Virginia State Parks Adventure Series


Adventure series logo
Presented by
Dominion Energy logo

Presented by Dominion Energy

Welcome to the most innovative race series in Virginia sports, the Virginia State Parks Adventure Series! This one-of-a-kind race series features a wide-ranging selection of competitive events held in Virginia State Parks. Events include adventure races, running events, mountain bike races, cyclocross races, adventure triathlons, sprint triathlons, a one-of-a-kind gravel time trial, and an old-school mountain bike enduro race. Participants can win great prizes in one of two ways: amassing points in the Competition Category or simply participating in the Achievement Category.

In a nutshell, the Competition Category is scored on your top 8 race point levels. We have five bonus races worth an extra 50 points (150 vs 100), so strategy is important. Only one race event will be scored for points. Please make sure you register for the designated races to be scored in the Competition Category.

The Achievement Category is scored on the number of races you complete. All categories in a series events race will be counted toward your race total, not just the designated scored race. Race more races win better prizes!

Awards and Prizes can be found in the Achievement Awards and Competition Awards links below.

PLEASE THOROUGHLY READ THE GUIDELINES AND RULES FOR MORE DETAILS!

In our effort to keep the Series fresh, we have added four new races for 2024:

  • The DMV Adventure Race
  • The Arbor Day 15k Run
  • The Shenandoah River Aquablaze
  • The Fall Foliage Adventure Race

And we bumped our number of bonus point races from 3 to 5.

  • The Monster Cross 50-Miler
  • The Shenanduro 6-hour Mountain Bike Race
  • The Night Train Ultra Marathon
  • The Shenandoah River Aquablaze Long Course Duathlon
  • The New River Trail Challenge Long Distance Adventure Triathlon

If you haven’t participated in the Series, be prepared to make new friends and good-natured competitors. We wish everyone the best of luck in 2024!


2024 Adventure Series Calendar

RaceDateLocationType
Monster Cross* Feb. 18, 2024 Pocahontas State Park 50-mile cyclocross race
Tour de Pocahontas March 16, 2024Pocahontas State Park 32-mile bike (no e-bike)
Dogwood Ultra Marathon March 23, 2024 Twin Lakes State Park 10-mile trail run
DMV Adventure Race April 6, 2024 Leesylvania State Park  4-hour solo adventure race 
James River Trail Runs April 13, 2024  James River State Park 10-mile trail run
Spring Bloom Adventure Race April 27, 2024 Leesylvania State Park 5-hour adventure race (with bike)
Arbor Day 15k April 28, 2024York River State Park15k trail run
Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon May 4, 2024Smith Mountain Lake State ParkSprint triathlon
Middle Mountain Momma May 5, 2024Douthat State Park 21-mile MTB bike race
Shenanduro* May 11, 2024 Shenandoah River State Park 6-hour MTB bike race
Taskinas Creek 1/2 Marathon June 2, 2024 York River State Park 1/2 marathon trail run
Seven Bends Adventure Race June 8, 2024 Seven Bends State Park 6-hour solo adventure race
High Bridge Trail Time Trial June 9, 2024 High Bridge Trail State Park 19-mile bike gravel rail-trail time trial
Poca Go! June 15, 2024 Pocahontas State Park MTB stage race
Night Train Ultra Marathon* June 22, 2024 High Bridge Trail State Park 50k trail run
Guts, Gravel, Glory Aug. 4, 2024 Pocahontas State Park 50-mile gravel cyclocross race
Odyssey Trail Running Rampage Sept. 7, 2024 Douthat State Park 1/2 marathon trail run
Shenandoah River Adventure Race Sept. 7, 2024 Shenandoah River State Park 6-hour solo adventure race
Shenandoah River Aquablaze* Sept. 8, 2024 Shenandoah River State Park Marathon course, 13-mile paddle and 13-mile trail run
Pawpaw 10 Miler and 5 Miler Sept. 21, 2024 Powhatan State Park 10-mile trail run
New River Trail Challenge* Sept. 21, 2024 New River Trail State Park Long distance adventure - tri-bike, kayak, run
High Bridge 1/2 marathon and 5k Oct. 5, 2024High Bridge Trail State Park 1/2 marathon gravel rail-to-trail run
Pocahontas Trail Festival Oct. 6, 2024 Pocahontas State Park 10k trail run
Fall Foliage Adventure Race Oct. 19, 2024 Mason Neck State Park 4-hour solo adventure race

*Bonus Point Race

Guidelines and Rules
  • Races will be scored on a 100-point scale. Winners will receive 100 points, second place 99 points, third place 98 points, etc.
  • Bonus Races will be scored on a 150-point scale. Winners will receive 150 points, second place 149 points, third place 148 points, etc.
  • Only solo races will be scored for Competition Category points.
  • Races will be broken down into Male and Female categories. There will be one female and one male top finisher, all other finishers will be based solely on points
  • Only the featured race will be scored for Competition points.
  • All Series races held on the same day, regardless of category, will be awarded Achievement points.
  • Winners of Competition awards are ineligible for Achievement awards.
  • Winners of the Competition categories will be based on their top 8 finishes.

