-->
ultrasignup.com

Mountain Creek Mayhem

calendar_today 19 Sep, 2026

directions_run Running

sell $65.00 – $100.00

Mountain Creek Mayhem

About the Event

Amazing Courses

This triple-distance trail-running celebration guides you through the best features of the northern Michaux State Forest, nestled within the ancient south-central Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountains. The freshly designed courses offer our trail buddies a little bit o' everything, swift, flowy single-track, rolling, rooty ridgelines, rocky quad-busting descents, not to mention the VIEWS - breathtaking and worth every drop of sweat! Get the full butt-whoopin' and snag your spot on the gorgeous and challenging 50K+ course! Or take it one chunk at a time with your choice of the spicy half-marathon or the scrambly, heart-pounding 20 Miler! No matter what you pick, you'll pocket the wealth waiting for you within these magnificent Michaux miles!

Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, PA

Race Headquarters will be sprawled out in the grassy field behind the bath house at the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Fuller Lake Day Use Area. . So many bathrooms, showers, and so much parking. We feel so privileged to house this kickbutt event in this gem of a state park!

Race Day Registration Available in 2026

We will be accepting race day registrations this year! Please come to register according to the following schedule: 50K & 20M : 6:45-7:45am Half Marathon: 8:15-9:15am

Race Starts:

50K & 20miler @ 8:00am (Pre-race Meeting: 7:45am) Half Marathon @ 9:30am (Pre-race Meeting: 9:15am)

50K

Our 50K course was designed to hit all the best views in the northern Michaux! You'll be running through sandstone boulder ridgelines, woodland savannah, Mountain Laurel and wild blueberry, on a perfect blend of classic windy single track, smooth pine needle carpet, grassy double track, and technical, toe-grabbing forest paths. Course Length: 33ish miles Elevation Gain: 4400+ feet Aid Station Mileages: • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 5.5 • DEAD WOMAN’S HOLLOW Aid Station: Mile 10.2 • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 15.8 • FURNACE STACK Aid Station: Mile 19.4 • LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 22.9 • RIDGE ROAD Aid Station: Mile 26.6 • CATTLE CHUTE Aid Station: Mile 30.2 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products Drop Bag Locations: There will be one drop bag location at BRICKYARD Aid Station: Mile 19.7. Bring your drop bag to HQ, label it with your bib number (we will have duct tape and a sharpie), and we will take it to Brickyard for ya. Crew Access: There will be crew access at BRICKYARD and LAUREL LAKE aid stations. Time Limit:10 hours *********************************

20 Miler

We love this super-challenging 20 mile route (the first 20miles of the 50K course)! Lung busting climbs, spicy, steep descents, as well as lovely, runnable stretches on classical technical Michaux single track! Once you've experienced the 20mile, you'll want to come back for MORE! Elevation Gain: 3,000ft Aid Station Location: • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 5.5 • DEAD WOMAN’S HOLLOW Aid Station: Mile 10.2 • PITCH PINE Aid Station: Mile 15.8 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products NO drop bag option for the 20 Mile race. Crew Access: No crew access for 20 Mile race. Time Limit: 7 hours *********************************

Half Marathon

Just need a quick Michaux fix? Breathtaking views await you as you cruise along the classic state forest trail, a mix of rocky single track, pine needle strewn ridgelines, and grumbly old double track. Come test your grit on this tough and rewarding course! Course Length: 13.1ish Elevation Gain: 1400+ feet Aid Station Mileages: • LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 3.3 • RIDGE ROAD Aid Station: Mile 6.9 • CATTLE CHUTE Aid Station: Mile 10.5 Aid Station Nutrition: • Water, electrolyte (Tailwind), Coke, & Gingerale • Fruit (oranges/bananas) • Potatoes and/or potato chips • Fritos • Cookies (reg and gluten-free) • Gels/Blocks/Stroop Waffles • Candy • Rice Krispie Treats • Pickles • & sometimes MEATBALLS • Menstrual Products NO drop bag option for the Half Marathon race. Crew Access: There will be crew access at LAUREL LAKE Aid Station: Mile 3.3. Time Limit: 8.5 Hours! This is a VERY generous time limit on this course, making this half marathon accessible to serious hikers and ruckers! Awards will still only be based on lowest completion times, however. There will be NO separate hike/ruck divisions. *********************************

Proudly presented to you by theMeatball Runners!

