Berryman Trail Races Course Guide

Berryman is a classic Ozarks single-track ultra, two laps of a ~26.4-mile loop through the Mark Twain National Forest, with 2,500 feet of gain and 2,500 feet of loss on each loop, so roughly 5,000 feet total over 50 miles. The trail is moderately technical with plenty of roots and rocks, and you cross Brazil Creek, typically shin-deep, plus other stream beds that vary with recent rainfall. It has been a St. Louis Ultrarunners Group staple since the race was formally established in 2000.

The official course page lists 2,500 feet of elevation gain and 2,500 feet of loss per loop. The Marathon runs one loop, for 2,500 feet of total climbing. The 50 Mile runs the loop twice, for roughly 5,000 feet of total climbing over the full distance. That is spread across the flowy, rolling Ozarks terrain rather than concentrated in one defining climb.

A mid-May race in Missouri can already run warm, especially by afternoon on the 50 Mile's second loop. Aim for roughly 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour, and keep sodium in the 300 to 700 mg per liter range, leaning higher if the day turns hot and humid. Aid stations sit 4 to 6.5 miles apart, with an extra water-only stop midway through the longest section, so plan your carries around those gaps rather than assuming aid every few miles. Build your numbers with the free ultra fueling calculator before race day.

The Berryman Trail is a moderately technical single-track loop with plenty of roots and rocks, sharing roughly 12 miles with the main stem of the Ozark Trail on its western half. You cross Brazil Creek, typically shin-deep, before and after the aid station at mile 16 (and again at mile 42 on the second loop for 50 Mile runners), plus other stream beds that may or may not have water depending on recent rainfall.

Both races start and finish at the shelter of the primitive Berryman Campground, which has no water or electricity on site, so plan your own supplies for before and after the race. The campground is first-come, first-served and fills quickly if you plan to camp; developed campgrounds, cabins, and hotels sit 12 to 28 miles away in Potosi, Steelville, and Cuba for anyone who wants real amenities.

The loop format is a real advantage for a first 50: you learn the terrain, aid spacing, and Brazil Creek crossing on loop one, then apply that knowledge on loop two rather than facing unfamiliar ground late in the race. At 2,500 feet of gain per loop, the climbing is moderate rather than mountainous, and the trail's roots and rocks reward respectful, controlled running over raw speed. A volunteer-run SLUG event with decades of experience, it is a reasonable choice if you have logged real technical single-track training beforehand.