One 40-mile loop and two 30-mile loops almost entirely on the flat, packed-dirt C&O Canal towpath between Antietam and Brunswick, Maryland — minimal elevation gain, easy nighttime navigation, and a Western States 100 qualifier known for fast times.
Quick facts
- Location: Camp Manidokan, near Knoxville, MD (start/finish)
- Date: Late April annually (2026 edition: April 25); start 7:00am
- Distance: 100 miles — one ~40-mile loop plus two ~30-mile loops; 30-hour cutoff
- Website: cocanal100.com
- Contact: Via cocanal100.com
- Registration: Via UltraSignup. A Western States 100 qualifier.
Course description
Starting and finishing at Camp Manidokan near Knoxville, Maryland, runners first loop the camp’s grass fields to spread out the pack before dropping onto a short singletrack connector down to the C&O Canal towpath. The first, longest loop (38.4 miles) heads upstream toward Cumberland to Antietam Campground, then adds an out-and-back to the North Turnaround before returning downstream through Dargan Bend, Keep Tryst, and Brunswick aid stations and back up to Manidokan. The second and third loops skip the North Turnaround out-and-back, turning downstream directly from Antietam instead — bringing the race to exactly 100 miles at the finish. The towpath itself is packed dirt with small gravel that can feel like it “grows” as the race wears on; runners are advised to pack a spare pair of shoes in a drop bag. As long as you can follow a straight line along the canal, there’s little risk of getting lost, even at night.
Elevation change
Minimal — the towpath itself is essentially flat, with just one small hill connecting the canal up to Camp Manidokan on each loop. This is one of the flattest 100-mile courses in the country, and a common pick for a fast time or a first attempt at the distance.
Aid stations
5 aid stations per loop (some visited more than once per loop), with restrooms available periodically along the canal at each. Pacers are permitted starting the second time through Brunswick aid station, at mile 59.6.
Special conditions & average temps
Late April in the Potomac River valley typically brings highs in the mid-to-upper 60s and lows in the 40s overnight, with rain likely at some point during race weekend. The canal is roughly 60% shaded, with only a few stretches of prolonged sun exposure — combined with the flat terrain, conditions are generally considered comfortable by 100-mile standards. All finishers within the cutoff earn a belt buckle and qualify for the following year’s Western States lottery.
Recent results — top 3, men & women
2026
- Men: 1. Yurii Bondarchuk 15:58:57 · 2. Jerome Martin 16:13:42 · 3. John Blasingame 16:54:20
- Women: 1. Brittney Yuron 19:13:12 · 2. Lily Weinstein 19:40:25 · 3. Alyssa Cook 20:01:40
2025
- Men: 1. Oleksandr Skorokhod 14:03:12 · 2. Adam Kimble 14:18:05 · 3. Michael Stevens 14:57:39
- Women: 1. Whitney Richman 17:28:59 · 2. Karen Smith 17:59:43 · 3. Kristen Kelman 18:39:06
2024
- Men: 1. Adam Lowe 16:08:22 · 2. Steve Schall 18:09:29 · 3. Daniel Harding 18:26:28
- Women: 1. Bianca Pourmussa 20:16:09 · 2. Bethany Scheuermann 21:51:42 · 3. Clare Greene 22:17:00
Registration deadline & how to get in
Registration is handled through UltraSignup; check the race website for the current opening date and field cap, as this popular, flat Western States qualifier tends to fill quickly. No qualifying race is required to enter.
Traveling to this race? Find lodging near the venue via Hotels.com.