Rootstock Racing

The Two Rivers Adventure Race

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
~T. S. Eliot

About

The 2025 Two Rivers Adventure Race brings racers back to where it all began: the city of Philadelphia! Join us for our premier one-day adventure race, combining mountain biking, foot travel, packrafting, and map-and-compass navigation and help us celebrate Rootstock Racing's tenth birthday. 

This year's race offers a fun semi-urban adventure, with everything you've come to expect from a Rootstock event: challenging navigation, rewarding checkpoints, plenty of strategy and route choice, and a fun and welcoming community. It is a course ready for top competitors, and it is accessible to newer racers excited to get their feet wet in overnight racing. While the Two Rivers is not a beginner race, we design the course with all caliber of teams in mind, using a "modified rogaine" format. All teams must complete a designated mandatory route which requires 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 even the fastest teams and best navigators.

2025 Details

DATE: November 15-16, 2025 
DURATION: 24 hours
LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA
DIVISIONS: single-gender and mixed-gender teams of 2-4 racers (note: there is no solo division in 2025)​
PRICE: 
  • Through July 31: $300 per person 
  • August 1 to October 15: $330
  • October 16 to November 1, as space allows: $350 
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
  • A professionally designed course created by Rootstock Racing
  • Water-resistant maps
  • Live tracking
  • Post-race birthday bash!
  • High quality swag
  • Race bibs
  • Comprehensive safety team
  • On-course logistics and support
  • Overnight parking
  • High quality event photos
  • Points in both the USARA national rankings and the ARWS rankings
The Two Rivers is a USARA-sanctioned event. Racers must either have an annual USARA membership ($35) or purchase a single-event license 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.

​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!

Distances and Disciplines

DISTANCES:  Estimates coming soon.

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.

For 2024, we may also have one or two maps that are larger scale (1:10,000 or 15,000). Teams will receive maps for the first two stages on Saturday morning at check-in. They will receive the rest of the maps on course.

Area Lodging

Pre-race check-in will take place at the Discovery Center in eastern Fairmount Park. Center City and northwestern Philadelphia will offer the closest lodging options. You may find less expensive options in lower Montgomery County.

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.

For 2024, we may also have one or two maps that are larger scale (1:10,000 or 15,000). Teams will receive maps for the first two stages on Saturday morning at check-in. They will receive the rest of the maps on course.