BIG BEAR SQUATCH south
OCTOBER 19, 2025
Sassquad Trail Running and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are proud to present the Big Bear SquaTch South at Harriman State Park in Tuxedo, New York on Sunday October 19, 2025. All runners and hikers will experience non-stop trail beauty through Harriman State Park! Your race registration is directly helping the Trail Conference maintain and protect these trails. (The capitalized "TC" in SquaTCh stands for "Trail Conference"!!) This event WILL sell-out before race day so register early to avoid being added to the waitlist!
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
BIG BEAR SQUATh SOUTH
This is the second most challenging event in our series (Big Bear SquaTCh North is a bit more gnarly) and is a true northeast mountain race! The both routes highlights the technical trails, beautiful views and steep climbs of Harriman State Park (this is not a flat course!). Be sure to check out our Trail Party Handbook for allll of the deets!
CHARITY PARTNER
We are proud to be co-hosting this trail party with our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference! Please consider donating by using the add-on feature during registration. The NYNJTC maintains and protects over 2,000 miles of trails in New York and New Jersey. Please consider donating to the Trail Conference so they can continue to maintain the trails that we will be enjoying!
TRAIL PARTY LOCATION & parking
The race will start and finish at Powerhouse Park in Tuxedo, NY. There is a $3 parking fee for the commuter lot. Interested in carpooling? Check out the Sassquad Carpool-Assist Program!
aid stations
The half marathon has two aid stations: the first aid station (Victory Aid Station) is at mile 4.7ish and will have water, bananas and granola bars. The second aid station (Johnsontown Road Aid Station) is at mile 9.5 and will have water, Skratch, pb&j, granola bars, fruit and GF chips and Oreos (GF Oreos are available). The 10K will do a short out and back to get to Johnsontown Road Aid Station at mile 2.5. We always have a fully stocked first aid kit at each aid station and an AED at Squatch HQ. Our first aid kit includes mentrual products and wipes.
COURSE MARKINGS
The course will be marked with pink ribbons and we have large directional arrows at each of the turns. To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School ​to watch the information video about our course markings!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
13.1M Check-in: 8:15am-8:45am
13.1M Start time: 9am
10K Check-in: 9:15am-9:45am
10K Start time: 10am
*there are no on-coure cut-offs for the 10K*
Half Marathon - Mile 4.75 Aid Station Cutoff: 10:45am
Half Marathon - Mile 9.5 Aid Station Cutoff: 12:45pm
Finish line cutoff for both events: 2pm
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13.1M participants need to maintain a 22 min and 54 sec per mile pace to make each cut-off and finish by 2pm
10K participants needs to maintain a 38 min and 42 sec per mile pace to finish by 2pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Half Marathon has 2,200+ ft of cumulative gain; There is 1,000 ft of gain in the first 4 miles! The 10K has over 1,200 ft of vertical gain. Both courses are very technical route, which means that there are a lot of rocks and roots. There are steep climbs, rocky cliffs and even a short scramble. We want to emphasize that this is a very challenging course and very different from our other events! If we have rain (or snow?), the course will be extra challenging. All of that being said - this is a beautiful course! Your hard efforts will be rewarded with sweeping views as you get to enjoy peak foliage in the Hudson Valley. Since we started hosting this event in October, we have always lucked out with amazing fall colors!
squatch hq
We have some fun family-friendly games at Squatch HQ including corn hole, giant connect four and tic tac toe boards. We also provide private changing tents that are available for use before, during and after our races.
REQUIRED GEAR
Make no mistake about it - this is not a flat half marathon. The trails are technical and have some steep and rugged sections. ALL participants are REQUIRED to have the following with them at all times:
ALL participants are REQUIRED to have the following with them at all times:
- Charged cell phone
- Device with course gpx downloaded (watch or phone)
- Water bottle or hydration pack
- At least 200 extra calories
- Whistle (we will give you one at check-in)
The following items are recommended, but not required:
- Poles
- External battery pack for phone
- Buff/hat/gloves
- Wipes
- Ziploc baggie to pack out trash
"NATURE"
Tuxedo, NY is home to a variety of critters. So this is your "nature disclaimer". Yes, there are Black Bears. Here is what ya need to do if you see a bear during the race (this is from the Dept of Environmental Protection): If you see a bear, make it aware of your presence and use common sense. Never approach the animal; observe it only from a distance. Clapping, talking, singing or making other noise lets the bear know you are nearby. Remain standing, avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak in a calm, assertive voice if you encounter a bear at close range. Do not run.... More information on Bear Encounters.
COURSE MARKINGS
The course will be well-marked with neon pink/reflective ribbon. We have large red directional arrows at each of the turns. To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School to watch the information video about our course markings!
pacers & crew
As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please pre-register your pacer with us before the start of the Trail Party. Pacers are not allowed for folks under the age of 60 and who are not an AWD.
This is not a crewing-friendly event as there is no access to see your runner/hiker on the course (there is not enough parking at either aid stations).
BUT- the start/finish at Squatch HQ is a nice spot for friends and family to hang out. There is a large field for kids to hang out and most years there is a farmers market down the road. We have a range of fun games that your family can enjoy: corn hole, connect four, a giant rainbow parachute and the Squatch Hunt. Don't be shy, join in on the fun!
GETTING TO THE RACE
The start/finish is at Powerhouse Park in Tuxedo, NY. There is a $3 parking fee for the commuter lot. Interested in carpooling? Check out the Sassquad Carpool-Assist Program!
Q: What's the weather like in Tuxedo, NY in October?
A: Cool, usually in the high 50's, low 60's. Odds are that the Trail Party will be during peak foliage!
Q: What food will you have at the aid station?
A: The Leaky Cauldron is running on their inventory of butterbeer, jelly slugs, fizzing whizbees so we have to stick with the standard trial running fare. We will have a wide variety of traditional ultra running food, as well as many vegan and gluten-free items. We will also have SKRATCH!
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Trail Party?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of little Fred and George before during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.
Q: This will be my first trail race. What do I need to know?
A: Merlin's beard! We are SO EXCITED for you! You will feel welcomed at our race and you can expect a well-marked course. Take your time out there and enjoy the experience! You do not have to run the entire time! Do some hiking and have fun.
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please fill out the pacer registration form ahead of time and be sure to pick-up a pacer bib during check-in! Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Are there restrooms at the start/finish area?
A: There are portajohns at the start/finish area.
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: We will have bright colored ribbons along the course and plenty at all of the turns. Please note: we do not allow Apparating at this trail party. Wizards and witches who apparate wil receive a DQ.
Q: Will I encounter any wildlife on the course?
A: Besides the centaurs and hippogriffs, Harriman State Park is home to many critters, including black bears, deer, beavers and coyotes. We are utilizing heavily trafficked trails, so it is unlikely you will encounter any larger critters! But do make sure you watch out for the Whomping Willow.
Q: I can't come to the Trail Party anymore, can I get a refund?
A: ​Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 21 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. If you sustain an injury less than 21 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours. If the race that you want to drop from is sold-out with an active wait-list and are able to fill your spot: if you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) at least 3 days before the race, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, but Padfoot has to stay at home for this race. Our liability insurance does not cover dogs at our events; thank you for understanding!
​Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Don't do this at a Sassquad trail party or ANY other race. It's not okay. If you bandit a race, you will be banned from registering for any of our Sassquad events.