Future Races

Get ready, it’s almost here!

2026 East Fork Challenge

Join us for a full day of adventure! Navigate trails, paddle scenic waters, and bike through East Fork like never before. The 6-hour course is built for beginners—fun, fast, and just the right amount of challenge. The 12-hour course ups the intensity for experienced racers.

Maps, checkpoints, and race instructions are provided. No support crew needed—just bring your team (solo up to 4 person teams), a bike and your spirit of adventure.

Stick around after the race for the awards and sponsor prizes!

Race Day: September 12th 2026
🌄 12-Hour Race: Starts at 7:00am
🌟 6-Hour Race: Starts at 1:00pm — perfect for first-timers!

park route 5.jpg
IMG_4976.jpg
Park route 4.jpg
IMG_6857.jpg
Park route 3.jpg
park route 2.jpg
IMG_5141.jpeg
park route 1.jpg
IMG_5144.jpg

East Fork Challenge Race Info

Divisions

Solo and 2-4 person teams of any gender are welcome. 

Awards will be given to the top 3 finishers in each race.

Registration

6 hour race: $80

12 hour race: $120

Boat rental is $60 per canoe, $30 for a kayak

T-shirts are included for anyone who registers by July 31st!

Distance

For the 6 hour race you should expect about 5 miles of paddling, 5-8 miles on foot, and 10-15 miles on park roads, singletrack.

For the 12 hour race, you should expect about 10-15 miles of paddling, 10-15 miles on foot, and 30-35 miles on road and singletrack.

Location

East Fork State Park is one of Ohio's largest state parks, with over 2100 acres of water and 85 miles of trails.

The start location within the park will be at the Matt Maupin Pavilion on the south side of the lake.

Reserve your spot now

Register here

Race Day Schedule

September 12, 2026

12 Hour Race

6:00 AM - 6:30 AM
Racer Check-in for 12 hour race.

6:45 AM
Pre-race meeting for 12 hour race

7:00 AM
12 hour race begins

7:00 PM
Race end

7:15 PM
Awards Ceremony

6 Hour Race

12:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Racer Check-in for 6 hour race

12:45 PM
Pre-race meeting for 6 hour race

1:00 PM
6 hour race begins

7:00 PM
Race End

7:15 PM
Awards Ceremony

Required Gear List

The following is the minimum required gear list for The East Fork Challenge. If a racer is racing solo, he/she must carry both the individual gear as well as the team gear.  This list is minimal and does not reflect everything needed to successfully complete the course, just the minimum for you to complete it safely.

  • Required at all times:

    • Water Supply - 2L (Bladder or Bottles)

    • Headlamp

    • Waterproof jacket

    • Whistle

    Required during all biking sections:

    • Mountain Bike

    • Biking Helmet

    • Rear Flashing Light

    Required during all paddling sections.

    • Personal Flotation Device (PFD)

    • Paddle

  • Required at all times:

    • Compass

    • Maps (provided to you on race day)

    • Passport (provided to you on race day)

    • First Aid Kit

    • Knife

    • Cell phone (in waterproof bag)

    • Water Purification Method

    • Waterproof Map Case

    Required during all biking sections:

    Required during all paddling sections:

    • Boat (canoe or kayak)

FAQs

  • Adventure racing is a team-based, multi-sport race that typically includes trekking, mountain biking, and paddling, all while navigating with a map and compass. Teams must find checkpoints in the correct order and work together to complete the course within a time limit.

  • Not at all! While some teams race competitively, many participants are in it for the challenge, teamwork, and fun. Our races are designed with a wide range of abilities in mind, and shorter race options are perfect for beginners.

  • Basic navigation skills help, but you don’t need to be an expert. We provide maps, and the course is designed to be achievable for beginners. Many people learn navigation skills as they go or rely on a teammate with more experience.

  • Yes. Teams must stay within a set distance of each other (usually 100 feet). Adventure racing is all about teamwork, so working together and staying together is part of the challenge.

  • If you miss a checkpoint, you can continue on to the next one. Most races are scored based on the number of checkpoints you collect and your finish time, so missing one doesn’t disqualify you — you just won’t earn those points.

  • You'll be given a topographic map with checkpoints marked. Using your compass and route-planning skills, your team will choose the best way to travel between points. There is no set route — that’s part of the fun.

  • Rental canoes are available for the race and includes the boat, pfd(s), and paddle(s). The canoes will be delivered to the start/finish area for you. In addition, a limited number of kayaks are available. However, the kayaks will only be available for solo racers. If you are a team of 4, you will need to rent 2 canoes.

  • Sign up for a shorter race (like our 6-hour event), find a friend or two to race with, and come ready to learn and have fun. Don’t stress about being perfect — the adventure racing community is welcoming, and you’ll learn a lot just by doing it!

  • Reach out! We’re happy to talk you through it.

    Once you sign up, we can assign you to a mentor team that has a few races under their belt and can walk you through the preparation and meet you before the race starts.

Have a Great Idea For a Race?

Let Us Know!