BALLWIN, MO. – Our opening course for the 2018 Trail Run Series will be a classic tackling of the Grotpeter Trail at Castlewood State Park. Featuring one main climb and (at least) one creek crossing, this approximately 4 mile trail should provide a great opportunity for some fast times as we kick off this year’s series.
The course starts at our usual point near the pavilion and will immediately cross Kiefer Creek Road and follow a brief section of the Grotpeter Trail up to the Park Office and then head back through the meadow and cross Kiefer Creek Road once more to head up the climb on Grotpeter from its far east trailhead. This long section of slow climb has some beautiful views of Kiefer Creek and the park below as you head up the bluffs. The climb gets steeper as you head north on the trail until you hit your max elevation of 633 ft and the beginning of a nice plateau on the top of the ridge that you’ll follow for much of the next mile.
We’re proud to have GU Energy back with us again this year providing gels and drink mix for our energy station at approximately the two and a quarter mile mark. (Water will also be available.) Immediately after you get charged up, you’ll cross Ries Rd., and head back downhill for a quick quarter mile. One brief elevation gain later, the rest is almost all down hill along the switch backs of Justin’s Trail.
You’ll cross to the south side of Kiefer Creek Road for the final three quarters of a mile back to the finish line, but you’ll have to cross Kiefer Creek to reach it. The final stretch after the crossing will follow the flat stretch of the Lone Wolf Trail along the south side of Kiefer Creek back to the bridge and across the road to the finish and the refreshments waiting there for you.
Approximate distance is 4 miles. Lowest elevation: 427 ft above sea level. Highest elevation: 633 ft.
