Starting and finishing within Morgan Hill State Forest (camping available), the Morgan Hill Half Marathon and Morgan Hill “Meat Grinder” Marathon courses follow the nearly-all-single-track Onondaga Trail alongside misty ponds, up to incredible vistas, and crossing above waterfalls; past the highest point in Onondaga County on single track mountain bike trails; then back onto the Onondaga Trail to the finish line after running over (or around) the gravestone of one very unlucky guy from the 1700s.The marathon course adds the cruel but beautiful Fellows Hill loop and an out-and-back on the Onondaga Trail to Route 13. With the cooler temperatures and fall colors of late September, this is East Coast trail running at its absolute finest with all the rocks and roots that come with it. The memories will remain with you long after the blisters have healed and the muscle soreness and fatigue have faded.
*NEW* in 2025, SCTR is excited to announce the first-ever running of the Hill to Hollow 100km, co-directed with Pete Dady of the Hash House Harriers who traversed the loop back in the COVID days. Crossing four counties, the course will begin and end in Morgan Hill State Forest (camping available), featuring the same highlights as above before following the Onondaga Trail/North Country Trail east to Highland Forest County Park and past DeRuyter Reservoir, turning south on the enigmatic Link Trail through Muller Hill State Forest before joining the main Finger Lakes Trail in Mariposa State Forest, heading west past Chippewa Falls, and rejoining the Onondaga Trail to reenter Morgan Hill State Forest. This is a VERY challenging 100km and will be more dirt bag ultra than ultra-luxe for this first year, with a commensurate 50% discount reflected in the registration price. Self-sufficiency and strong navigation skills (without 5G/LTE network coverage) are musts, but how many people can say they were part of the birth of an ultra?
It takes a tremendous amount of work by a great many people and organizations to provide public access to and maintain the beautiful land and trails upon which these races depend. SCTR is immensely grateful to NYS DEC, Finger Lakes Trail Conference, North Country National Scenic Trail Association CNY Chapter, Highland County Park, the ADK-Onondaga Chapter, and the many private landowners, trail stewards, and volunteers without whom this would not be possible. Please consider making a donation to the FLTC during registration; SCTR will match donations up to $250. Or better yet, become a member at https://fingerlakestrail.org.
