Blue Hills Adventure Race 2026

The Blue Hills Adventure Race is a fifteen-hour, one-day event in Massachusetts, featuring mountain biking, foot travel, paddling, and map-and-compass navigation. It revives traditional adventure racing in the state after a significant absence. The inaugural event directed teams into the Connecticut River Valley, not the Blue Hills. The name retains a local connection, as Massachusetts is derived from a Wopanaak word referencing the Blue Hills. The course employs a modified rogaine structure, where all teams navigate a required path and then decide on additional checkpoints and their overall strategy. Due to permitting restrictions, off-trail navigation is limited compared to many Rootstock Racing events, though teams will still encounter genuine route-finding and strategic choices. The race accommodates various experience levels. Competent newcomers can complete the mandatory sections with basic fitness, while seasoned teams can leverage navigation and planning skills to pursue a more comprehensive challenge across hills, woods, and water.