The Skunk Ape Night Run is a classic Florida race that covers almost all of the terrains Florida has to offer. From pasture lanes, mud, dirt roads, single track trails on the Florida Trail, some hills, to sugar sand, fire berms, and more! You’ll be listening to the drone of frogs from all over, hoots from the owls, calls from birds, buzzing of bugs, and the yips of coyotes in the distance. Part of that sound and also silence, will make you wonder if “just that sound” was from something else… perhaps, the Skunk Ape.
The Course
What else should I say? This is a classic Florida race that covers almost all of the terrains Florida has to offer. From pasture lanes, mud, dirt roads, single track trails on the Florida Trail, some hills, to sugar sand, fire berms, and more! You’ll be listening to the drone of frogs from all over, hoots from the owls, calls from birds, buzzing of bugs, and the yips of coyotes in the distance. Part of that sound and also silence, will make you wonder if “just that sound” was from something else… perhaps, the Skunk Ape.
Wildlife: You’ll see it if, you see it… but I can guarantee you’ll hear it first! But the Green Swamp – West Tract is loaded with wildlife from Hogs, Armadillos, Deer, Owls, Alligators, Bobwhite Quail, and Skunk Ape’s, Pygmy Rattlers, to more than 30 threatened or endangered species, including the Florida Black Bear, Florida Scrub Jay and Wood Stork. The Start will be between Ranch and Cumpressco Road, or by the Hunting Check-In… basically the same place.
You will take off down Cumpressco Road, which will turn right onto a lane between two pastures that turns into a grass / dirt road called Rangers Landing Road. You will follow this road for a few miles until you reach the Big Foot BSA campsite (just under 3 miles or something like that). Once reaching that point you will do the little the loop around the trees and come back the way you came until you see the bigfoot flag, at the flag to turn right onto the Florida Trail. There are two Florida Trail entrances, you will taking the second one that you will come across on the way back from the loop. (Again, it’s the Florida Trail marked the bigfoot flag).
Once on the Florida Trail you will follow the course markers (flagging and tape). Watch out for the Skunk Ape, according to research and reports it is “highly likely” that he roams the land through this area. I’m not kidding, someone claimed to see a Skunk Ape here.
This will then bring you to an aid station and you’ll cross over Cumpressco Road and then over a small bridge, still remaining on the Florida Trail. This section is known as “The Ridge,” the sunset and sunrises through here are stunning!
Nearing mile 8 or something like that you will come off the Florida Trail to an aid station onto Ranch Road and follow the markers turning left onto the dirt road called Cedar Pocket Road. You’ll see an arrow!
Following that road for around half a mile you will see the next aid station that you see twice! Welcome to The Berm! This is where you will follow the overgrown forest road out the Berm Loop. There used to be a ranch located here in the 1940’s and is now long gone, all those tall trees were also planted in late 30’s and into the early 50’s.
After The Berm loop you’ll be turning right back onto Cedar Pocket Road, you will follow the road until meeting back up with the Florida Trail. You will again turn right and follow the Florida Trail until roughly mile 14ish when you’ll turn left back onto Cedar Pocket Road. This is the long forest road section. It’s either awesome to open up and run fast, or it’s awful because your quads are already shot from the sandy hills and Berm. Following Cedar Pocket Road you will follow it as it goes from gravel to grass. Continue straight through the grass!
You’ll follow the grassy horse trail for some sweet Cross Country action, it’s sometimes soggy and waterlogged… So that’s fun! You’ll also have the Creek Crossing in this section! (Or two if it’s flooded lol). As you leave the grassy horse trail, you will be directed by tall flagging for the final turns and loopty loops in the open fields. I mean hey, I’ve gotta do something to add some distance. But yeah! Eventually you’ll back to the finish line!
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