mayapple
May 2026
There is the Fallapple, the Febapple, the Squatchapple, and THE MAYAPPLE! Did you know that it was the Mayapple that started it all back in 2009? This is the original race that inspired all of the other "Apples". With distances for everyone, this trail party is open to runners and hikers of all ages and paces. Runners/hikers can sign up to squatch 5 miles, 10 miles, 20 miles, 50K or 50 miles! We produce the event in partnership with the South Mountain Conservancy.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
mayapple
This trail party has something for everyone—whether you're a seasoned ultrarunner chasing 50 miles or a first-time trail hiker looking to squatch a friendly 5-mile loop. We welcome runners and hikers of all ages and paces. Choose your own adventure with distances of 5 miles, 10 miles, 20 miles, 50K, or 50 miles.​
CHARITY PARTNER
Founded in March 2000, the South Mountain Conservancy is a volunteer, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing the South Mountain Reservation through active stewardship, advocacy, and education. Since 2018, Sassquad Trail Runners have donated over $20,000 to the Conservancy!
TRAIL PARTY HANDBOOK
Be sure to check out our comprehensive Trail Party Handbook where you can find all of the important deets!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
50 Miler:
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Check-in 6:15am-6:45am
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Start at 7am
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Course closes at 9:30pm; 14.5 hour cutoff
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Participants need to maintain a 17 min 20sec per mile pace to finish by 9:30pm
50K:
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Check-in 7:15am-7:45am
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Start at 8am
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Course closes at 9:30pm; 13.5 hour cutoff
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Participants need to maintain a 26 min per mile pace to finish by 9:30pm
20 Miler:
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Check-in 8:15am-8:45am
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Start at 9am
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Course closes at 9:30pm; 12.5 hour cutoff
11 Miler:
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Check-in 8:15am-8:45am
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Start at 9am
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Course closes at 9:30pm; 12.5 hour cutoff
Participants can drop down to a shorter distance but cannot receive one of the top 3 finisher awards.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Mayapple course consists of 2 different loops that all start/finish at the Tulip Springs Trailhead. The loops are the Mayapple 10.2< loop and the Turtleback 10.5M loop. Participants will complete a combination of the Mayapple and Turtleback loops to achieve the total race distance. You must complete the loops in the exact order that they are listed. You can drop down in distance during the race, but folks who drop down are not eligible for post-race awards.
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10.5 Mile Turtleback Loop, ORANGE RIBBONS OUT, BLUE/WHITE RIBBONS BACK: ~1,500 ft gain
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10.2 Mile Mayapple Loop, PURPLE RIBBONS OUT, YELLOW/WHITE RIBBONS BACK. ~1,500 ft gain
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5 Mile Course, YELLOW RIBBONS: ~ 800 ft gain
50 Miler: ~6,000 ft gain - Turtleback, Mayapple, Turtleback, Mayapple, Turtleback
50K: ~4,500 ft gain - Turtleback, Mayapple, Turtleback
20 Miler: ~3,000 ft gain - Mayapple, Turtleback
11 Miler: ~1,500 ft gain - Mayapple
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We will include a detailed trail conditions report leading up to the race. Generally, most runners/hikers find a sturdy trail shoe with decent lugs to be a good match for this race (think Brooks Cascadia, Altra Timps, Hoka Speedgoat, etc). Trekking poles are allowed at all of our events.
COURSE MARKINGS
The course will be well-marked with bright/reflective ribbons. 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!
VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM
Our Volunteer Dream Team is what makes all of the Trail Magic happen! Join us as a Volunteer at this trail party as we support our squatchtastic running community. We have many Volunteer opportunities available such as Check-In, Aid Station Crew, Course Sweepers, etc. Click here to Volunteer!
REQUIRED GEAR
All of our trail parties are CUPLESS: please bring a cup/bottle/pack with you
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Any runners/hikers who are still out on the course at 7PM are required to have a headlamp and a charged cellphone with them.
Sunset is at 8pm and the course closes at 9:30pm.
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There are no exceptions to these rules; please be prepared!
You will not be allowed to continue after 7pm if you do not have a headlamp and cellphone.
Pacers are allowed at sunset.
aid stations
Our Volunteer Dream Team will bring all of the Trail Magic to the Aid Station! The start/finish area is Squatch HQ (Locust Grove). This will be our "big aid station" where we will dish out snacks and cooked hot food throughout the day. There are also aid stations at the halfway point of each loop. So that makes a total of 3 aid stations. The on-course aid stations at Mayapple Hill and Turtleback Rock will have snacks, water and Skratch (no cooked food). As always, we will have a large assortment of gluten-free and vegan options. The Mayapple Hill and Turtleback Rock Aid Stations may include the following: PB&J, fruit, ice pops, GF fruit snacks, granola bars, Oreos, GF pretzels, GF tortilla chips, and GF Potato chips. Squatch HQ (Locust Grove) will have those items in addition to a variety of cooked food: quesadillas, bacon, pierogies, ramen, veggie broth etc. Please BYO-ice if you anticipate needing ice. We always have a fully stocked first aid kit at each aid station and we also have an AED at Squatch HQ. All of our first aid kits include menstrual products and wipes. There is a private changing tents at Squatch HQ that is available for use before, during, and after our races.
pacers & crew
Participants who are still out on the course at sunset can have a pacer; please pre-register your pacer and make sure you take a pacer bib for them during check-in. 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.​
All runners/hikers can have a Crew join them at the Trail Party for the duration of the event. Crew access is available at Squatch HQ and at each of the aid stations. Crew cannot aid their runner/hiker at any other spot on the course. Crews are encouraged to bring ice if they anticipate their runner/hiker needing ice during the event.Crew are welcome to set up their own pop-up tents at Squatch HQ in the designated areas. All tents and canopies MUST be staked/weighted down (they will fly away if they aren't staked down).
GETTING TO THE RACE
The race starts and finishes at the Locust Grove Picnic Area at the South Mountain Reservation in Millburn, NJ. Please park across the street at the Commuter Lot / Public Library. Interested in carpooling? Check out the Sassquad Carpool Assist Program!
Q: What's the weather like in Millburn, NJ in May?
A: We've had very warm weather and high humidity at the Mayapple the last few years. But we've also had cooler weather with heavy rain in the past. Mayapple weather could go either way!
Q: What food will you have at the aid station?
A: We will have a wide variety of traditional ultra running food, as well as many vegan and gluten-free items. You are more than welcome to bring your own food/water. You will come back to Squatch HQ (Locust Grove) after every loop.
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Trail Party?
A: 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 your kids 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: We are SO EXCITED that you are choosing a Sassquad event for your first trail race! This is a great choice for your first race because these trails have a bit of everything! You'll run on easy carriage roads, technical singletracks and enjoy flat trails and hilly trails. You're going to LOVE it!
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. There are also portajohn's at each aid station.
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.
Q: Are there any roads on the course?
A: There are a couple of road crossings at the Mayapple. Runners/hikers are only allowed to cross LEGALLY and must wait for the right-of-way at the crosswalk!
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 Clifford 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.