EAGLETON
THE 86 MILER
Start time: Saturday 2:00pm (28 hour max finish time)
This is a graduate-level early season ultra meant to test runners on varying technical terrain, long steep climbs and descents, extended distance and time between aid stations, in both day and night conditions.
This is a gut-check assessment of a runner’s aptitude and fortitude to persevere and succeed.
86 miles. 28 hours.
There are plenty of spring ultras, but not many this long, this remote, or this punishing. Eagleton 86 is one of the only early-season races on the East Coast that delivers true technical trail, big climbs, long stretches without aid, and cutoffs that force you to stay sharp.
It’s steep, rugged, and built to test serious runners. Not with altitude, but with relentless terrain, hard-earned miles, and no easy outs.
Spanning nearly 86 miles through Eagleton Fields and the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Eagleton 86 course delivers a nonstop gauntlet of roots, rocks, narrow tread, steep hollows, and elevation changes that never let you settle. The trail feels alive underfoot, constantly shifting and demanding full attention.
More than just long, Eagleton 86 is brutally honest. The elevation profile stacks with dozens of climbs and descents, repeatedly climbing above 2,000 feet before diving into rocky drainages and technical switchbacks. You'll feel every footfall, and by the end, you'll know you earned every mile.
Forget flowing singletrack or cruise control — this is sharp-edged, old-school Pennsylvania terrain, the kind that doesn’t care about your watch or your ego. It's the estranged cousin to Ironstone 100K, Black Forest Ultra, and Eastern States 100 — same family of remoteness and ruggedness, but with its own no-frills attitude.
This course is raw, remote, and unapologetic, and that’s exactly the point.
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Trail system: Chuck Keiper Trail and Eagleton Fields
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Start: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, May 9, 2026
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Cut-off: 28 hours (Finish by 6:00 PM Sunday, May 10)
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Note on cutoff: Based on checkpoint pacing data from the Eastern States 100, applied to a shorter course. Only the top ~45% of ES100 finishers would make this time.
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Distance: 86 miles
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Total elevation gain/loss: 15,653 ft gain / 15,653 ft loss
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Elevation range: Low 564 ft / High 2,329 ft / Avg 1,529 ft
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Climb factor: 19%
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Surface: Technical singletrack — rocks, roots, and remote backcountry
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Night running required: Yes — bring backup lighting and thermal layers
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Pacers: Allowed (pickup at Ridge Rd only)
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Crews: Not allowed
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Drop bags: Shoemaker (twice), Ridge Rd
86 MILER MAP
Eagleton 86 Course
Eagleton isn’t designed to be generous — it’s built to be honest. The 28-hour cutoff reflects a relentless pacing expectation across 86 miles of remote Pennsylvania terrain. You’ll need to move efficiently, minimize downtime, and stay locked in from afternoon start to late Sunday finish.
This is a race for runners who manage time, calories, and discomfort with intent. More than half of Eastern States 100 finishers would not make this cutoff — that’s not a warning, it’s the premise.
If you're looking for a race that gives you space to coast, this isn’t it. But if you’re chasing a spring challenge that demands respect, preparation, and nonstop forward motion, Eagleton will meet you head-on.
The route winds deep through Sproul State Forest, weaving the full backbone of the Chuck Keiper Trail with access through Eagleton Fields. With 15,653 feet of climbing, relentless vertical gain, and almost no flat terrain, this is one of the hardest early-season ultras on the East Coast.
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Miles 0–30: From the Eastern Trailhead, early stops at Gobbler’s Roost (7.1 mi) and Shoemaker (14.4 mi) lead into a long push through Pete’s Run (25.6 mi) and on to Barney’s Ridge (30.1 mi).
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Miles 30–58: High ridgelines, big drops, and remote footing define the middle miles. Aid stations at Jew’s Run, Ridge Rd (drop bag, pacer pickup), and Penrose are widely spaced.
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Miles 58–85.8: A second pass through Shoemaker (drop bag) leads into a long descent to Mill Branch, then one final stretch through Eastern Trailhead (82.8 mi) to the finish.
Expect long stretches without aid, sustained climbs, and zero mental breaks. If your race plan relies on frequent resupply or aid station resets, this course will punish hesitation.
Eagleton 86 Qualification Standards
Qualification Standards: This is not an entry-level ultramarathon. Eagleton 86 shares the terrain profile and attitude of events like Eastern States 100. The technical trails, elevation gain, and aid station spacing require real trail experience and a proven ability to move through challenging terrain over long periods.
Minimum Qualification Requirement
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All entrants must complete at least one officially organized 50K trail race between January 1, 2024 and their date of registration.
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The race must be completed within the official cutoff time.
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Results must be publicly available (e.g., posted on UltraSignup or a timing/results site).
Non-Qualifying Events
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Timed events (e.g., 12-hour, 24-hour)
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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Obstacle Course Races (OCR)
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Biathlons or Triathlons (unless the run portion is an organized 50K trail race with results)
Completion Requirement
The 50K must be completed prior to registration.
Registrants who do not meet this requirement will not be accepted.
Exceptions for the date range may be considered only for extenuating life circumstances (e.g., military service, pregnancy).
Rationale: The 50K requirement exists to ensure that all entrants have baseline experience on technical trail. This course will expose underprepared runners. If you're not sure whether you're ready, you probably aren’t — and that’s okay. Come back next year.
Participant Responsibility
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Research the course and cutoff expectations, review maps, read trail reports
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Make an honest assessment of your own readiness
Race management will not provide individualized feedback or exceptions beyond the criteria above.
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The Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance promotes trailrunning and the responsible use of public lands, through events such as the Eastern States 100 and Ironstone 100K, footraces we manage as a stewardship for trailrunners and the community.