Grindstone 100 Trail Race

Race - Sep 17, 2021

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Billed as "the hardest 100 miler east of the 100th meridian", this race is not for the faint of heart, and runners attempthing this incredible adventure will need plenty of endurance, grit, and determination for this event.

Online entries for Grindstone open annually on April 1.

The race starts and finished at Camp Shenandoah. Runners are in for plenty of challenging climbs interspersed with the solitude of singletrack ridge running in a setting that you'll never forget. Grindstone is event #4 in the Beast Series

The race starts and finishes at the Boy Scouts of America, Camp Shenandoah. Starting at the front corner of the Dining Hall, runners proceed across the field and exit the camp's main entrance, following the gravel road. At the far end of Hope Lake, runners proceed across the dam and spillway onto unnamed camp trail and follow to intersect with Elliott Knob Trail at 1.5 miles.

Follow Elliott Knob Trail over Little North Mountain to VA Rt. 42 and cross Rt. 42 to proceed to FS #291 and follow to FS trail #657 (Falls Hollow); turn right on FS 1448. Follow FS 1448 to the summit of Elliott Knob (passing both north and south options for the North Mountain Trail).

Runners will then retrace the course for 0.3 miles and turn left on FS trail #443 (North Mountain Trail) and proceed north to SR 688 (Dry Branch Gap).

Proceed straight on FS trail #485 (Crawford Mtn) to FS trail #489 (Chimney Hollow); turn left and follow this to US 250. Cross 250 and follow FS trail #650 (Dowells Draft) to junction of Wild Oak Trail.

Veering right, follow Wild Oak Trail loop (FS trail #716 counter-clockwise direction) over Hankey Mtn, Lookout Mtn, Grindstone Mtn, and Chestnut Ridge to Little Bald Knob. Turn right and proceed north on FS 427 to FS 85.

Next, turn right, following FS 85 to spur road and Reddish Knob summit. Retrace your steps from summit and continue north on FS 85 to Briery Branch Gap. From Briery Branch Gap, turn around and retrace the course back to Camp Shenandoah without summiting Reddish Knob and Elliott Knob on the return course.