Cayuga Trails.
Cayuga Trails starts and finishes at Old Y Camp in Robert Treman State Park and stays almost entirely on trail, through gorges, past waterfalls and up historic stone stairs. The 50K has no single big mountain, just a long chain of short, steep pitches, and that is what your preparation has to answer.
Cayuga Trails 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course leaves Old Y Camp and makes its point at once: around km 2 there are some 450 metres at nearly 20 percent, before most runners are warm. It then drops away again, and from km 9 comes the first longer climb. This is not a clean single circuit, since the outbound and return lines overlap in places.
The hardest stretch starts at km 18: just over 1.3 km at almost 13 percent, the biggest gain of the day. Further climbs at km 26 and 30 keep the legs loaded afterwards. The final third brings no relief, because km 41.5 holds the steepest ramp of the race, about 430 metres at roughly 21 percent.
Around 95 percent of the distance is trail: singletrack through eastern forest, gorges and stone stairs, and a small paved remainder. The ground stays low, between about 135 and 340 metres, and no climb gains much more than 170 metres. The difficulty comes from accumulation, not altitude. The course has been reconfigured several times over the years, so read the kilometre marks as a guide.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.1 | 0.5 km | 19.6 % | 37.7 % | +88 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 8.9 | 1.8 km | 6.7 % | 26.2 % | +117 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 18.1 | 1.3 km | 12.9 % | 26.3 % | +171 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.1 | 1.1 km | 11 % | 23.9 % | +123 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 30 | 1.2 km | 12.5 % | 30.8 % | +147 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 37.9 | 1.2 km | 5.2 % | 19.9 % | +60 m | — |
| km 41.6 | 0.4 km | 20.9 % | 34.1 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 43.2 | 1.4 km | 7.3 % | 22.5 % | +104 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 Cayuga Trails.
Start under control
Only about a sixth of the course is flat, so a fixed kilometre pace means nothing here. Run by effort, power-hike anything steeper than about twelve percent, and run wherever the footing lets you. The ramp at km 2 is the first test of that discipline: fresh legs can run it, and you pay for that hours later.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 38 and 45. Three climbs sit close together there, and the ramp at km 41.5 demands strength that after 40 km only remains if you stayed under your limit on the long climb from km 18.
Spend what is left
The real trap is downhill. Steep descending makes up about the same share as steep climbing, and braking hard through stairs and singletrack leaves you without quads for the last third. Keep your steps short and let the descents flow under control instead of trying to win time on them.
Training plan for Cayuga Trails: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly six to nine hours as an age-group runner. The effort is not a steady long run but a constant alternation: short, strength-heavy spikes on the climbs, controlled descents, little recovery on flat ground. The base is aerobic, but what counts is being able to call on it after repeated hard pitches.
Train race pace
The critical phase comes late. The block between km 38 and 45, with its ramp of about 21 percent, demands climbing strength on already tired legs. So put the steepest repeats at the end of your long runs: several 300 to 500 metre steep efforts at a fast hike after two to three hours on trail are the best match for this race.
Rehearse the course
Downhill work belongs in the plan as well. Regular steep descents during the week and strength work for quads and calves prepare the legs for all that descending. Stairs do double duty, because the stone steps on course call for rhythm changes in both directions, and lunges or step-ups help where no hill is close by.
Arrive fresh
With so little pavement on the course, most of your long sessions should be on singletrack, so that ankles and footing grow with the volume. With the race on 5 June, the longest runs fall in April and May; use them to test shoes and fuelling over at least five hours.
Courses
Download the Cayuga Trails course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Cayuga Trails dynamically
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Everything about Cayuga Trails.
How long is Cayuga Trails?
Cayuga Trails 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 Cayuga Trails have?
Cayuga Trails has around 1,580 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Cayuga Trails?
Cayuga Trails is classified as Mountainous, averaging 31.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 26% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Cayuga Trails have?
The hardest climb of Cayuga Trails starts at kilometre 18.1, runs for 1.3 km at an average of 12.9% and gains 171 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Cayuga Trails a loop course?
Yes, Cayuga Trails is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Cayuga Trails course?
Yes. The Cayuga Trails 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 Cayuga Trails?
Preparation for Cayuga Trails should account for 50 km, 1,580 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 Cayuga Trails?
The pacing strategy for Cayuga Trails should reflect 50 km, 1,580 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 Cayuga Trails 2027 take place?
Cayuga Trails 2027 takes place on June 5, 2027.
Where does Cayuga Trails 2027 take place?
Cayuga Trails 2027 takes place in Ithaca, United States.
Which distances does Cayuga Trails offer?
Cayuga Trails offers 2 distances — Cayuga Trails 50K: 50 km; Cayuga Trails 50 Mile: 80.47 km.
How do I register for Cayuga Trails?
Registration runs through the organiser: rednewtracing.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
