Muddy Sneaker 20K Trail Run

The Muddy Sneaker 20K Trail Run is a long-standing regional favorite scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Naples, New York. Founded in 2000, the race is held within the Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area in the Finger Lakes region. Known for having some of the most rapid elevation changes in the area, the course is notoriously technical and unpredictable. Participants are warned to expect traditional trail hazards such as rocks, roots, stream crossings, and potential late-spring snow or ice. The event is capped at 200 runners with no waitlist, emphasizing its reputation as a test of will rather than a course for personal records.

Naples is a village in Ontario County, New York, with a population of approximately 1,000 residents. The demographic profile of Ontario County is approximately 89.2% White (Non-Hispanic), 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.5% Black or African American, 1.3% Asian, and 1.9% from two or more races. The median annual household income in the county is roughly $74,500. Geographically, the Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area features over 6,000 acres of varied terrain, including steep wooded terrain and deep gullies characteristic of the Finger Lakes landscape. The climate in mid-April typically sees average lows of 3°C (37°F) and highs of 14°C (57°F). Runners should prepare for "muddy" conditions as the name suggests, particularly in the lower-lying areas near the southern end of Canandaigua Lake.

Registration for the 2026 event closed in mid-March, and the organizers maintain a strict no-waitlist policy. Withdrawal refunds of 50% are available through the UltraSignup dashboard until April 1st, after which no refunds are issued. The race is part of the Goose Adventure Racing series. Top performance records for the course are held by Jeff Beck, who set a benchmark time of 1:19:01 in 2007. The event remains a "raw beauty" experience, often featuring eccentric elements like volunteers dressed as oversized chickens to cheer on participants through the more grueling sections of the trail.