Soapstone Mountain Trail Races - Stafford, Connecticut - Running

The Soapstone Mountain Trail Races is a Running race in Stafford, Connecticut consisting of a 24K Trail Run and 6K Trail Run.

The Soapstone Mountain Trail Races are popular, long-standing races in North Central Connecticut. There are two races on event day: a 24k (approx. 14.5 miles) and the Jerry Stage 6k Sampler. This is in honor of the many years of love, sweat and tears that Jerry Stage put into these races. Both races run through the extremely beautiful and scenic area around Soapstone Mountain, Shenipsit Forest State Park. Participants in the 24k race climb to the peak of Soapstone Mountain. The races are put on every year by the Shenipsit Striders, a 45 year old trail running club in north-central Connecticut.


The 24k and then 6k are both mass start. For the 24k awards go to the top male and female finisher as well as the top finishers in each age catagory; Under 40, 40 - 49, 50 - 59 and 60+. Awards go to the top overall male and female for the 6k Sampler as well as first place in 0-12, 13-18, 19-29, 30-29, 30-49, 50-59 and 60+. Everyone gets the satisfaction of completing the course plus an excellent vegetarian chili feast..

Walkers are welcome in the Sampler.
There are cutoff times in the 24K for the safety of all. The cut off is 2.5 hours at Aid Station 2 (~8 miles) and 3.5 hours at Aid Station 3 (~12.5 miles). Please be sure to come fit and ready to run.

24k Course
The first 2.5 miles of the 24k and the 6k are the same. The course travels along a slightly downhill dirt road before veering right onto an ATV trail. Passing a pond onto a single track trail, turns left onto a dirt road and right back into single track. Soon coming out onto dirt road where you take a right to cross the paved road (Gulf Rd). After traversing the parking lot, the trail makes another sharp right where participants are challenged with the first difficult climb - a very steep 1/2 mile trail named Killer Hill. Once at the top of the hill, runners travel by the Soapstone Mountain observation tower and then run down a steep descent. Following the downhill, the trail becomes a series of switchbacks and rollers through the woods - though it's challenging, the rollers aren't steep enough to dramatically alter one's overall pace. There are brook crossings and a muddy stream descent. There are lots of rocks and roots to twist ankles on. Watch your footing! There are also many crisscrossing trails, so keep your eyes on the white dots and flagging. Towards the latter half of the race, the course has one more significant climb up a single track, followed by a steep descent on a dirt trail continuing on dirt road and finishing on single track to end the race in a grassy field surrounded by family and friends. The entire course is marked with painted white dots on rocks and trees. In areas where the trail overlaps, splits or is tricky there will be additional flagging.