towering hemlock and red spruce in turn.

It's held at peak fall foliage.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Black Forest Ultra runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 1
Thestudlymcstud
“I ran the race in an odd year (course flips direction every year so the 2024 loop is the opposite way) and I was surprised how much running I got to do during the early parts of the race.”

At Pennsylvania's Black Forest Ultra 100km, the runner found more of the course runnable than expected, particularly the early trails. The big climbs were steep, but flat sections gave the terrain a distinct variety.

Read the original on Reddit r/ultrarunning

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Diabolically Epic 100k | Black Forest Ultra 100k (2021)

David Walker (Iron Forged Runners)

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Black Forest Ultra — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Registration platform UltraSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Black Forest Ultra course map and elevation

Your 100km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 00:00
Time limit19 hours
Show more

100K limit 19 hours

EventStartTime limitField size
Ultra100km00:0019h150
START

Hyner Run State Park, Hyner, PA

Start · Google Maps

Cutoff
19-hour time limit, midnight start

Show more

Course is a lollipop-shaped course with total elevation gain of 13,400 feet (about 4,085m).

Some sections are steep enough to gain over 1,000 feet (about 300m) in less than a mile.

The direction of course alternates each year.

In odd years, the difficulty is concentrated in the second half, while in even years -- including 2026 -- tough climbs come right from the start.

The race starts in darkness at midnight.

Field size
150 runners
Typical race-season temperature: around 9°C (48°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Black Forest Ultra race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Bib pickup

Black Forest 100K Packet Pickup information is posted on the official site.

86 Hyner Park Road, North Bend, PA

race venue

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNearest airports are Williamsport, PA or University Park (State College), PA, ~1-1.5 hr drive.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Nearest airports are Williamsport, PA or University Park (State College), PA, ~1-1.5 hr drive.

Getting to the finish

Same remote trailhead area as start (lollipop course within Sproul State Forest). No street address published beyond a Google Maps pin.

Start shuttle

None — no shuttle exists; crews/pacers/spectators not permitted on course. Private car only.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

October averages 9°C. In North Bend, wind is a bigger factor than the cold.

A light windbreaker will help retain body heat, and leave a dry change of clothes in advance for after you finish.

The time limit time limit is 19 hours, and the race starts at midnight in the dark.

Aid and fueling stations 1 and 5 are located at the same point.

Ultras are decided by fueling and foot care, not speed.

Break in your shoes and socks thoroughly before race day, and if there are nighttime sections, bring spare batteries for your headlamp.

The 00:00 start is early.

Counting backward from wake-up, breakfast, and travel, it is more convenient to stay the night before near start line.

Times are local to North Bend. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Corning Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Rent a car in Harrisburg (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on EconomyBookings

Tours and activities around the Black Forest Ultra in North Bend

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Corning Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Rent a car in Harrisburg (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on EconomyBookings

Where runners eat in North Bend

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

What to see in North Bend after the race

Seeing North Bend with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in North Bend.

Flights, hotels, airport transfers and budget for Black Forest Ultra

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Black Forest Ultra

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Ask the runners preparing for this raceWrite a post
CourseBib & expoGetting aroundStay
North Bend runners' room
MORE RACES.

Frequently asked questions about Black Forest Ultra

FAQ
When was Black Forest Ultra 2026 held?

It was held on Sun, October 4, 2026. The next race is Sun, October 3, 2027.

When does Black Forest Ultra 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, October 3, 2027 in North Bend, PA, United States.

How much is the Black Forest Ultra 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $150.

What is the time limit for Black Forest Ultra 2027?

100K limit 19 hours.

What distances does Black Forest Ultra 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Black Forest Ultra 2027 start?

The race starts at 00:00.

Where does Black Forest Ultra 2027 start?

Hyner Run State Park, Hyner, PA.

What is the Black Forest Ultra 2027 course like?

Course is a lollipop-shaped course with total elevation gain of 13,400 feet (about 4,085m).

Some sections are steep enough to gain over 1,000 feet (about 300m) in less than a mile.

What are the Black Forest Ultra 2027 cutoff times?

19-hour time limit, midnight start.