The Green Lakes Ultra Trail Run in Manlius, New York, offers a demanding yet rewarding introduction to the power of wilderness running. Stretching roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) with an elevation gain near 3,000 feet, this course threads through dense forests, rocky ridges, and beside the ever-watchful Green Lakes—two glacial gems daring you to keep pace with their quiet strength.

Start your run at the Green Lakes State Park parking, where towering pines and hardwoods create a canopy that shifts sunlight in a subtle dance. The path undulates over uneven terrain, demanding sharp focus on roots and stones that pop like nature’s own speed bumps. Along the way, the course challenges runners with technical single track, switchbacks hugging ridgelines, and steady climbs that test lung capacity and resolve.

The lakes themselves are anchors in the landscape, their emerald waters reflecting the sky and surrounding trees that seem to lean in, urging you onward. Streams cut across trails with currents that push lightly but insistently—reminders that nature shapes the run just as much as the runner shapes the experience.

Preparation here is key. Footwear with solid grip and ankle support can mean the difference between a swift passage and a stumble. Hydration packs should be ready for extended stretches in moderate humidity. Early mornings, especially in late spring and early fall, offer cooler temperatures that make the route more approachable but bring dew-slick rocks to heed carefully.

Expect a rhythm that varies between steady, almost meditative pace and bursts of effort as the trail rises or narrows. The challenge is not to outpace the terrain but to respect its fierce, unyielding character while finding a personal groove.

Finishing the race or the training run delivers a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. The satisfaction comes from having moved through a landscape fiercely itself—wild yet cared for—with every mile adding a layer of connection to the earth underneath. For runners and hikers alike, Green Lakes Ultra Trail is less about domination and more about dialogue between body and environment.

Navigating this trail demands practical awareness and readiness but rewards with moments of raw wilderness immersion that are vibrant, immediate, and impactful. Whether you’re tackling the race or simply exploring its segments on foot, the Green Lakes Ultra Trail Run is an invitation to engage directly with nature’s tenacity in central New York.