Free. You can start with nothing.
Runners turn around at the Skulls Gap aid station and return to Damascus on the Iron Mountain Trail. It uses the Straight Branch, FS 90, Skulls Gap and FS 90 aid stations.
The final trail descent into town is steep, with lots of loose rock on a washed out trail. If it has been wet it will be muddy, and if it is raining it will be a stream, so run within your limits. There is no medical assistance along the course and emergency care may be hours away.
A trail race that starts and finishes at the Damascus Town Park in Damascus, Virginia, with 16, 30, 40 and 50 mile options. The footing varies from easy running on the Virginia Creeper Trail and forest service roads to technical singletrack, and most of the course follows the Iron Mountain ridgeline through the Jefferson National Forest. The four distances start at staggered times between 7 and 8 AM.
The Iron Mountain Trail Run started in 2006 as a 50 mile race, with 37 starters and 32 finishers in the first year. The 16 and 30 mile options were added when a new race director took over in 2009, and the 40 mile option in 2019.
| Mile | Station | Cutoff | Crew access | Bag | Pacer | Med | To next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Start (Damascus Town Park gazebo) | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| ? | Straight Branch | 8:30am | ● | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| ? | FS 90 | 9:55am | ● | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| ? | Skulls Gap | 11:45am | ● | ● | ● | ? | ? |
| ? | FS 90 | 2:30pm | ● | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| ? | Finish (Damascus Town Park gazebo) | 5:30pm | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
From the start: north past the Red Caboose; right on Laurel St. (Hw 58 E) for 1.5 miles; follow Hw 58 E through Damascus and out of town; take a left to remain on Hw 58 E towards Independence for 3.0 miles; right into the parking area for Straight Branch (look for the wooden VA Creeper sign). About 4.5 miles, 10 minutes driving time.
sites.google.comEast (right) on Hw 58 E for 2.8 miles; left on FS 90, a very rough gravel road, for 1.3 miles; aid station at the top of the mountain. About 4.1 miles, 20 minutes driving time. The race director encourages crew to not drive to FS 90 because of crowding and a rough gravel road.
Parking. The gravel road to this aid station is very rough with some washouts (deep ruts), and parking is very tight. If your crew has a low clearance vehicle, the race director recommends not driving it on this road.
sites.google.comSouth on FS 90 back down the mountain (1.3 miles); left on Hw 58 E for 3.7 miles; straight onto 603 for 2.8 miles; past Konnarock stay left following the sign for Bike Route 76, after about 100 yards this becomes 600, follow for 2.4 miles; aid station is on your left at the intersection with FS 84. About 10.2 miles, 30 minutes driving time.
sites.google.comSouth on 600 for 2.0 miles; stay right following the sign for Bike Route 76 and continue on 603 for 2.8 miles; straight onto Hw 58 W (3.7 miles); right on FS 90 (rough gravel road) for 1.3 miles. About 9.8 miles, 30 minutes driving time.
Parking. The gravel road to this aid station is very rough with some washouts (deep ruts), and parking is very tight. If your crew has a low clearance vehicle, the race director recommends not driving it on this road.
sites.google.comSouth on FS 90 (1.3 miles); right on Hw 58 W for 5.8 miles; right on Hw 58 W where it merges with Hw 91 (1.5 miles); follow Hw 58 W through town; left at the red caboose. About 8.6 miles, 30 minutes driving time.
sites.google.comNobody has been out there with a camera or a microphone yet. A gap means nobody has found it, not that it is not out there. Seen a course preview or a film of this one? Send us the link.
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I keep this catalog because the information is scattered and hard to trust. Telling you when it moves is the same job.
