Elevation profile · 1,048–1,519 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
trail
Trail / pavement / gravel
team betaTrail has switchbacks with loose gravel and tree roots — be careful, saw several people fall. Steep climb going into Eureka, potential to walk some of it. Easy downhill through town, followed by a tough gravel climb to the finish. Could see this leg rated very hard.
⚠ Loose gravel + roots⚠ Steep climb🚻 Bathroom at end is nearby
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.9 mi (our 2025 data: 6.35 mi / +755 ft). The profile is the current route.
Elevation profile · 1,338–1,662 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
trail
75% gravel/trail · 25% pavement
team betaHard for sure. Super rocky path — even the vans can't follow it. You run across a dry river bed and finish up a steep, narrow hiking trail to the highway. Many had to walk a little.
Elevation profile · 1,114–1,493 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
100% gravel
team betaVery steep climbs with some hard descents — and beautiful views. You'll have hills where you have to walk, followed by steep descents where you can run fast, but not too fast or you might fall. Pay attention to footing. Very challenging leg.
Elevation profile · 1,141–1,427 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
trail
Mostly trail · last mile pavement
team betaAnticipate loose rocks, exposed roots and heavy leaf coverage. Several descents and moderate climbs. Finishes with a transition to paved road leading directly to War Eagle. GPS navigation recommended for the trail (sorry Benny).
⚠ GPS recommended⚠ Rocks + roots + leaves🚻 Bathroom at start is nearby
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.3 mi (our 2025 data: 6.08 mi / +376 ft). The profile is the current route.
Elevation profile · 1,187–1,528 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
½ mi pavement · 7 mi gravel · 1 mi pavement
team betaYou go up a gnarly hill when you reach gravel — the rock was chunky and challenging for road shoes. Back onto the highway, then gravel again. Both my favorite and least favorite leg. Rated hard, and I definitely agree.
Elevation profile · 1,316–1,608 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
⅓ gravel · ⅔ pavement
team betaEasy downhill to start. Rolling hills with a couple decent climbs. Gravel was in good shape. Turns onto Hwy 23, which is flat — but be on the lookout for traffic.
Elevation profile · 1,242–1,586 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
⅓ pavement · ⅔ gravel
team betaCross the street to the dirt road — if you go over the second bridge, you went too far. Pavement leads to a ferry pickup to cross Hwy 412, then finish with a half-mile run after.
Elevation profile · 1,393–1,866 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
75% gravel · 25% pavement
team betaAppropriately moderate. The hills were nasty getting up, but you end on pavement with a consistent decline — you make up a ton of time on the downhill. Push hard on the uphill, because you can catch your breath at the end.
Elevation profile · 1,204–1,621 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
Pavement / gravel / pavement · about half and half
team betaYou can definitely run faster on this leg. Pay attention to turns and traffic on the final mile. Overall a flat and nice leg — more towards easy.
Elevation profile · 1,516–2,263 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
Gravel / pavement · close to half and half
team betaOne steady climb the whole way — very gradual, but steep at times. It just keeps going! Hard to hold the heart rate down. Be ready to climb and go slow on this one. Leans towards hard.
Elevation profile · 941–1,234 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
team betaEven though it's pavement, it was in very bad shape at times — pay attention. A lot of hills and very desolate. You will walk some. It felt good to get to Lake Fort Smith and be done with this one.
Elevation profile · 829–1,634 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
team betaAll uphill for 1.7 miles before a constant downhill to Chester. The downhill felt like it went on forever. Rated hard, and I definitely agree.
Elevation profile · 853–1,740 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
team betaTake a left onto the main road out of the parking lot, immediately beginning a substantial climb. Once you reach the summit, bear left to transition to a dirt road for your exchange.
Elevation profile · 1,610–2,020 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
100% gravel
team betaArguably a hard rating. The hills were a beast and the terrain was difficult. There's a huge hill between miles 5 and 6 — you will likely walk some. Save yourself on the initial hills, because the last one is painful.
Elevation profile · 1,800–2,041 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
team betaLots of rolling hills with three big climbs — every downhill was met with a climb. Windy road with very little shoulder. Would recommend a flagger.
Elevation profile · 999–1,910 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
team betaA lot of gradual climbs for the first 4–5 miles. Take your time — you'll need it for the brutal descent into Devil's Den: switchbacks and high traffic, with over 800 ft of descent in the last couple of miles. Highly recommend a flagger.
Elevation profile · 938–1,809 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
½ mi trail · 3.5 mi pavement · rest gravel
team betaShort trail coming out of the park with uneven terrain. Once you reach Hwy 16 it's flat until 2.3 miles in — then you climb!! Climb the rest of the way. Walked a few stretches to keep the heart rate down.
⚠ Climb from mile 2.3 on
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.8 mi (our 2025 data: 6.27 mi / +929 ft). The profile is the current route.
Elevation profile · 1,137–1,261 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
Pavement · 1 mi gravel · pavement
team betaLight rolling hills. Ferry at the Hwy 62 intersection — park your car on the same side as the runner and ferry across the street. Ends at the finish line at Prairie Grove Battlefield Park!
