Rootstock Racing

The Blue Hills Adventure Race

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
~ Helen Keller

About the Race

The Blue Hills Adventure Race brings traditional adventure racing back to Massachusetts for the first time in well over a decade. Join us for an exciting one-day adventure race, combining mountain biking, foot travel, paddling, and map-and-compass navigation as we explore the lush Connecticut River Valley in this inaugural edition. 

Some sources note that Massachusetts derives its name from the Wopanaak word muswachasut, referencing the state's Blue Hills, and while the first edition of the Blue Hills AR will explore land far from the state's place name, over the course of fifteen hours, competitors will become well-acquainted with the Bay State's hills, forests, and waterways.
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About the Course

Due to permitting considerations, longtime participants of our events will find that the Blue Hills AR has a bit less off-trail navigation than is characteristic of most Rootstock Racing races. Still, we have worked hard to create a course that offers rewarding checkpoints, fun strategy opportunities, and a welcoming community feel, and don't be surprised if we find a way to add some navigational challenge anyway. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the return of adventure racing to Massachusetts.    

And for the newcomers: while the Blue Hills AR is not a beginner-FOCUSED race, we have designed the course with all calibers of teams in mind, using a "modified rogaine" format; all teams must visit a series of mandatory checkpoints, which require less navigational ability and is short enough that all teams should have time to reach the finish line with adequate baseline fitness. For more experienced teams there will be additional, optional checkpoints to challenge the fastest teams.
Note: The Blue Hills Adventure Race is sanctioned and insured by the United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA). Each participant is required to have an annual membership or purchase a single-event license. The registration link provides a link to purchase that license if you don't currently have one. Additional instructions are available here. If you are purchasing a single-event license, you will select Blue Hills on the appropriate dropdown menu.

2026 Details

DATE: September 19, 2026
TIME: 6:00am-9:00pm
DURATION: 15 hours
LOCATION: Check-in with take place at the Greenfield Middle School at 195 Federal Street in Greenfield, MA
DIVISIONS: Solos + single and mixed-gender teams of 2-4 racers​
PRICE:
  • Through August 15: $185
  • August 16 to September 1: $235
  • September 2 to September 18, Email us!
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
  • A professionally designed course created by Rootstock Racing
  • Water-resistant maps
  • Live tracking
  • Post-race feed
  • High quality swag
  • Comprehensive safety plan and management team
  • On-course logistics and support​
  • High quality event photos
  • Points in both the USARA national rankings and the ARWS rankings​
The Blue Hills is a USARA-sanctioned event. Racers must either have an annual USARA membership ($50) or purchase a single-event license ($10) through RunSignUp. Annual membership is instrumental in sustaining USARA’s efforts to support the US-based AR community and host an annual National Championship.

In addition to supporting the community as a whole and having single-event fees waived, annual membership includes access to ExpertVoice, an incredible resource for athletes that unlocks pro-deals to hundreds of name-brands, saving you up to 60% on all sorts of outdoor gear but also unlocking various other discounts on other sporting equipment, food and nutritional supplements, fitness items, hunting and fishing gear, and more.

​For new racers, check out USARA's "New to Adventure Racing" database, a terrific collection of articles that will help you dive into the amazing sport of AR!

Notes on Boats

  • The Blue Hills AR is BYOB: bring your own boats. You will be paddling on flowing water. Packrafts will suffice, and there are places where you might find a strategic advantage in them, but at current water levels, they will be a bit slower. That said, if water levels drop more, we can envision a scenario in which racing packrafts like the MRS Barracuda are relatively equal and MAY be even faster than canoes, kayaks, etc. 
  • The paddle is approximately 12 miles. There is no planned or strategic portaging, but you will need to carry your boats modest distances (several hundred meters) to launch and upon takeout. If water levels are low, you may also need to carry in places along the route due to shallow water.
  • You will drop your boats at a "boat drop" before the race start. We will announce this location closer to the event. 
    • ​If you are using packrafts, you will be permitted to leave them inflated at the drop.
  • For any teams who are not able to source boats but still want to participate, we have identified two relatively local vendors who can rent boats. Most of their fleets consist of solo kayaks. Please reach to them directly to coordinate. They MAY be able to help drop boats off as well for an additional cost if you cannot transport them yourself. ​
    • Adventure East, in Sunderland, MA should be your first call - (413) 800-5345
    • Billy Goat Boats in Orange, MA is an alternative option - (978) 577-8420

