-Race info-
Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race
Location: St. Louis Area
Race day: Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 8 am
pre-race meeting: Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 7:30 am
events: Multi-sport including trail running, mountain biking & paddling
Packet pick-up: Friday, December 5, 2025 • 4–7 pm • Alpine Shop kirkwood
Racer Updates will be posted here!
Named by Terrain Magazine’s Readers as the Best Adventure Race in the area, the Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race has grown to become the third-largest adventure race in the country. And it’s all happening right here in St. Louis.
What is Adventure Racing? A multi-sport, off-road, team event with no marked course. Teams must use a map and compass to navigate their way through a series of checkpoints on mountain bikes, in canoes, and or on foot to reach the Finish line.
How long is the race? Expect to cover 5-10 miles paddling, 15-20 miles biking, and 5-10 miles on foot. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section for more information.
Race Location: That’s a secret! Part of the appeal of adventure racing is charging into the unknown on race day. A course overview will be available closer to race time to help you plan your gear and food. Plan on four to eight hours of continuous movement through the woods, rivers, and roads of the St. Louis area. (Even though the event is named after Castlewood State Park, we may not necessarily even go through the park on race day!)
Team Configurations:
- 2-Person (Co-Ed, Men’s, and Women’s Divisions)
- 4-Person (Co-Ed, Men’s, and Women’s Divisions)
- Family (2+ related people, one over 18 and one under 18, one canoe per team)
Please Note: the cap for previous races was 300 participants and registrations were SOLD OUT before the end of October. Register early to ensure your spot in the race!
You’ve got questions. We (hopefully) have the answers you need. Check out the most frequently asked questions we get about the Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race here.
Find out more information about our FREE instructional courses for all registered participants for the 2024 Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race. You won’t find a better selection of classes on adventure racing in the entire Midwest (and maybe the country).
Find out who you’ll be competing against in this year’s Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race
Like many of the the Off-Road Racing League events, the Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race is regulated by a strict number of participants. For 2025, we expect to once again be working with a maximum capacity of 300. If you’re interested in being a part of the 2025 Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race (and we hope you are!), please keep that in mind and register as quickly as you can to ensure a spot on this year’s roster.
Early Bird 2-Person or 4-Person Team
Prices as low as...-
Original Course Each Year
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Food & Beverages
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Complimentary Photos
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Unique Race Awards
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+ Much More
2-Person or 4-Person Team
Only...-
Original Course Each Year
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Food & Beverages
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Complimentary Photos
-
Unique Race Awards
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+ Much More
2025 Schedule
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Winner of Terrain Magazine Reader’s Choice for best Adventure Race in the Midwest in 2023. Registrations Now Open.
Welcome to the home for Missouri’s most adventurous races: featuring trail runs, gravel bike tours, paddle races and the third-largest amateur adventure race in America.