For other Meatball races and to join the Meatball Community, click here !

Races Offered

20 Miler

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 32.2K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$85.00

20 Miler 17 & Under

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 32.2K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$75.00

50K

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 50K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$100.00

50K 17 & Under

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 50K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:00

sell

$90.00

1/2 Marathon

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:30

sell

$75.00

1/2 Marathon 17 & Under

Sep 19, 2026

straighten

Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:30

sell

$65.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Gardners.

thermostat Temperature
15.1° / 24.7°
wb_sunny Feels like
14.2° / 23.8°
light_mode Avg sunshine hours
8h 43m
water_drop Avg rainfall
3.6 mm
ac_unit Avg snowfall
air Avg wind speed
9.1 km/h (Light breeze)
opacity Sweat loss rate
Moderate
terrain Course conditions
Firm and slightly soft
sunny Max UV Index
Moderate (5.0)
humidity_mid Humidity
70.9%
wb_twilight Sunrise
06:50
nightlight Sunset
19:16

About Gardners

Learn more about the host city, Gardners.

Scenic view of

Gardners is a village in Adams County, Pennsylvania and a census-designated place that includes portions of Adams and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania, United States. The village of Gardners is located off Pennsylvania Route 34, in Tyrone Township, in northern Adams County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the village of Gardners was 137. The zip code for the United States Post Office in the village of Gardners is 17324. This zip code covers surrounding villages and areas in Adams and Cumberland counties, including Goodyear, Hunter's Run, Idaville, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and Uriah.

Read more launch

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

All-time top performances and historical records for Mountain Creek Mayhem.

Place Name Year Time
🥇 James Weaver '25 4:52:49
🥈 Andrew Herman '25 5:22:13
🥉 Jeff Hollinger '25 5:23:00
4 Ben Miller '25 5:31:21
5 Daniel Rider '25 5:35:29

Runner Reviews

Read what other athletes have to say about their experience at the Mountain Creek Mayhem.

No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience with the community!

Suggest an edit

Spotted an error or missing detail about the Mountain Creek Mayhem? Help us improve.

Nearby Races

Explore other exciting events happening in this same region.

48th Annual Labor Day Century

48th Annual Labor Day Century

location_on New Oxford, Pennsylvania, US

calendar_today Sep 07, 2026

HALA Hustle 5K Walk

HALA Hustle 5K Walk

location_on Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US

calendar_today Sep 12, 2026

YMCA Harrisburg Half & 10K

YMCA Harrisburg Half & 10K

location_on Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US

calendar_today Sep 13, 2026

The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run and 5K

The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run and 5K

location_on Smithsburg, Maryland, US

calendar_today Sep 12, 2026

Recommended for You

Hand-picked events we think you’ll love.

1 Mile Fun Run - Race Only

Nov 14, 2026

1 Mile Fun Run - Race Only

The day will be packed with various activities, including a 5K (strollers and dogs welcome!), 1-mile fun run, beer gard…

Read more
25th US FreedomWalk Festival

Oct 16, 2026

25th US FreedomWalk Festival

Join us for the 25th annual US FreedomWalk Festival 16-18 October 2026! The US FreedomWalk Festival® is a weekend, non-…

Read more
2026 Cranberry Crawl 5K and 10K

Nov 21, 2026

2026 Cranberry Crawl 5K and 10K

Race-day: Saturday, November 20 On-site packet pickup is open 7:00 AM-7:45 AM. No race-day registration Course: Flat – …

Read more
2026 PVTC Christmas Caper

Dec 19, 2026

2026 PVTC Christmas Caper

On-line registration closes on Wednesday, December 16, at 12:00 noon Race-day: On-site packet pickup open 7:00 AM-7:45 …

Read more

Get race deals & updates

Subscribe to our newsletter for curated race picks and discounts.