Cabin Fever 50K.
The Cabin Fever 50K crosses New River Gorge National Park in February, from downtown Fayetteville to Hawks Nest State Park. Much of the day stays high on the ridgelines before the course drops to the New River beneath the New River Gorge Bridge, and the hardest ramp of the race waits on the final kilometre.
Cabin Fever 50K 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race starts in downtown Fayetteville. The first 25 kilometres stay high, between roughly 550 and 625 metres, a constant up and down on single-track along the ridgelines. The steeper pitches come early, between kilometres 3 and 7, none of them longer than about a kilometre. Waterfalls lie along the way, and the terrain underfoot keeps changing character.
Just past kilometre 25 the race tips over: almost 140 metres vanish in little more than a kilometre, and the trail then keeps sinking for another ten, steepest at the end. Around kilometre 36 you reach the lowest ground, the New River directly beneath the New River Gorge Bridge. From there the course turns straight back uphill, a little over 110 metres in the next kilometre and a half.
What follows is no cruise home. A three-kilometre climb starts at kilometre 45, then the course falls again almost to river level. Hawks Nest State Park is earned in the closing metres: 130 metres of ascent in just 600 metres of distance, averaging over 20 percent.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.9 | 0.7 km | 5 % | 9.2 % | +33 m | — |
| km 3.3 | 0.8 km | 8 % | 14.2 % | +62 m | — |
| km 4.6 | 0.6 km | 5.2 % | 13.1 % | +31 m | — |
| km 5.8 | 0.9 km | 6.4 % | 24 % | +59 m | — |
| km 10.5 | 0.5 km | 3.9 % | 6.6 % | +20 m | — |
| km 36.6 | 1.7 km | 6.9 % | 13.1 % | +114 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 44.8 | 3 km | 4.2 % | 15.7 % | +126 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 50.2 | 0.6 km | 21.7 % | 35.4 % | +130 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Cabin Fever 50K.
Start under control
Split the day into two races. The rolling 25 kilometres on the high ground run quickly and should feel too easy all the way through: walk the early pitches rather than forcing them, and settle on a single-track pace your heart rate would still accept six hours in.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometre 25 and the bridge. The course loses far more than it gains there, and that is exactly the trap: let the long descent to the river run away and your quads pay, and you need them for three more climbs afterwards. Keep your stride short and take only as much from gravity as your legs can brake without burning.
Spend what is left
The final kilometre costs walking time, so budget for it. At over 20 percent nothing is left to run, which means saving strength and fuel for that ramp. On a winter day you cool down fast when you stand around, so use the fully stocked aid stations quickly and move on.
Training plan for Cabin Fever 50K: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect six to nine hours as an age-group runner, against a ten-hour limit. Most of that is calm aerobic work broken by short spikes on the climbs, and the hardest spikes come when your legs have already been moving for a long time. Close to 1,000 metres of ascent is not extreme for 50 kilometres; the problem is where it sits.
Train race pace
Your long runs should rebuild that layout: several hours of rolling ground, then a long descent, and only then the climbs. Downhill running on tired legs is the single most important skill here, because the course drops more than it rises overall. Use the winter block for deliberate longer descents, ideally late in a session, so your quads learn to brake.
Rehearse the course
The closing ramp asks for steep hiking. Add very steep hill intervals of five to ten minutes, powering up with hands on thighs, and put them at the end of long runs. If you only know that movement on fresh legs, the final kilometre will be an unpleasant surprise.
Arrive fresh
Single-track demands secure footing even when you are tired, so move as many long sessions as you can onto trails. A February race means the whole build happens in winter: test layers and fuelling in the cold and over the full duration, since the course runs as a single line through the park and never returns to where you started.
Courses
Download the Cabin Fever 50K course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Cabin Fever 50K dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Cabin Fever 50K.
How long is Cabin Fever 50K?
Cabin Fever 50K is 50 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Cabin Fever 50K have?
Cabin Fever 50K has around 973 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Cabin Fever 50K?
Cabin Fever 50K is classified as Hilly, averaging 19.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 18% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Cabin Fever 50K have?
The hardest climb of Cabin Fever 50K starts at kilometre 50.2, runs for 0.6 km at an average of 21.7% and gains 130 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Cabin Fever 50K a loop course?
No, Cabin Fever 50K is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Cabin Fever 50K course?
Yes. The Cabin Fever 50K course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Cabin Fever 50K?
Preparation for Cabin Fever 50K should account for 50 km, 973 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Cabin Fever 50K?
The pacing strategy for Cabin Fever 50K should reflect 50 km, 973 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Cabin Fever 50K take place?
Cabin Fever 50K takes place on February 20, 2027.
Where does Cabin Fever 50K take place?
Cabin Fever 50K takes place in Fayetteville, West Virginia, United States.
How do I register for Cabin Fever 50K?
Registration runs through the organiser: rimtoriverendurance.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