Further details and complete point scales can be found here.

Competition Awards

Overall Male
Overall Female

  • $500 Cash (Visa Gift Cards)
  • $500 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate
  • $250 REI Gift Certificate
  • REI Grand Prize Package
  • Virginia State Parks Annual Pass

2nd Overall

  • $400 Cash (Visa Gift Cards)
  • $300 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate
  • $200 REI Gift Certificate
  • Virginia State Parks Annual Pass

3rd Overall

  • $300 Cash (Visa Gift Cards)
  • $300 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate
  • $100 REI Gift Certificate
  • Virginia State Parks Annual Pass

4th Overall

  • $200 Cash (Visa Gift Cards)
  • $300 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate
  • Virginia State Parks Annual Pass

5th through 10th Overall

  • $150 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate
  • Virgnia State Parks Annual Pass

Competition prize winners are not eligible for Achievement awards!

Achievement Awards

Five-Race Award

Compete in any five Adventure Series races and win a Virginia State Parks annual pass. You will also be entered into a drawing for a $150 Virginia State Parks gift certificate.

Seven-Race Award

Compete in seven Adventure Series races and win a $100 VSP gift certificate and annual pass.

Competition awards will not be awarded with Achievement awards. If qualifying for both competitive and achievement awards, participants will receive the larger prize package for which they qualify.

Award levels will be determined by the highest achievement level reached by the participants. Seven-race award winners will not receive the five-race award prizes.


Race Details

Monster Cross logo

Monster Cross

Feb. 18, 2024
Cyclocross race.
The facts: 25-mile and 50-mile races
Scored Race: 50-mile race
Pocahontas State Park

Registration

 

Tour de Pocahontas logo

Tour de Pocahontas

March 16, 2024
Mountain bike races
The facts: Variety of races ranging from a 2.5-mile time trial to the 32-mile “Tour” race
Scored Race: 34-mile
Pocahontas State Park

Registration

 

Dogwood Ultra

Dogwood Ultra Marathons

March 23, 2024
Ultra-Marathons with shorter options
The facts: 10-mile, 12-hour solo, 12-hour relay, 24-hour solo, 24-hour relay, 36-hour solo, and 36-hour relay
Scored race: Saturday 10 miler
Twin Lakes State Park

Registration

 

DMV Adventure Race

DMV Adventure Race

April 6, 2024
Adventure race
The facts: 4-hour and 12 hour races, solo and team
Scored race: 4-hour solo
Leesylvania State Park

Registration

 

James River Ultra Runs logo

James River Trail Runs

April 13, 2024
Ultra-distance runs with shorter options
The facts: 50-mile, 50k, 10-mile options on mixed trails
Scored race: 10 miler
James River State Park

Registration

 

Spring Bloom Adventure Race

Spring Bloom Adventure Race

April 27, 2024
Adventure races
The facts: 5-hour adventure race, solo or team, with or without bike categories
Scored race: 5-hour solo with bicycle
Leesylvania State Park

Registration

 

Arbor Day 15k logo

Arbor Day 15k

April 28, 2024
Trail run
The facts: 5k trail run over varied terrain
Scored race: 15k run
York River State Park

Registration

 

Smith Mountain Lake State Park Triathlon logo

Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon

May 4, 2024
Sprint triathlon
The facts: Sprint tri, sprint tri relay, aqua bike. Triathlon: 750 Meter Swim (Lake); 20K Bike (Rolling Hills); 5K Run (Flat)
Scored race: Solo sprint tri
Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Registration

 

Middle Mountain Momma logo

Middle Mountain Momma

May 5, 2024
Mountain bike races
The facts: 11-mile, 21-mile and 41-mile races over rugged terrain
Scored race: 21-mile
Douthat State Park

Registration

 

Shenanduro

Shenanduro

May 11, 2024
Mountain bike races
The facts: 6-hour mountain bike, team or solo, varied terrain
Scored race: 6-hour solo
Shenandoah River State Park

Registration

 

