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Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo

Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
Davis
US
MountainSide · CC BY-SA 3.0U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsGerri Wilson / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsU. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Race date in 306 days
Aug 21, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Davis · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
$107Varies by event and entry period
2027Date Aug 21, 2027 · Open
2026
2026Date Aug 29, 2026 · Entry ~ Aug 29, 2026 · Entry fee $85 · Start 22:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 19, 2026
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
MountainSide · CC BY-SA 3.0
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
Gerri Wilson / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge race photo
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

It is the 6th edition of the race, held August 29-30, 2026, at Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County, West Virginia.

It is a marathon run under the moonlight.

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.

Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 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: 2
sunflowerstopsRan in 2022
“As we crossed the finish line I heard my cousins cheer for us!”

At Moonlight on the Falls half marathon, the runner completed two laps with Dave, using a light on their cap to illuminate the dark park paths. The falls could only be heard, and cousins cheered at the finish.

Read the original on Sunflower Stops
Brian Johnson
“I ended up walking from around midnight to daybreak.”

At the Moonlight on the Falls Marathon, the runner's first night race, most of the first lap was run before fatigue forced walking from midnight until dawn. Four laps of the dark park paths completed the marathon.

Read the original on Maniacs Fanatics Madness

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.

Full recap

debhastheruns · Full recap

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 Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge — 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.

Marathon

Entry cost $107

Moonlight on the Falls Marathon · until Nov 19, 2025 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $88

Moonlight on the Falls Half Marathon · until Nov 19, 2025 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Moonlight on the Falls Quarter Marathon

Entry cost $79

until Nov 19, 2025 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

SOLO - Moonlight on the Falls Distance Challenge

Entry cost $133

until Nov 19, 2025 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
About TEAM - Moonlight on the Falls Distance Challenge

TEAM - Moonlight on the Falls Distance Challenge

Entry cost $123

until Nov 19, 2025 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 22:00
EventStart
Marathon42.195km22:00
Half21.0975km22:00
Quarter Marathon10.55km22:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV

Finish · Google Maps

The events are the Moonlight on the Falls Marathon, Moonlight on the Falls Half Marathon, and Moonlight on the Falls Quarter Marathon.

The start is at PO Box 828, Davis, WV, at a local time of 10:00 p.m.

Typical race-season temperature: around 21°C (69°F)
Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 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

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNone - no public transit serves this venue
  • Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system; Davis, WV / Canaan Valley is a rural mountain venue with no public transit.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None - no public transit serves this venue

Start/finish at Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV. Car access only.

Rural state park deep in the Tucker County, WV mountains; no public transit. Nearest towns Davis/Thomas WV are several miles away with no bus service.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start

Same venue; overnight race (10pm-7am) finishing back at Pendleton Point.

Map

Start shuttle

Organizer runs a shuttle (small vans) between the Blackwater Falls Lodge and the start/finish area, roughly every 15 minutes from 7-9pm on race night, for runners staying at the Lodge.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system; Davis, WV / Canaan Valley is a rural mountain venue with no public transit. Car access is required; cash/card accepted for any parking fees.

Source · checked Aug 24, 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.

Moonlight on the Falls is a nighttime race held at Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County, West Virginia.

Starting from Pendleton Point, it repeats a loop course of about 6.55 miles, and park roads are closed to outside traffic during the night.

Average nighttime temperatures in this mountainous area in late August are around 55°F (about 13°C),

letting runners escape the peak-summer heat and run in cool night air.

All participants are required to wear a reflective vest (or equivalent gear) and a headlamp.

The ultra category, the Distance Challenge, runs from 10:00 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. the next day, and can be entered solo or as a 2-, 4-, or 6-person relay.

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

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

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.

Hotels near the Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge start line in Davis

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Davis with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

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

Total cost and budget for Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge

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 Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Davis runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge

FAQ
When was Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2026 held?

It was held on Sat, August 29, 2026. The next race is Sat, August 21, 2027.

When does Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, August 21, 2027 in Davis, WV, United States.

How much is the Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $107.

What distances does Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half.

What time does Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 start?

The race starts at 22:00.

Where does Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 start?

Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV.

What is the Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 course like?

The events are the Moonlight on the Falls Marathon, Moonlight on the Falls Half Marathon, and Moonlight on the Falls Quarter Marathon.

The start is at PO Box 828, Davis, WV, at a local time of 10:00 p.m.

Where does Moonlight on the Falls - Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Distance Challenge 2027 finish?

Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV.

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