Rothrock by UTMB
Rothrock by UTMB – 25K
Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreation
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Rothrock by UTMB 25K is a 27 km trail race that starts and finishes at Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreation in central Pennsylvania, climbing 1016 m over the rugged ridges of the Rothrock area. With a high point of 737 m and a start and finish at 399 m, it is a punchy, technical loop rather than a high-mountain race, packing repeated climbs and rocky descents into a manageable half-marathon-plus distance. This is a course where the terrain, not the elevation numbers, defines the challenge. Central Pennsylvania is known for relentlessly rocky trail, and the Rothrock 25K delivers a series of ridge climbs and technical descents that keep runners honest from the start line to the finish back at Tussey Mountain.
The course: a rolling loop from Tussey Mountain
The Rothrock 25K covers 27 km with 1016 m of climbing, starting and finishing at Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreation (399 m at both ends). The route works through a sequence of checkpoints that trace the classic up-and-over pattern of the region: a climb to Sand Springs at 9.3 km (599 m), a drop to Shingletown Gap at 15.6 km (436 m), a climb back up toward Laurel Run at 22.3 km (590 m), and a final descent to the finish at 26.6 km (399 m). The high point of the day is 737 m. Rather than one big mountain, the course strings together shorter, steeper efforts, with the elevation swinging between the low 400s and the high point across the loop. The named gaps and springs mark where the trail transitions between ridge tops and valley crossings, so the profile reads as a series of distinct climbs and descents rather than a single sustained ascent, keeping the effort varied throughout the 27 km.
Where the race bites: the ridge climbs and rocky descents
This is a race decided by rhythm and footwork rather than one crux climb. The first significant effort is the pull from the start at 399 m to Sand Springs at 599 m over the opening 9.3 km, followed by the technical drop into Shingletown Gap at 436 m. The climb back toward Laurel Run at 590 m, coming past the 22 km mark, is where fatigue meets the steepest, rockiest ground and separates runners who have paced sensibly from those who went out hard. Because the total climb of 1016 m is spread across multiple ascents, the descents matter as much as the climbs. Central Pennsylvania trail is notoriously rocky, and the drops from the ridges to the gaps demand careful, confident footing. Time lost to tentative descending, or to a tired misstep late in the race, adds up quickly here, so treat clean downhill running as a skill to pace and protect all the way to the finish.
Pacing and fuelling: run the terrain, not the distance
At 27 km, the Rothrock 25K is short enough that many runners will complete it on a single well-managed fuelling and hydration plan, but the rocky terrain means your moving pace will be slower than the distance suggests, so budget time and calories for a longer day on the trail than a road 25K would imply. The intermediate points at Sand Springs (9.3 km), Shingletown Gap (15.6 km) and Laurel Run (22.3 km) space the course into digestible segments to target for fuelling and effort checks. Carry enough water and food to stay steady between those points, and start fuelling early rather than waiting until you feel depleted, since the repeated climbs burn energy in bursts. Pace the first climb to Sand Springs conservatively, stay patient through the middle of the loop, and save something for the climb toward Laurel Run and the final descent to the finish at Tussey Mountain, where the last rocky kilometres reward runners who kept a little in reserve.
Conditions and terrain to expect
The Rothrock 25K is a low-elevation but genuinely technical course, topping out at just 737 m with the whole loop set on the wooded ridges and gaps of central Pennsylvania. Expect the region's signature rocky, root-laced singletrack: uneven footing, rock gardens and technical descents that demand attention throughout. Trail shoes with good grip and protection, and a willingness to hike the steeper rocky pitches, will serve you far better than pure flat-ground speed. Because much of the route runs through forest and over exposed ridge tops, conditions depend heavily on the day, and rock that is grippy when dry becomes slick when wet. Check the forecast and be ready for changeable footing. Study the checkpoint sequence before the start so you know where each climb and descent falls across the 27 km, and settle into a rhythm that respects the terrain from the opening climb to the finish back at Tussey Mountain.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 399 m · —
9.3 km · 599 m · —
15.6 km · 436 m · —
22.3 km · 590 m · —
26.6 km · 399 m · —
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