Taskinas Creek ½ marathon

Taskinas Creek 1/2 marathon

June 2, 2024
1/2 marathon
The Facts: 1/2 marathon run on mixture of mtb trail, fire road and pavement
Scored race: 1/2 marathon
York River State Park

Registration

 

Seven Bends Adventure Race logo

Seven Bends Adventure Race

June 8, 2024
Adventure races
The facts: 6-hour, team and solo, varied terrain, trek/bike/paddle
Scored race: 6-hour solo
Seven Bends State Park

Registration

 

High Bridge Trail Time Trial

High Bridge Trail Time Trial

June 9, 2024
Gravel time trial
The Facts: 19-mile bike time trial on cinder rail-to-trail
Scored race: 19-mile time trial
High Bridge Trail State Park

Registration

 

Poca Go!

Poca Go!

June 15, 2024
XC Enduro race
The Facts: Multi-stage Enduro style race on single-track trail
Scored race: 16.4 mile races (Expert, Sport, High School and 40+ combined) overall male and overall female
Pocahontas State Park

Registration

 

Night Train 50k and Half Marathon

Night Train Ultra Marathon

June 22, 2024
Ultra-distance runs with shorter options
The Facts: 50k, 1/2 marathon and 5k on cinder rail-to-trail
Scored race: 50k
High Bridge Trail State Park

Registration

 

Guts, Gravel, Glory

Guts, Gravel, Glory

Aug. 4, 2024
Cyclocross races
The Facts: 50-mile, 36-mile, 19-mile options on fire roads
Score race: 50-miler
Pocahontas State Park

Registration

 

Odyssey Trail Running Rampage

Odyssey Trail Running Rampage

Sept. 7, 2024
50k difficult trail run with shorter options
The facts: 50k, marathon, ½ marathon, 6-mile trail run over rugged terrain
Scored race: ½ marathon
Douthat State Park

Registration

 

Shenandoah River Adventure Race

Shenandoah River Adventure Race

Sept. 7, 2024
Adventure races
The facts: 6 and 12-hour Adventure Races, team and solo, varied terrain
Scored race: 6-hour solo
Shenandoah River State Park
Latitude, 38.854777. Longitude, -78.306552.

Registration

 

Shenandoah River Aquablaze

Shenandoah River Aquablaze

Sept. 8, 2024
Off-road duathlon
The facts: 18-mile and marathon course (13-mile run, 13-mile kayak)
Scored race: Marathon course solo
Shenandoah River State Park

Registration

 

New River Trail Challenge logo

New River Trail Challenge

Sept. 21, 2024
Long-distance adventure triathlon
The Facts: 40-mile bike, 12.1-mile kayak, 1/2 marathon, in and along the New River Trail
Scored race: Solo race
New River Trail State Park

Facebook Group
Registration

 

Pawpaw 10 Miler and 5 Miler

Pawpaw 10 Miler and 5 Miler

Sept. 21, 2024
Trail run
The facts: 10-mile and 5-mile run throughout the park
Scored race: 10 miler
Powhatan State Park

Registration

 

High Bridge half marathon and 5k logo

High Bridge 1/2 Marathon and 5k

Oct. 5, 2024
Rail to Trail gravel runs
The facts: 1/2 marathon and 5k
Scored race: 1/2 marathon
High Bridge Trail State Park

Registration

 

Pocahontas Trail Festival logo

Pocahontas Trail Festival

Oct. 6, 2024
Marathon with shorter options
The facts: Off road marathon, 1/2 marathon, team marathon and 10k
Scored Race: 10k
Pocahontas State Park

Registration

 

Fall Foliage Adventure Race logo

Fall Foliage Adventure Race

Oct. 19, 2024
Adventure races
The facts: 4 and 8-hour, solo or team, bike/paddle/trek
Scored Race: 4-hour solo
Mason Neck State Park

Registration

 

Useful links

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Adventure series sponsors

Presenting sponsor

Dominion Energy logo

At Dominion Energy, our difference is shown in our stories. People helping people, serving our communities, stories of technical innovation and environmental stewardship. Watch new stories unfold every day as we strive to power a better tomorrow. Learn more.

Gold sponsor

Appalachian Power logo

At AEP, we care about the human needs of our customers, our employees and the general public. We support giving, diversity, and education. And, we strive to build relationships across our 11-state service area. Learn more about AEP and community outreach.

Champion sponsor

REI logo

What began as a group of 23 mountain climbing buddies is now the nation's largest consumer cooperative. Our passion for outdoor adventure is clear, whether you visit any of our stores across the country, phone us or interact with us online. Learn more about REI.

For more information, please email steven.boyd@dcr.virginia.gov.