Patapsco Valley 50K
Catonsville, Maryland · October · 50K
- Distance
- 52.1 km (32.4 mi)
- Loop course
- Overall cutoff
- 10 hours
- 18:30 per mi (11:30 per km) average
- Finish rate
- 99%
- of starters in 2025
Why runners love it
- Two loops of about 26.1 km (16.2 mi) past Cascade Falls and Lost Lake
- Hand-thrown mug for 50K finishers, chili and beer afterwards
- 10 h limit; 179 of 181 starters finished in 2025, counting unofficial finishers
- Start/finish at CCBC Catonsville with parking, close to BWI airport
- Open UltraSignup entry at $165
Watch out for
- The official site says clockwise for 2026 and does not say whether direction changes yearly
- Elevation is not published; runners report steep climbs, roots and rocks
- One tentative river crossing; the bridge detour is not marked and adds about 0.4 km (0.25 mi)
- Weather can move the race to the 25 October backup date or cancel it
- Crew and pacer rules are not published
Race
How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
Toughness for its distance: Tough
- Runner satisfactionLoved4.1
Accounts and listings are positive on the trails, mug and food, but sources are few and some are old. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
A 2018 report called it very well organized with a good backup plan; runners disliked that year's short-notice course change. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.0
Handmade finisher mugs, homemade chili, local beer and praised volunteers; little first-hand writing on the community. · Low confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Five stations, gaps of about 7 to 10 km (4.5 to 6.3 mi) per loop, varied food; one 2016 runner found a station unmanned. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessSome points3.0
The race does not publish crew rules; the loop passes the start/finish every 26 km (16 mi), so crew there is likely but unconfirmed. · Low confidence
- Drop bagsMany stations4.0
One bag at the start/finish, reachable after loop 1 and at the end. · Medium confidence
- PacersLate race2.8
Pacer rules are not published; few runners have written about them. · Low confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear4.0
The race manual says very well marked, with a RideWithGPS map; a 2016 runner mentioned others getting lost earlier. · Low confidence
- SceneryBeautiful3.8
Cascade Falls, a historic park, creek and river scenery and autumn colour. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceGreat3.8
Reviewers like the climbs, river crossing and technical downhills; the second lap repeats the first. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingModerate2.6
Rocks, roots, steep climbs and technical downhills reported, plus creek crossings; a few paved bike-trail sections. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMostly runnable3.5
One listing calls it challenging but runnable; runners report steep climbs, and the race does not publish elevation. · Low confidence
- ClimbingRolling hills3.0
Elevation not published; runners describe steep climbs on rolling terrain. · Low confidence
Conditions
Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- Race-day temperaturePleasant4.2
Late-October highs ranged from 11 to 25 C (51 to 77 F); cool and wet in some years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
The park can pull the permit in extreme weather; the 2018 race moved to a road loop on 24 h notice. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeSea level4.9
A river valley near Baltimore, close to sea level. · Medium confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous4.4
10 h for about 52 km (32 mi), around 18.5 min per mile; 179 of 181 starters finished in 2025, counting unofficial finishers. · Medium confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsGenerous4.1
One cutoff: finish loop 1 (26.1 km, 16.2 mi) by 12:15, which is 4 h 45 min, about 17.6 min per mile. · Medium confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2026 (UltraSignup page and race manual read 2026-10-17))
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| End of loop 1 (50K only) | 26 km (16 mi) | 12:15 (4 h 45 elapsed) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
A 50K with a 10 h limit and aid every 7 to 10 km (6.2 mi), but with rocky, rooty footing and steep climbs. · Medium confidence
- Getting inUsually open3.9
Open UltraSignup entry; the 50K had 3 spots left five days before closing, so late sign-up is possible but not guaranteed. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeVery easy4.5
BWI airport and Baltimore are close to Catonsville; the race does not state a distance. · Low confidence
- Places to stayGood4.2
One 2018 runner found hotels easy because the race is small; Baltimore metro lodging is plentiful. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.3
One start/finish at CCBC Catonsville with parking in Lot 6 and a loop course. · Medium confidence
- ValueGood value3.7
$165 includes a shirt, premium item, handmade mug, chili and beer, but is not cheap for a 50K. · Medium confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2026 (UltraSignup page and race manual read 2026-10-17) edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Catonsville, Maryland, United States
- Region
- Mid-Atlantic US
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 24 October 2026
- Start time
- 07:30
- First held
- 2014
- Distance
- 52.1 km (32.4 mi)
- Course shape
- Loop course, 2 laps of 26 km (16 mi)
- Surface
- Trail: About 95% unpaved trail per a third-party listing, with short sections of paved bike trail; the official page only says scenic, historic, well-marked trail.
