Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon

Come spend the day with us on the 2020 Trail of the Year in the final event of the 2026 Cambria County Trails Series!

Registrants are invited to participate in a foot/adaptive device (for disabled individuals) race and casual bike ride on Saturday, October 3rd.

The foot race consists of 4 offered distances:
- Marathon (26.2 miles) 
- 15 miler 
- 5k
- Couch Potato 0.0k 

Transportation will be available for participants from the finish line in Duman Lake County Park to their respective starting lines for the marathon and 15-miler.

BIKE RIDE
Those registering for the bicycle ride will be invited to join in a leisurely 26.2 (marathon) mile bike ride from Duman Lake County Park to Twin Rocks trailhead on the Ghost Town Trail and C & I Extension on Saturday, October 4th. Cyclists may utilize the aid stations that are set up for the running event this day, but we suggest you come prepared with water and snacks. You are encouraged to ride with the group but may go your own distance at your own pace as desired. Please note that close to the park, you will be riding on a single track portion of trail. Due to potential roots and rocks, we suggest something other than road tires.

A commemorative long sleeve shirt for the event will be given to all who pre-register online. All finishers of Saturday's events will receive a finishers medal. Prizes will be available for the top 3 finishers male/female for the marathon, 15-miler and 5k post-race; top 3 male/female finisher awards will be presented to Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) division for the 5k.

All runners, walkers, and cyclists of the event are invited to enjoy music and a meal at Duman Lake County Park after they complete their distance.

Athletes with Disabilities (AWD)
This division is open to physically disabled and visually impaired individuals in the 5k. The top 3 male/female finishers of the AWD division will receive placement awards. Please be mindful of the restrictions below.

Criteria:
-Disabled individuals must be able to run/hike/wheel the course without support.
-ANY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION USED MUST BE NON-MOTORIZED.
-Tethers may be used for individuals with a visual impairment, leg prosthetics may be used for amputees, crutches, braces or poles may be used if indicated/necessary.
-Please email the race director at cambriaconservationrecreation@gmail.com to request permission to bring a guide dog if necessary. Amenities are NOT provided for dogs, and the athlete is responsible for cleaning up after the dog.
-See guide restrictions below.

5k disabled participants: Open to ALL non-motorized adaptive equipment. This 5k course is the same as the running race 5k, it is a combination of pavement and rail trail with a handful of minor inclines, and is an out-and-back course with ample room to turn around.

Guide Restrictions
Disabled individuals are responsible for bringing their own guide if necessary. Guides are not official entrants in the Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon and are not timed, scored, or listed in the official results. In order for the guide to receive any race amenity (shirt, medal, aid station items, race timing), they must register as a participant. Guides must remain with their participant at all times. They may not use a bicycle or other mode of transportation. Guides must have GUIDE visibly posted on their outermost layer on the front and back at all times. They may not push or pull the participant at any time, and may not run ahead to aid stations to fill water bottles or otherwise unfairly advantage their participant. Guides must work with their disabled participant to ensure safety at all times, this includes communication between the participant and guide to stay out of the way when being approached by other race participants or officials on the course in order to avoid collision.

Please be sure to read over each individual section of this registration page for information on transportation/scheduling/pricing etc. Any further questions can be sent to cambriaconservationrecreation@gmail.com.

Schedule
Saturday, October 3rd

Marathon:
6:00AM-7:00AM Day-of packet pick up available at Duman Lake County Park.
6:45AM-7:15AM Buses loading at Duman Lake County Park to drop off at Ebensburg, PA starting point.
8:00AM Race begins.

15-miler:
6:00AM-8:00AM Day-of packet pick up available at Duman Lake County Park.
7:45AM-8:15AM Buses loading at Duman Lake County Park to drop off at Nanty Glo, PA starting point.
9:00AM Race begins.

5k:
6:00AM-9:30AM Day-of packet pick up and day-of registration available at Duman Lake County Park.
9:50AM AWD 5k begins.
10:00AM Race begins.

Casual Group Bike Ride (full Marathon distance):
6:00AM-9:30AM Packet pick up
9:45AM Casual group ride from Duman Lake County Park to Twin Rocks trailhead and back (26.2 miles round trip). Participants of the bike ride may choose to begin their ride at their leisure. We are simply promoting you enjoy the trail this day!

Couch Potato 0.0k:
6:00AM-9:30AM Packet pickup
10:10AM (or so) Race begins! And ends...
^We will have a couch staged in the park for photos for this one^

Proceeds
Proceeds from the Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon will benefit the enhancement and expansion of the Cambria County Trails and the Cambria County Firefighters Training Facility.

Registration Fees
REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 20TH AT 11:59PM - RACE-DAY REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 5K, COUCH POTATO 0.0K AND BIKE RIDE ONLY

*All pre-registered participants are guaranteed a long sleeve t-shirt. All finishers of the foot race (0.0k included) and bicycle ride on October 3rd will receive a finisher's medal. Shirts and bibs for must be picked up at packet pick-up.

