Norfolk Land Trust Trail Race Series/Haystack Mountain Challenge

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75 Lovers Lane, Norfolk CT

Sunday, October 5th, 2025

🏃‍♂️ Join the Race

Join us for our 12th Annual Trail Race Series.

💰 Race Fees

Registration: via this online portal only, including on race day.
5K: $25 before Sept 29, thereafter $30
10K: $25 before Sept 29, thereafter $30
- Groups of 4: registrations for 5K or 10K - $60 (Registrations must be made within the same transaction)
Half Marathon: $35 before Sept 24, thereafter $40
- Groups of 4: registrations for Half Marathon - $80 (Registrations must be made within the same transaction)

🍕 Special Offer

This year all runners will receive a free slice of pizza from Pete-za!! Norbrook Farm Brewery will also be on hand with ice-cold beverages for sale. Please remember that this is a cupless event and you should provide water. We will have some water stations set up along the route.

🏞️ Classic 5K

Challenging Course: A challenging and scenic race through picturesque Barbour Woods. The course is a mixture of single and double track.
Scenic Views: Climb up Beech Hill for a view of Haystack Mountain, run on carriage roads beside historic Killarney Bridge, descend 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.
Course Length: Note: This course usually measures at about 3.3mi.

⛰️ Haystack 10K

Extended Challenge: Want to go a little longer? Try adding a challenging loop over Haystack Mountain.
Beginning Route: 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.
Finish Line: Descend 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.
USATF-CT: The 10K is part of the 2025 USATF-CT MUT Grand Prix series.
Course Length: Note: This course usually measures at about 5.9mi.

🏅 Haystack Mountain Challenge Half Marathon

Exciting Challenge: The Haystack Challenge is an exciting and grueling half marathon. With 2000+ feet of elevation gain 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.
Course Details: The course includes a scenic ascent and a descent down a winding single track back to the start. From there you follow the 10k course to Haystack and break off onto public and private trails.
Summits: Two trips up and down Haystack link you back into the 10k course to the finish.
Privacy Notice: No map is provided for the privacy of property owners.

Note: There is a cutoff (2hr 8min ~ 16min pace) at approximately 8 miles on the first ascent up Haystack. If you get to the volunteer in over that time you will be asked to take a route to the finish that forgoes the two summits up the mountain or there will be the opportunity for a ride back to the start.