- Footing
- Distance is derived from the race manual: two loops of about 16.2 mi (26.1 km), so the 50K is nearer 52 km (32 mi) than 50 km (31.1 mi). Elevation is not published. Runners describe steep climbs, rocks and roots, and technical downhills. Direction: the official 2026 notice says runners go clockwise this year; the official pages do not say whether the direction alternates by year, and archived 2023 and 2025 pages repeat the same 2026 wording, so no alternation can be confirmed. In 2018 the race ran a road loop near BWI instead.
- Overall cutoff
- 10 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 18:30 per mi (11:30 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Official page: the race closes at 17:30 (10 h limit); later finishers are listed as Unofficial Finishers. 50K runners not done with loop 1 by 12:15 are asked to stop. The 25K has no cutoff.
- Aid stations
- 5
- Longest gap between aid
- 10 km (6.3 mi)
- Drop bags
- Every lap
- Support notes
- UltraSignup page: five well-stocked aid stations. The race manual locates them at about mile 6.3 (10.1 km, Cascade Falls), mile 10.8 (17.4 km, Lost Lake) and mile 16.4 (26.4 km, start/finish) of each loop, with Gatorade, water, soda and sweet and salty food. One drop bag stored near the start/finish, accessible after loop 1 and after finishing. Crew and pacer policies are not stated in the sources read.
- Water crossings
- A few
- Water notes
- A tentative river crossing at the southeast end of the course; the unmarked Gun Rd bridge detour adds about 0.25 mi (0.4 km). Several small creek crossings that can be muddy.
- Night running
- None
- Mandatory gear
- None specified; the manual advises carrying some hydration at all times.
- Entry
- Open
- Entry fee
- About $165
- Finish rate
- 99% of starters in 2025
- Air temperature
- 11–25 °C (51–77 °F)
- Weather notes
- Range shown is race-day highs from 51 F (10.6 C) in 2018 to 77 F (25 C) in 2020, per a 2024 data analysis. Late October; wind gusts over 30 mph (48 km/h) in 2016; rain and wind in 2018.
- Nearest airport
- BWI
- Stay notes
- Start/finish at CCBC Catonsville, 800 S. Rolling Rd., Catonsville MD; park in Lot 6 (also 7 or 8). Packet pickup Friday 23 Oct or from 06:30 on race morning. Baltimore-area hotels; a 2018 runner found lodging easy to book. Course on RideWithGPS.
Official race website (white-oak-running-company.mailchimpsites.com)
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What runners and reviewers say
- Substack (dacodington)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
First-time runner who analysed 11 years of results: 200 to 225 registrants a year, finish rate above 80%, handmade mug for finishers. In 2018 the race moved to a 10.5 mi (16.9 km) road loop near BWI. Late-October highs ranged from 51 F (10.6 C) to 77 F (25 C); he enjoyed the race.
- zhurnaly.comRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Lovely cool day with 30+ mph (48+ km/h) gusts, steep climbs, rocks, roots, stream crossings and waterfalls; GPS read about 50 km (31.1 mi). One aid station was unmanned and the finisher mug was a highlight.
“It's an ULTRA, not an ACCURATE!”
- TeamRunRunRaced 2018 · blog · Mixed
2018 road-loop edition around BWI (about 10.5 mi, 16.9 km (10.5 mi), three times): wet and windy, rated 4 of 5. Very well organized with a backup plan and good food, easy lodging, spectators every 10 mi (16 km); he disliked the short-notice course change.
- GoTrailRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
2026 listing: 13th annual 50K and 5th 25K, clockwise this year, five staffed aid stations, hand-thrown mug for 50K finishers, virtual option and 25 Oct backup date.
Ran Patapsco Valley 50K? Your notes on the footing, cutoffs and aid stations help the next runner decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings.
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