WE DO NOT ISSUE REFUNDS. If you are no longer able to attend and have already registered, your registration fee will be used as a donation to the trails and firefighter's training facility.

Athletes with Disabilities division pricing for the 5k is the same as the 5k division, but please be sure to register accordingly so we can keep track for transportation planning as necessary.

All youth entries for ages 17 and under are FREE thanks to a donation by the 1889 Foundation. 100% discount of registration fees will automatically be applied at checkout based on participant's DOB.

Until July 1 (Early Bird)
$85.00 - Marathon
$55 - 15 miler
$30 - 5k
$30 - 0.0k
$25 - Bike Ride
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Until September 1st
$90 - Marathon
$60 - 15-miler
$35 - 5k
$30 - 0.0k
$30 - Bike Ride
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Until September 20th (REGISTRATION DEADLINE)
$95 - Marathon
$65 - 15-miler
$40 - 5k
$30 - 0.0k
$35 - Bike Ride
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Same-day registration available for the 5k and Athletes with Disabilities 5k, Couch Potato 0.0k, and group bicycle ride on Saturday, October 3rd from 6:00AM-9:30AM. Shirts are not guaranteed. Same-day registration fee is $45 for 5k, $30 for 0.0k, $40 for group bike ride. All youth entries 17 and under are free.

Firefighters completing the 5k in turnout gear can register for a discounted fee of $20.

Packet Pick-Up
Packet pick-up will be Friday, October 2nd from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the Up-N-Running store in Ebensburg, PA. Individuals who pick up their packets this day will receive 10% off their entire in-store purchase at Up-N-Running on this day. Packets will also be available at the race staging area in Duman Lake County Park on the day of the event.

Up-N-Running
208 W. High St.
Ebensburg, PA 15931

Aid Stations for Saturday's Race
First aid and EMS will be available at multiple points along the trail. Your safety is our number one priority.

There will be 4 full aid stations, equipped with water, Gatorade, and fruit spaced out along the course. Energy gels will be provided with race packets. There will be 3 water-only stations placed along the course as well. ADA compliant restrooms are available at various aid stations, spaced out accordingly for participant need.

The following aid stations are listed by mileage of the full marathon. 15-milers begin at mile 11.5 on the list.

Mile 3.5 - C & I Ext. Beulah - WATER ONLY
Mile 7 - Beulah Road - FULL STATION
Mile 11.5 - Nanty Glo Firehall - FULL STATION
Mile 13 - Twin Rocks - WATER ONLY
Mile 16.5 - Vintondale - FULL STATION
Mile 21 - Vic Miller Road - FULL STATION
Mile 25 - Duman Lake/C & I Trail - WATER ONLY *this is the only water stop the 5k will have.

Start/Finish Lines
Ample parking is available at all beginning/ending points for the race and bicycling events. If you are participating in the marathon or 15-miler and wish to transport yourself to/from the start and finish lines, please email cambriaconservationrecreation@gmail.com so we can reserve an appropriate amount of buses.

Morning bus pick up per schedule above:
Duman Lake County Park
157 County Park Road, Ebensburg, PA

Individual Starting Areas by Distance/Event:
Marathon: Young People's Community Center (YPCC), 300 Prave Street, Ebensburg, PA
15-miler: Nanty Glo Firehall, 870 Chestnut Street, Nanty Glo, PA
5k: Duman Lake County Park, 157 County Park Road, Ebensburg, PA

Finish for ALL Race Day Events:
Duman Lake County Park, 157 County Park Road, Ebensburg, PA

Bicycle Ride:
Begin and end at Duman Lake County Park, 157 County Park Road, Ebensburg, PA

Restroom Locations
Six restroom facility locations will be available along the entire trail at the following locations.
*Mileages below are based off of the marathon from Ebensburg (Mile 0) to Duman Lake County Park (26.2).

Mile 0 - YPCC in Ebensburg
Mile 7 - Beulah
Mile 11.5 - Nanty Glo Ball Park and Firehall
Mile 16.5 - Vintondale
Mile 21 - Vic Miller Road
Mile 26.2 - FINISH at Duman Lake County Park

All facilities are ADA compliant.

Timing, Results and Photos
The running portion of the Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon will be unofficially timed through UltraSignup. Results will be posted to this site and emailed to participants after the race.

Marathon Pace Restrictions
There is a 15 minute/mile pace limit for participants of the marathon in all divisions. If you are unable to maintain this pace, you will be offered a ride to the finish area. You may continue to participate in your distance, but aid stations may not be available if your pace is less than this requirement.

2026 Cambria County Trails Series
Proceeds of the 2026 Cambria County Trails Series benefit the Friends of the Trails program, which exists to enhance and expand the Cambria County Trails. For details and to register, visit www.cambriaconservationrecreation.com/trail-events/.

May 23, 2026 - Path of the Flood Historic Races
June 20, 2026 - Ghost Town Trail Challenge
September 5, 2026 - Jim Mayer Trail 5k/10k
October 3, 2026 - Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-thon