Eastern States 100 (Little Pine State Park, PA)
Eastern States 100
Waterville, PA (Little Pine State Park)
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
Eastern States 100 is one of the East Coast's most demanding hundred-milers, covering 165.6 km with 4,744 m of elevation gain through the rugged ridges and hollows of north-central Pennsylvania. Starting and finishing at Little Pine State Park in Waterville, the course threads through state forests, rocky singletrack, and remote creek valleys that define this corner of the Appalachians. With a Sunday 17:00 finish cut-off, athletes have roughly 35 hours to manage the cumulative grind of relentless climbs, technical footing, and — in a summer event held in July — heat that can break unprepared runners well before the halfway mark. This is not a race that rewards chasing early positions. The high point sits at 2,648 m and the course rarely lets you settle into a rhythm for long before another steep pitch demands attention. What separates finishers from DNFs here is disciplined process: consistent eating, proactive cooling, and honest pacing from the first aid station through the final exposed ridgeline miles back to Little Pine.
Course & Terrain
The course begins at Little Pine State Park (1,899 m) and immediately climbs into the Pennsylvania ridge system, reaching AS2 Ramsey at 18.2 km near the high point of the early loop (2,143 m). The terrain throughout is quintessential Appalachian: rooty, rocky singletrack that punishes any inattention, with stream crossings, mud in the hollows, and exposed ridge runs that offer no shade. The elevation profile is broadly a long descent through the middle third — from AS7 Hyner Run at 69.5 km (1,433 m) dropping steadily toward AS11 Cedar Run at 117 km (431 m) and AS12 Blackwell at 129.5 km (311 m) — before the course climbs back up through AS13 Sky Top (417 m) and the Barrens section before returning to the finish. Footing ranges from grassy double-track jeep roads to boulder-strewn trail that demands careful foot placement even in the dark. Poles are worth considering, especially for the early climbs and the fatigue-heavy final 35 km.
The Decisive Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The opening 50 km sets the tone. The climb to AS2 Ramsey and the ridge running into AS3 Lower Pine Bottom (28.6 km, 2,165 m) represent the highest sustained elevation on the course. Runners who go out too aggressively here arrive at AS5 Happy Dutchman (50.8 km) already in deficit, which compounds badly through the long middle miles. The second critical stretch is the late-race return: after hitting the lowest points at Cedar Run and Blackwell, the course asks tired legs to climb back through Sky Top and the Barrens. The Barrens section — roughly km 136 to km 150 — is exposed and psychologically tough; runners who have saved nothing arrive here hollowed out. Maintain a conservative heart rate on every climb before km 100, because the elevation debt you borrow early will collect interest on the back half with punishing efficiency.
Pacing & Fueling Strategy
Split the race mentally into three acts: the high ridges (start to Hyner Run, km 0–69.5), the descending valley miles (Hyner Run to Blackwell, km 69.5–129.5), and the return push (Blackwell to finish, km 129.5–165.6). The valley miles feel fast and tempting — resist. Use them to eat aggressively and rebuild energy reserves rather than banking time you will not need. Target consistent caloric intake of 200–300 kcal per hour from the start; gut issues in the back half are almost always a consequence of under-fueling in the first 60 km. Crew access at Lower Pine Bottom (km 28.6), Hyner Run (km 69.5), Tomb Flats (km 101.2), Blackwell (km 129.5), and the finish means you can hand off drop bags strategically — plan fresh socks and shoes at Blackwell, and a full kit refresh if racing into the night. With 15 aid stations in total, gaps between support are manageable, but carry at least 1.5 L of fluid capacity at all times given the summer heat.
Heat & Conditions
Eastern States 100 runs in July in central Pennsylvania, and heat is the defining environmental variable. Temperatures can climb well into the 30s °C during the day, and the ridge sections offer almost no canopy shelter. The community wisdom earned here is unambiguous: the race is won or lost in your heat management discipline, not in any single heroic effort. Build a drink-and-cool routine before race day and execute it without exception from the very first aid station — whether you feel hot or not. Soaking a hat, dunking a buff, drinking a full cup of ice water: these are non-negotiable habits, not optional extras when things feel bad. By the time you feel hot, you are already behind. Night temperatures drop on the ridges, so pack a light layer accessible after km 100, but do not let the cool evening miles trick you into cutting back on fluids — dehydration accumulated in the day does not reverse just because the sun has set.
Kit & Logistics Notes
Little Pine State Park serves as both start and finish, making pre- and post-race logistics clean for crews. Crew access is available at six points: start/finish, Lower Pine Bottom (km 28.6), Hyner Run (km 69.5), Tomb Flats (km 101.2), Blackwell (km 129.5), and the finish — plan crew routes in advance as forest roads can be slow. The finish cut-off is Sunday 17:00, so athletes starting Friday evening or Saturday morning should calculate their expected pace against daylight and night segments carefully. Mandatory gear typically includes lighting for night sections (confirm with race organization), and given the rocky terrain, a trail shoe with solid rock protection and ankle support is strongly preferred over a race flat. Gaiters are worth the weight given the leaf litter and stream crossings throughout the course.
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✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 1899 m · Sat 05:00
9.3 km · 2408 m · —
18.5 km · 2175 m · —
29.3 km · 2120 m · Sat 11:30
42.2 km · 1794 m · —
51.5 km · 2091 m · Sat 16:30
62.6 km · 1695 m · —
70.2 km · 1432 m · Sat 20:15
83 km · 1131 m · —
91.7 km · 1019 m · Sun 00:45
101.9 km · 1019 m · Sun 03:00
117.6 km · 409 m · Sun 06:30
130.2 km · 355 m · Sun 09:15
137.4 km · 454 m · Sun 10:45
150.5 km · 208 m · Sun 13:30
160.5 km · 197 m · Sun 15:45
166.6 km · 394 m · Sun 17:00
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