Elmore Mountain 10K: Your Guide to Elmore, Vermont's Best Fall Trail Race
There's a moment on Elmore Mountain, somewhere past halfway up the climb, where your quads start negotiating and the trail just keeps going up. That moment is why the Elmore Mountain 10K has become one of my favorite mornings on the Vermont calendar.
This year we're proud to sponsor the 3rd annual running of it: Saturday, October 3, 2026, a 10-kilometer course on the trails inside Elmore State Park, with roughly 1,500 feet of vertical gain packed into those 6.2 miles. Start and race HQ are at 1081 VT Route 12, Lake Elmore, Vermont, at the Elmore fire station.
You'll find the full Elmore Mountain 10K event details on our site — and below, everything I'd tell a friend asking whether they should sign up.
What Is the Elmore Mountain 10K?
The Elmore Mountain 10K is a community mountain race, not a purely timed event. That distinction matters. Yes, there's a clock but the spirit of the day is closer to a neighborhood gathering that happens to involve 1,500 feet of climbing.
Proceeds benefit the Mansfield Backcountry Alliance , which advocates for safe, accessible, sustainable human-powered winter recreation in the Mount Mansfield region. If you've ever earned turns on a backcountry line around here, you've benefited from their stewardship work.
Then there's the post-race spread: unlimited tacos and a raffle. I won't pretend that isn't part of the appeal — there's something excellent about standing in the October sun with muddy shoes and a plate of tacos, surrounded by people who just did the same hard thing.
The Course; What to Expect on the Climb
Races have started up the Elmore Mountain Access Road, then pitched onto the Ridge Trail. The access road is the friendly part wide, runnable, a chance to settle into a rhythm. On the Ridge Trail the character changes completely: narrower, rootier, steeper, the kind of grade where good runners hike and smart runners hike sooner.
The descent and the fire tower
From the ridge, recent editions have come down the Fire Tower Trail and finished around the nature loop near Lake Elmore. The Elmore Mountain fire tower is this mountain's payoff — the view over Lake Elmore toward the Worcester Range is one of the best in Lamoille County, and in early October you're looking at peak or near-peak fall foliage.
The descent is where this race is won and lost: steep, technical single track with loose leaf cover this time of year. Run it under control.
How to train for 1,500 feet in 6.2 miles
Two things. Train the hike — not just running uphill, but powerful uphill hiking with hands on your quads. That's what you'll actually do on the steep pitches, and it's trainable. Then train the downhill, because eccentric quad loading is what wrecks people. Find something steep and repeat it.
Race Day Logistics
Start and race headquarters: 1081 VT Route 12, Lake Elmore, VT, at the Elmore fire station — an easy, straightforward drive off Route 12 from Morrisville, Morristown, or Stowe.
Registration runs through UltraSignup : $50 adult ($53.50 with fees), $30 youth under 13 ($33.50 with fees).
On the start time: I'm not going to guess. The 2026 start time hasn't been confirmed as of this writing, so check the UltraSignup registration page for the official start time before you plan your morning — that's the source I'd trust over anything else, including me.
For everything else as it firms up, keep an eye on the full Elmore Mountain 10K event details .
Where the Elmore Mountain 10K Fits in Vermont's Trail Racing Calendar
If you're building a fall season of Vermont trail races, an early-October date is a gift. By the first weekend of October the summer heat is gone, the bugs are done, and the trails have usually dried out — firm footing and cool air, close to ideal for fall trail running in Vermont.
The foliage window is the other piece. Northern Vermont typically peaks late September through mid-October, and elevation staggers it: the ridgeline can be past peak while the valley around Lake Elmore is still lighting up. On a 10K climbing 1,500 feet, you run through two or three stages of fall in under an hour.
Practically, this slots in as a hard, short effort — a sharpener before a late-fall ultra, or a season-ending target if you've been building all summer. Big vertical, low overhead, easy to fit in without derailing a training block.
Why Runners Keep Coming Back to Lamoille County, and Some Never Leave
I've watched this happen more times than I can count. Someone drives up for a race, spends a Saturday morning on a mountain, eats tacos in a field, and starts asking what it's like to live here.
Trail access as a property feature
In the Elmore–Morristown–Stowe corridor, trail access isn't an amenity — it's part of what a property is. Homes near VMBA-affiliated mountain bike networks, state park trailhead access, or the backcountry terrain the Mansfield Backcountry Alliance works to protect carry durable appeal. It shows up in resale demand and rental performance, because the buyers and guests who want this area want it for four-season recreation: skiing, biking, hiking, running out the back door.
What it costs to live where you race
The local market median sits around $435,000, spanning village condos to mountain homes. Price here is less about square footage than position — how close you are to the trailheads, the resort, and the village. You can search homes across Lamoille County to get a feel for the range, and if you're weighing a primary move against a second home or short-term rental, start with buying in the Stowe and Elmore corridor . One caution: Vermont's short-term rental rules have tightened, so verify eligibility before building a plan around rental income.
Thinking of selling?
If you already own here, an active recreation buyer pool is a genuine asset — and marketing to it takes someone who actually rides and runs these trails. Here's what selling with Green Peak Properties looks like , and why we sponsor races like this one .
FAQ
How hard is the Elmore Mountain 10K?
Challenging but accessible. Roughly 1,500 feet of gain over 10 kilometers is a serious grade, but the steep sections are entirely walkable — plenty of finishers hike them. If you can cover 6 miles on trail and you're willing to power-hike, you can finish this race.
Can you hike Elmore Mountain when there's no race?
Absolutely. Elmore State Park is open to the public, and the hike to the Elmore Mountain fire tower is one of the best short summit hikes in the region. Late September through mid-October is peak foliage timing — expect company on clear weekends. There's also an Elmore State Park campground if you want to make a weekend of it.
Where should I stay for the Elmore Mountain 10K?
Good options within a short drive. Lake Elmore is closest and quietest, Morrisville gives you the most everyday convenience, and Stowe has the deepest lineup of lodging and restaurants if you're bringing family.
Register and confirm the start time on the UltraSignup page , and find the full Elmore Mountain 10K event details on our site. I'll be out there October 3rd — come say hi at the tacos.
And if a weekend on this mountain has you wondering what it would take to live here year-round: let's talk.
