The Kilkenny Ridge Race, set for September 19, 2026, in Stark, NH, invites runners to a truly rugged and remote White Mountain experience. This challenging event offers 50-mile, 25-mile, and 25K distances, all traversing the wild and scenic Kilkenny Ridge Trail. Runners will navigate beautiful and rugged singletrack through pristine boreal forests, past mountain ponds, and to soul-stirring viewpoints, summiting two 4,000-foot peaks—Mount Cabot and Mount Waumbek—along with several 3,000-footers like The Bulge and The Horn. The 50-mile course boasts approximately 15,000 feet of total elevation gain, while the 25-mile race includes around 7,500 feet of gain, and the 25K features roughly 4,000 feet of climbing. This is not an entry-level course; it's designed for experienced trail runners familiar with long mountain days, offering a genuine mountain crossing that feels more like a remote FKT (Fastest Known Time) attempt than a typical race.

The event, part of the prestigious White Mountain Endurance series, distinguishes itself with its untamed character. While the Kilkenny Ridge Trail itself features good signage, the race course is not additionally marked, requiring runners to pay close attention and utilize downloaded GPS tracks and maps provided at bib pickup. The start and finish for all distances converge at the South Pond Recreational Area, with 50-milers turning around at the Jefferson Inn, and 25-milers and 25K participants shuttled to their respective starting points before making their way back to South Pond. Aid stations at backcountry locations like Willard Notch and Unknown Pond offer essential water, electrolyte drinks, and packaged snacks, while the turnaround and finish lines provide a wider array of race food, including grilled burgers. Runners should note that this is a cupless race and no crew access is permitted at backcountry aid stations.

Typical race day conditions in mid-September bring comfortable highs around 68°F and lows around 43°F, with a modest 14% chance of precipitation, creating ideal conditions for tackling the sustained climbs and occasionally overgrown, rocky, and rooted terrain. The Kilkenny Ridge Race promises an unforgettable adventure through some of the White Mountain National Forest's wildest and most remote landscapes.