North Shore Trail Series
The North Shore Trail Series features eight of the region's top trail races spread across eight months. Over the course of the series participants will experience gentle carriage roads, rocky single track, ocean vistas, and the best of what Massachusetts' North Shore trails have to offer.
Calendar of Events
April 11, 2026: Merrimack River 10 Mile Trail Race
May 9, 2026: Spring for the Trails Half Marathon
June 7, 2026: Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race
August 22, 2026: Vineyard Hill Trail Race (5K or 10K)
September 19, 2026: Run for the Trails (5 Mile or 10 Mile)
October 18, 2026: Ravenswood Trail Race 4 Miler
November 7, 2026: TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival (10K, Half, Marathon, 50M, 100K)
November 28, 2026: Thanks for the Trails 5K
Please note that some of these events will sell out. Be sure to register early if you plan to participate. With some of the events listed, participants can choose between multiple of the distances offered. The distances listed above are the only ones that will count toward the series scoring.
March 22, 2026: North Shore Trail Summit
The North Shore Trail Summit is an opportunity to connect local trail nonprofits with trail users to define the future of shared outdoor spaces in the region. The summit is designed to be informative, welcoming, and driven by conversation, focusing on safe and respectful shared trail use. Register for free here.
The Summit aims to:
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Share how local and regional trail systems connect
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Highlight ongoing and upcoming trail projects and events
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Encourage collaboration across organizations and user groups
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Provide clear pathways for public involvement and volunteerism
Series Rules & Scoring
Participants in the series are counted if they complete at least six of the eight events. Scoring is calculated using the top six results of each participant. Three events in the series allow participants to choose between multiple of the distances offered. Participants in each distance will be scored and given points for their completion of these events.
Participants in the series score points based on their time as a percentage of the winner's overall time, making every second count! The winner gets the maximum number of points and everyone else gets a percentage of the maximum. The maximum number of points is 100. The gender divisions of male, female, and nonbinary will all be scored separately and be based off of the winning time within that division. Participants should make sure to register for each race using the same first and last name in order for their results to be tallied.
The series standings will be updated after the results of each event are finalized.
Please reach out with with any corrections to the series standings.
Completion, Overall, & Age Group Awards
Everyone who completes the series (completing at least six of the eight events) will also receive their very own coveted apparel piece (to be determined). All apparel items must be picked up at the North Shore Trail Series award ceremony in December. Participants must submit their apparel size via the Google Form that will be emailed to participants after the Run for the Trails event in September. It is the responsibility of participants in the series to fill out this form if they wish to pick up their apparel item at the award ceremony.
The North Shore Trail Series will also award the top three overall in the gender divisions male, female, and nonbinary, as well as the winners of each age group (as shown below). Please note the age groups for the North Shore Trail Series awards may differ from the age groups offered at each individual event. The participant's age group for the series awards is determined by the age they are for the first event they participate in.
Age Groups
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0 to 19
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20 to 29
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30 to 39
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40 to 49
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50 to 59
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60 to 69
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70 to 79
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80 to 89
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90 to 99
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100+
Event Details
Merrimack River 10 Mile Trail Race: The Merrimack River 10 Mile Trail Race, also known as "The Rivah," has been hosted annually since 1992, and features an out and back course along the bank of the Merrimack River in Andover, Massachusetts. The proceeds of the event go to the Andover Village Improvement Society for Merrimack River Trail maintenance. The course map is available to view here.
Spring for the Trails Half Marathon: The Spring for the Trails Half Marathon takes place on the winding double and singletrack trails of Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The race is directed by the Essex County Trail Association and supports their work in protecting and preserving hundreds of miles of trails in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. The course map is available to view here.
Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race: The Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race takes place in Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts, and the course travels through many historic and popular sections of Dogtown, including the Squam Path, New England Forestry Foundation's Norton Memorial Forest, Whale's Jaw, the Luce Trail, Briar Swamp, and the Rockport Town Forest. The terrain ranges from carriage roads with minor rocks and roots, to more extreme technical sections with extensive rocks. The race is directed by the Cape Ann Trail Stewards and supports their work in creating and supporting access to trails on Cape Ann. The course map is available to view here.
Vineyard Hill Trail Race (5K or 10K): The Vineyard Hill Trail Race takes runners over Vineyard Hill, through sections of Bradley Palmer State Park, along the Bay Circuit Trail, and across Greenbelt's scenic Shaw Field. The event starts and finishes on the town line of Hamilton and Topsfield, Massachusetts. The proceeds of the event support Greenbelt: Essex County's Land Trust, and their work to conserve the wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, and farmland throughout the region. The course map is available to view here.
Run for the Trails (5 Mile or 10 Mile): Run for the Trails takes place on the trails of the Harvard Forest, Appleton Farms, and the Pingree Forest, starting and finishing in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The race is directed by the Essex County Trail Association and supports their work in protecting and preserving hundreds of miles of trails in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. The course map is available to view here.
Ravenswood Trail Race 4 Miler: The Ravenswood Trail Race takes place on the trails of Ravenswood Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This classic fall race winds through challenging singletrack and carriage roads, giving participants ample opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage. The proceeds of the event go to The Trustees of Reservations. The course map is available to view here.
TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival (10K, Half, Marathon, 50M, 100K): The TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival takes place on the winding double and singletrack trails of Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It has been hosted annually since 2001, and is most recently being directed by the Trail Animals Running Club. The proceeds of the event go to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Rising Hearts, Essex County Trail Association, and Greenbelt: Essex County's Land Trust, four organizations focused on trail stewardship. The course map is available to view here.
Thanks for the Trails 5K: The Thanks for the Trails 5K takes place on the trails of Patton Park in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The race is directed by the Essex County Trail Association and supports their work in protecting and preserving hundreds of miles of trails in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. The course map is available to view here.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an essential part of trail culture, and volunteers are what allow these events to happen. From volunteer race directors, to aid station and course marking volunteers, it's the passion and generosity of these individuals that make these events the special and memorable experiences that they are. Please consider volunteering as an alternative way to participate in some of these events, and spread the word amongst your family, friends, and running club communities! The links to sign up and volunteer will be added to each event below as they become available.
April 11, 2026: Merrimack River 10 Mile Trail Race
May 9, 2026: Spring for the Trails Half Marathon
June 7, 2026: Dogtown 5 Mile Trail Race
August 22, 2026: Vineyard Hill Trail Race (5K or 10K)
September 19, 2026: Run for the Trails (5 Mile or 10 Mile)
October 18, 2026: Ravenswood Trail Race 4 Miler
November 7, 2026: TARC Stone Cat Trail Festival (10K, Half, Marathon, 50M, 100K)
November 28, 2026: Thanks for the Trails 5K
History
The North Shore Trail Series has existed since 2010. The goal from the beginning has been to showcase the region's best trails and support the stewards who care for them. Many of these events have been around for decades and welcomed thousands of runners throughout the years. Each event offers its own unique experience reflecting the communities that have brought them to life.
2026 Series Results
Local Running Groups
