The Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race turned 19 in 2025 with more than 200 racers lined up at the start, ready to push their limits across the parks of St. Charles County for the first time in CW8 history. Ideal weather made for a perfect day as teams headed out for a full day of paddling, trekking, and biking through a course designed to put all the teams to the test.
Racers did a short prologue at Weldon Springs Interpretive Center and then headed out on bike down the Hamburg and Katy trail to Matson Park. After completing an orienteering section it was back on the bikes and off to Klondike Park for another orienteering section. After getting as many CPs as they could before the time cut off, teams loaded their bikes into canoes and pushed off onto the Missouri River and headed to Weldon Springs.
Those with time to spare after the paddle had the chance to take on one final orienteering section at Missouri Bluffs Park, grabbing the last checkpoints. In total, 11 teams managed to clear the entire course within the 8-hour limit—no small feat! Forty teams crossed the finish line within the final ten minutes as the clock ticked toward the official cutoff.
A huge congratulations to Team 47 Down, who secured the overall victory for the fifth year in a row—a remarkable run of dominance. Toporadicals and Deviate rounded out an impressive podium.
Thank you to every racer, volunteer, and supporter who made this year’s race one to remember.
The race wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Optimal Performance Center | Terrain Magazine | Fits Socks | The North Face | Kuat | St. Louis Orienteering Club | Westwood Catering
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