Distances and Disciplines

These are estimates based on preliminary scouting, and are subject to change.
Discipline
Full Course Distance
Minimum Distance to Finish
Biking
38 miles
31 miles
Trekking
15 miles
9 miles
Paddling
12 miles
12 miles

Leave No Trace Ethos

We work hard to collaborate with local land managers and owners to respect and preserve our amazing outdoor resources. We abide by  Leave No Trace's 7 Principles  and also follow USARA's LNT guidelines in our course design and permitting. We ask all of you who join us on this amazing journey to review LNT's guiding principles and review USARA's statement concerning the Leave No Trace ethos. Thank you for working with us as we strive for responsible use and stewardship of the outdoors!

Gear List and Schematic

Race Maps
Please review the gear list closely. Individuals and teams are required to carry all mandatory gear, either for the entire race or for specific stages depending on the item. Teams failing to carry mandatory equipment will be penalized and may be disqualified from the event.



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We are still finalizing the course and maps, but you can expect the following from us:
  • You will receive some 8.5x11 maps and also some 11x17.
  • Maps will be printed on water-RESISTANT paper. It's high-quality stock, but we still recommend using some sort of map case.
  • We tend to print maps in 1:24,000 and 1:50,000 scales. Occasionally, we may use a more atypical scale if it allows us to fit a segment of the course onto one sheet.
  • Maps are printed with a 1km x 1km UTM grid overlay.
  • Maps are not adjusted for magnetic declination, but the declination will be noted on the map.
  • We use Caltopo for most of our mapping, and we tend to use the traditional USGS topographic map layer as our base layer. That said, some maps may vary. Pay attention to scales and contour intervals. They may not be uniform across maps.​

Location and Area Lodging

There are various lodging options along the I-91 corridor, both north and south of Greenfield, as well as plenty of local Air B and B options. 

For those coming from the south, we recommend checking out Hadley for more affordable motels. For those coming from the north, consider Brattleboro, VT.

Anti-Doping Policy

As a USARA-sanctioned event, we adhere to USARA’s anti-doping policies. It is your (the athlete’s) responsibility to uphold the integrity of the competition and reputation of adventure racing as a clean sport through educated use of supplements, medicines, and other treatments and to understand what is permissible according to USARA standards. In addition to contributing to a level playing field for all competitors, USARA’s policies are designed to help athletes learn more about the medications, substances, and methods they use for the sake of long-term health. We encourage you to spend some time reviewing USARA’s stance on the importance of Ant-Doping, educating yourself through their collection of helpful resources, and understanding the consequences of doping infractions (medicinal, supplemental, or mechanical) by reviewing USARA’s dedicated page.
​

Leave No Trace Ethos

We work hard to collaborate with local land managers and owners to respect and preserve our amazing outdoor resources. We abide by  Leave No Trace's 7 Principles  and also follow USARA's LNT guidelines in our course design and permitting. We ask all of you who join us on this amazing journey to review LNT's guiding principles and review USARA's statement concerning the Leave No Trace ethos. Thank you for working with us as we strive for responsible use and stewardship of the outdoors!

Gear List and Schematic

Race Maps
Please review the gear list closely. Individuals and teams are required to carry all mandatory gear, either for the entire race or for specific stages depending on the item. Teams failing to carry mandatory equipment will be penalized and may be disqualified from the event.



​
We are still finalizing the course and maps, but you can expect the following from us:
  • You will receive some 8.5x11 maps and also some 11x17.
  • Maps will be printed on water-RESISTANT paper. It's high-quality stock, but we still recommend using some sort of map case.
  • We tend to print maps in 1:24,000 and 1:50,000 scales. Occasionally, we may use a more atypical scale if it allows us to fit a segment of the course onto one sheet.
  • Maps are printed with a 1km x 1km UTM grid overlay.
  • Maps are not adjusted for magnetic declination, but the declination will be noted on the map.
  • We use Caltopo for most of our mapping, and we tend to use the traditional USGS topographic map layer as our base layer. That said, some maps may vary. Pay attention to scales and contour intervals. They may not be uniform across maps.​