Moonlight on the Falls

Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, Ultra, and Relay

Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis WV

August 23-24, 2025

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Join us for the 5th Annual Moonlight on the Falls August 23-24, 2025 at beautiful Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County, West Virginia. Beat the summer heat and run with us under the stars and enjoy the perfect running temperatures of our cool late summer mountain nights. Featuring, on a USATF-Certified 6.55 Mile (Quarter Marathon) Course:

Marathon (26.2 Miles), 
Half Marathon (13.1 Miles), 
Quarter Marathon (6.55 Miles),
Distance Challenge (Team + Solo - Run All Night)

As with all of our races the Moonlight on the Falls Marathon is meant to be a true destination experience. We are planning on a festival-like atmosphere for Packet Pick Up and Pre Race on Saturday with live music, vendors, food, and more! In addition to our festivities, we encourage everyone to check out the endless outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as our funky little mountain towns of Davis, and Thomas.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Get Ready to Run All Night in Beautiful West Virginia!

ALL INFORMATION IS FROM 2024 AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Be sure to also click the links below for more detailed Race Information, read our FAQ page, and Join our Facebook Group to stay in the loop!

Packet Pickup

Friday 8/22 – 6pm-8pm @ McClumsy, 284 East Ave, Thomas, WV 26292

Saturday 8/23 – 5-9pm @ Start Line, Pendleton Point, Blackwater Falls State Park

There will be live music and festivities at Packet Pickup up until 9:45 on race day! PPU opens at 5, and the party slowly gears up until 7:15 when the live music starts.
Someone else can pick up for you but you need a copy of their confirmation email (QR code screenshot is best), ID, etc.
Please note: Cell signal is poor throughout the Park so you may (will) want to get this ahead of time.
Saturday: Best time to come and not wait in line? From last year’s stats, most people come from 5-6:30pm or 8-9:00pm.
If coming on race day, see instructions on Parking + Shuttles (below).

Race Day Schedule

5pm – PPU and Pre-Race Party Opens at Pendleton Point with food, live music, and vendors
7:15 – Live Music starts – recommended to arrive by this time for best parking.
9:00 – PPU ends – definitely arrive by this time to park as it will be a walk/shuttle ride.
9:45pm – 1st Party ends and 2nd party begins at the Start Line!
10:00 – All distances Start
(No Awards Ceremony to allow people to get to sleep – awards will be available at the Pavilion starting no later than midnight)
5:00am – Team Distance Challenge *Bonus laps* begin (See Race Info page for more details)
6:00 – Start line cutoff
7:00 – Breakfast Food Truck
7:45 – Finish line cutoff

Getting There (Parking + Shuttles)

Driving in from the North/Northwest? Check out Robby’s directions from our last race – the GPS route is winding and hilly and while beautiful, maybe a little more stressful and probably not faster. From the east, the drive is a breeze.

This will be year 2 of beefing up our parking and shuttle plan to make things more convenient for our park guests and visitors. Please read the info below as we have both improved some areas for better focus, and shortened others based on last year’s demand.

Course Map

Click Here to view the map and download to your devices.

This is a (mostly) out-and-back, certified course beginning and ending at Pendleton Point. Quarter runs 1 loop, Half runs 2, Marathon 4, and the Distance Challenge runs as many as you can – see Race Info for rules.

It is a “Stay Left” course with the middle of the road open to limited traffic. You may wear headphones, but pay attention to staff instructions and be alert for occasional vehicles that may drive down the middle. The only part that is not ‘out-and-back’ is on the return, where after the Aid Station you dip down to Blackwater Falls on a trail that is steep and a mix of pavement and gravel.

There will be 3 Aid Stations for 4 total hits per lap – At 1, 3.1, 5.4, and 6.55 miles (at the turn around). Each Aid station will have 2 porta-johns, with additional portos at the Lodge and the Blackwater Falls. Distance Challenge participants may set up a ‘personal aid station’ on the first/last mile of the course.

When finishing a lap, go to the LEFT and cross the TA mats – do not cross the finish line.

Site Map

Other Things to Remember

See and Be Seen! While the park is technically closed, guests are allowed to drive to return to the Lodge and Cabins. We require that you both have hi-vis vests – get creative with lights and reflective materials – and a headlamp or some sort of forward visible light. Dress like you would for a night time run on the roads.
Set up your own station! Use the multiple loops to your advantage – Consider setting up your own spot for snacks and hydration on course near the finish line. Distance Challenge participants are allowed to drive into the first mile to claim a larger spot as long as their cars don’t leave.
Got more questions ? See the Race Info Page or Check out the FAQ Page here

Countdown to the 2nd Annual Moonlight on the Falls Marathon