Conquer the Circumnavigation of the Lost and Bewildered River in the Wilds of Pennsylvania
AREA INFORMATION
GETTING HERE
If you’re making the trip to the Eastern States, the Pine Creek Valley is where the Wilds begin to unfold. It’s a landscape that deserves more than just a passing glance—whether you explore it before the race, or reward yourself with it after. The Pine Creek Gorge will stop you in your tracks with its sweeping views, but don’t think the story ends there. This region is best understood from many angles—on winding roads, quiet trails, and through the small towns that anchor the valley.
Head north on Scenic Route 6 and you’ll find classic Wilds towns like Coudersport and Wellsboro, with its gaslit streets, and Mansfield, alive with its college-town energy. Drop south onto Route 414 and roll through Slate Run and Waterville—valley villages built along Pine Creek itself, and home to trailheads, general stores, and a piece of the legendary Pine Creek Rail Trail.
From the south, the Pine Creek Valley meets I-80. Lock Haven, with its blend of history and youth, makes a natural entry point via Route 220. Just up the road, Williamsport carries the Wilds into a city setting—restaurants, breweries, and a few good places to rest before or after you test yourself against the mountains.
GETTING HERE BY AIR/RAIL/RENTAL CAR and CELL SERVICE
​
Flying In?
-
Williamsport (IPT) – Southern Airlines from Washington Dulles (36 miles from start)
-
State College (SCE) – American and United from Chicago, Philly, and Dulles (60 miles)
-
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP) – American, Breeze, and United from Charlotte, Chicago, D.C., Orlando, Philly, and Tampa (108 miles)
​
Train Service
-
Altoona: 105 miles from start (1h 45m)
-
Harrisburg: 125 miles (2h 15m)
​
Car Rentals
Williamsport (36 miles from the start) is your best bet for renting a car. Pro Tip: Reserve early—the Little League World Series kicks off in Williamsport in the days after Eastern States 100, and early arrivals overlap with race weekend.
​
No Ride-Share or Shuttle
Every year, people ask: “Is there an Uber, Lyft, or shuttle between aid stations?” The answer: nope. There’s no light passenger rail either. This is remote wilderness—be prepared to rely on your crew, your car, or your own two feet.
​
Cell Service
Even though coverage has improved in the last 10 years, it’s still hit or miss:
-
AT&T? Forget it—just turn your phone off for the weekend.
-
T-Mobile and Verizon? You’ll find some signal in the southern sections, but expect dead zones in the north (the night section).
LODGING and CAMPING
**IMPORTANT**
We require all participants to pre-register their planned accommodations so race safety officials can track you down in case of emergency and/or we need to find you post-race in case we missed your finish or exit from the course.
FREE TENT CAMPING
Eastern States has free tent camping for participants and volunteers just a hundred meters from the starting line and adjacent to the main day use parking lot.
LITTLE PINE STATE PARK
[RV/Tent/Cottages/Yurts]
2 minutes away
4205 Little Pine Creek Rd
Waterville, PA 17776
​
HAPPY ACRES RESORT
[Cabins/Lodges/Campsites]
3 minutes away
3332 Little Pine Creek Rd
Waterville, PA 17776
happyacresresort.net
​
TIADAGHTON STATE FOREST
[Roadside/Trailside/Primitive]
​
​
WATERVILLE HOTEL
[Rooms]​
7 minutes away
10783 N Rte 44 Hwy
Waterville, PA 17776
​
HYNER RUN STATE PARK
[RV/Tent]
33 minutes away
86 Hyner Park Road
North Bend, PA 17760
DCNR/Reserve America​
​
BEST WESTERN LOCK HAVEN
30 minutes away
101 E Walnut St,
Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 748-3297
​
PETTECOTE JUNCTION CAMPGROUND
[RV/Tent/Cabins/Glamping]
39 minutes away
400 Beach Road
Cedar Run, PA 17727
pettecotejunction.com
​
CEDAR RUN INN
[Rooms]​
39 minutes away
​281 Beulah Land Rd
Cedar Run, PA 17727
Phone: (570) 353-6241
​
BLACK FOREST INN
[Rooms]​
35 minutes away
32600 North Route 44 Highway
Lock Haven, PA 17745
​
THE GAMBLE FARM INN & SUITES
23 minutes away
311 North Main Street
Jersey Shore, PA
​
FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES
34 minutes away
50 Spring St
Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 748-1580
​​
THE HISTORIC FALLON HOTEL
33 minutes away
131 E Water St,
Lock Haven, PA 17745
LOCAL LODGING
Below is a list of lodging options near Little Pine State Park. This is not a comprehensive list, but rather a starting point of the closest ones to the start/finish that we know of. Please do your own research to find what place would suit your needs best. We also offer free tent camping area near the start/finish line. Please do not camp overnight in the Little Pine State Park parking lots.
RENTALS
The Pine Creek Valley and its surrounding ridges are dotted with hundreds of rentals—quiet cottages tucked along the creek, rustic cabins hidden in the timber, and big mountain lodges that can hold an entire race crew or a full aid station’s worth of volunteers under one roof. Whether you want a no-frills bunkhouse to crash before toeing the line, or a comfortable spot where your friends and family can regroup after the finish, you’ll find something that fits.
A lot of runners treat these rentals as home base—your own headquarters on the edge of the Wilds. Some are close enough to hear Pine Creek itself, others sit high on the ridges with nothing but the breeze and stars at night.
The easiest place to start looking is online—Vrbo, Airbnb, and the like. But don’t overlook the old-fashioned way: take a trip through the valley, stop into a general store or at a restaurant, and ask around. This region has its share of secret spots that don’t make it onto websites. Those places—the ones passed by word of mouth—often give you the truest sense of the Wilds.
The Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance promotes trailrunning and the responsible use of public lands, through events such as the Eastern States 100, Ironstone 100K and Eagleton Trail Challenge, three footraces we manage as a stewardship for trailrunners and the community.