The Haystack Mountain Challenge (also known as the Norfolk Land Trust 5K/10K) will be held Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Barbour Woods, 75 Lovers Lane, Norfolk, CT.

The event hosts a 5k, 10K and Half Marathon.

To register go to: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=86229

There will be no race day registrations!

Online registration closes Thursday, September 30th @ 8:00 pm.

Entry fees:

Half Marathon  $30

5K and 10K  $20

Race Day Schedule:

9:00 am  Half Marathon begins

10:45  10K begins

11:00 am 5K begins

Race Descriptions

5K-A challenging and scenic race through picturesque Barbour Woods. The course is a mixture of single and double track. Climb up Beech Hill for a view of Haystack Mountain, run on carriage roads beside historic Killarney Bridge, descend down the dry dam to a flat stretch of railroad bed, ascend through woodlands and finally along a gladed wetland, known as the Swamp Trail to the finish. (Please see yellow route on map below).

10K- Want to go a little longer? Try adding a challenging loop over Haystack Mountain. This course begins on the same route as the 5K, but jumps off of the Sunset Trail onto the South Dam, crosses Route 272N and ascends through a grassy meadow onto an intense single track to summit at Norfolk’s iconic Haystack Mountain Tower. Descend down the mountainside on a carriage path to meet up with a single track winding along the mountainside bringing you back to the park’s main entrance where you will cross over the South Dam and finish up the 5k course. (Please see map. The green route is added to the yellow loop for the 10k.)

Half Marathon-This course is built around the 10k route with the addition of some lesser known trails adjacent to Barbour Woods and Haystack Mountain; including special access to private paths only allowed during the event.
The course includes a run along scenic Lovers Lane and a descent down winding single track back to the start. From there you follow the 10k course to Haystack and break off onto public and private trails not previously used in the event. Two trips up and down Haystack link you back into the 10k course to the finish.

Proceeds from the races will benefit the Norfolk Land Trust.