Blue Hills Adventure Race Brings 15 Hours of Mountain, Water and Navigation to Massachusetts

Set for Sept. 19, 2026, in Greenfield, MA

Adventure racing is returning to Massachusetts in a big way this September as the inaugural Blue Hills Adventure Race brings mountain biking, paddling, trail travel and map-and-compass navigation to the Connecticut River Valley.

Set for Sept. 19, 2026, in Greenfield, the 15-hour race will challenge solo competitors and teams of two to four racers to navigate a course filled with hills, forests and waterways. The event runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with check-in at Greenfield Middle School at 195 Federal St.

Organized by Rootstock Racing, the Blue Hills Adventure Race marks the return of traditional adventure racing to Massachusetts after a more than decade-long absence.

Four Sports, One Race

The Blue Hills AR combines several disciplines into a single endurance challenge. Competitors will mountain bike, travel on foot, paddle waterways and use maps and compasses to locate checkpoints throughout the course.

The race uses a modified rogaine format, giving teams different ways to approach the course strategically. Every team must complete a designated mandatory route, while additional optional checkpoints will provide more experienced racers with opportunities to push their pace and navigation skills.

Organizers say the course will contain somewhat less off-trail navigation than some Rootstock Racing events because of permitting considerations. Even so, competitors can expect strategy, route choices and opportunities to test their navigation skills.

Built for Different Experience Levels

The Blue Hills Adventure Race is not specifically a beginner race, but organizers have designed the course to accommodate a wide range of teams.

The mandatory section requires less navigation and is designed to be achievable by teams with adequate baseline fitness. More experienced competitors can pursue optional checkpoints that add difficulty and give faster teams an opportunity to separate themselves from the field.

That format makes the race less about simply surviving 15 hours and more about deciding how aggressively to attack the course. Teams will compete in solo, single-gender and mixed-gender divisions, with team sizes ranging from two to four racers.

Twelve Miles on the Water

The paddling portion adds another layer to the challenge. Competitors will paddle approximately 12 miles on flowing water. There is no planned strategic portage, although racers will need to carry their boats several hundred meters to launch and again after taking out. Depending on water levels, additional carries may be necessary in shallow sections.

The race is BYOB, or bring your own boat. Packrafts are permitted, although organizers note that current water levels may make them somewhat slower than canoes and kayaks.

Teams that need equipment can also explore rental options from Adventure East in Sunderland or Billy Goat Boats in Orange.

Boats will be dropped at a designated location before the race, with organizers planning to announce the exact location closer to race day.

More Than a Race

The Blue Hills AR is also designed to introduce newcomers to the adventure racing community while giving experienced racers a legitimate endurance challenge.

Participants will receive professionally designed, water-resistant maps, live tracking, on-course support and a comprehensive safety plan. Race benefits also include post-race food, event photography, high-quality swag and points toward both USARA national rankings and

Adventure Racing World Series rankings. The event is sanctioned and insured by the United States Adventure Racing Association. Racers must have either an annual USARA membership or purchase a single-event license.

For competitors unfamiliar with adventure racing, the sport combines endurance, navigation and decision-making in a way that can make every checkpoint a strategic choice. Teams have to manage their energy, equipment and time while figuring out the most effective way through the course.

A Return to Adventure Racing

The Blue Hills Adventure Race comes at a time when interest in endurance and adventure-based outdoor events continues to grow. Its return to Massachusetts gives racers in New England another opportunity to experience the distinctive combination of physical endurance and navigation that defines adventure racing.

Over 15 hours, competitors will move through the Connecticut River Valley by bike, foot and boat, making decisions that could be just as important as physical fitness.

Registration is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, with the listed registration price at $250.10, including a $15.10 fee. The event is limited to racers prepared for a full day of demanding outdoor activity.

When the starting signal sounds Sept. 19, the goal will be straightforward: navigate the course, collect checkpoints, manage the clock and make it back to Greenfield by 9 p.m.

How competitors get there, however, will be the adventure.

For more information, visit https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/MA/Greenfield/BlueHillsAdventureRace