McDonough Trail Race 2026

The McDonough Trail Race takes place in July at McDonough Wildlife Refuge in Vienna, West Virginia. The race starts at the refuge on Rosemar Road. Runners complete an 8-mile race by doing two laps of a 4-mile loop. Walkers cover the same loop once for a 4-mile walk. Each lap involves approximately 430 feet of climbing. The course is approachable yet offers genuine trail challenges. The loop winds through forest and past duck marshes within the wildlife refuge, giving the event a nature preserve atmosphere rather than a road race feel. It is part of the River City Runners and Walkers Series. Completing this event counts as one of six races required to earn a personalized jacket at the series awards banquet. Now in its second edition, the McDonough Frontier Trail Race attracts both runners and walkers.