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FEAR Trail Fest returns to Lewis Morris Park on Sunday, November 22, 2026, with a 5 mile trail race that starts at 9 AM near Sunrise Lake. The race is organized by FEAR (short for Forget Everything And Run), a running coaching business led by Coach Jason, and it is built for first-time trail runners and experienced racers alike. Hikers are welcome too, with a 2.5 hour time limit.
The course is a 5 mile lollipop loop that runs mostly on the Yellow Trail. It opens on a wide stretch of crushed gravel on Patriots’ Path, moves onto single track for the full Yellow Trail loop, then follows the short Patriots’ Path section back to the finish. Expect rocks, roots and some good climbs, with about 600 feet of elevation gain. The course is measured by GPS watch and is not an officially certified distance.
Registration is $60 plus a $4.60 RunSignup fee, and the field is capped at 120 runners. As of October 19, the FEAR Trail Fest registration page showed 81 spots left. Online registration closes at 9 AM on race morning, and there are no refunds, though optional race insurance is offered at checkout.
New this year, every participant gets a finisher medal, there is an additional porta potty, and Drahos PT has donated menstrual products. The race is also going cupless, with Hydrapak providing reusable cups for runners before, during and after the race, and bibs are made from hemp instead of PVC.
There are prizes for the top male, female and non-binary finishers, with prize packages from Root Runners, plus raffles for Brooks Running shoes, Feetures socks and SPIbelt race belts.
If you have never run trails or never been to Lewis Morris Park, FEAR plans free course previews before race day. Previews meet at the picnic shelter at 8:50 AM to start running at 9 AM, and dates are posted on FEAR’s Trail Fest page and Instagram as they are set.
To get there, head to Lewis Morris County Park at 270 Mendham Road in Morris Township, turn onto Sunrise Lake Drive and keep driving until you reach the lot. The park was the first in the Morris County Park Commission system when it opened in 1958, and today it covers 2,213 acres with 25 miles of trails. It shows up on our list of the best hiking trails in Morris County, and Sunrise Lake is a favorite on our guide to the best lakes in Morris County.
FEAR Trail Fest 2026 runs Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 9 AM at Lewis Morris County Park, Sunrise Lake Drive, Morris Township, NJ 07960. Registration is $60 plus fees through RunSignup.
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