Mines To Pines Trail Races

Distances and entry

• 10km Solo — CA$52
• 50km Solo — CA$72
• 60km Relay — CA$104

About Mines To Pines Trail Races

Join us on Saturday, July 25th at Mines to Pines trail races on the Mountain Bike Minto trails in Grand Lake, New Brunswick. Run in the 10km (solo), 50km (solo), or 60km (relay, teams of two or three) on a brand new course that takes you into “the cuts” of the historic Minto Mines — some of the most surprising blue lakes you’ll ever see! Mines to Pines is the successor to the Dark 50 which was retired by Dutch Viking Events after the 2025 season. This year’s event introduces a reimagined course, new start times, an evening 10km distance, a new start/finish basecamp at Tiny Trails Campground, and a 60km relay (along with an option to run in teams of 2 or 3). All races (and loops) start and finish around the fire at Tiny Trails Campground and follow a wooded ATV trail to a singletrack trailhead where it winds through undulating, expressive features formed by the interplay between the region's history of strip and pit coal mines and the natural forces reshaping the land. Runners can expect roots and rocks, lakeside views, sharp and punchy hills, open stretches for speed, and clearly marked trails.

Race Distances:

• 10km

• 50km (solo)

• 60km (relay, teams of 2 or 3)

Included in Registration: 

• Aid Station Access (1 aid station at Tiny Trails Campground and 1 water drop at the end of the ATV trail)

• Crew Access 

• Marked Course

• 3 Day Trail Pass to Mountain Bike Minto trails ($25 value)

• Race registration gift (TBA) 

• Shower & washroom access at Tiny Trails

Event Schedule:

• Saturday, July 25th

  • Registration: 3:30pm-5:30pm at Tiny Trails Campground

  • Pre-Race Food and Fun: 3pm-7pm (stay tuned for announcements about pre-race food, music, drinks, campfire, etc.)

  • Race Start Time: 5pm (10km solo), 5:30pm (50km solo, 60km relay)

  • 10km Awards: 7:15pm

  • First Finishers 50km & 60km: 11pm-midnight

• Sunday, July 26th

  • Cut Off for Relay 60km & Solo 50km: 3:30am*

  • 50km & Relay Awards: Midnight or after 50% + 1 of all runners have finished

*If you start the race and want to finish, let's make it happen. This is the first year of our new course, so we don't exactly know how long it will take everyone. Consider this a soft cut-off time that we can adjust if necessary.

Staying at Tiny Trails Campground:

This year we really want to take our hosts at Tiny Trails Campground up on their incredible atmosphere and hospitality. The new loop starts and ends at Tiny Trails, meaning that you'll pass by the campfire on each lap, creating a great spot for you to get support and encouragement from friends and family. The 5pm and 5:30pm start times mean that we're imagining runners, crews, and supporters gathered around the fire at Tiny Trails having a great time together and cheering the runners through their races. If you run the 10km, consider staying around to volunteer, hangout, crew, eat and drink, and/or cheer in the runners looping through the night. The campsites at Tiny Trails are all available to be booked on their website for as little as $45/night. No matter which race you choose to run, we hope you'll stay onsite, and rest up before driving home*.

*If driving home immediately after your race, please exercise caution. It will be dark, you will be tired or wired, and animals are common on the roads around Minto. We want everyone to have a safe and special experience.

A Note on Crew:

We love having crews and supporters at our races and you deserve to feel as welcome as the runners. We encourage you to bring sleeping bags, blankets, lawn chairs, small tents, and whatever else allows you to feel comfortable while supporting your runner(s). Your support really matters. This will be the first year around the campfire, so we'll all work together to make sure that we're sharing the space well. Crewing will be permitted at the start/finish around the campfire at Tiny Trails.

Additional Important Information: 

• Last minute registration. Registration will close when the race is sold out or at 4am AT on July 12, 2026. An additional “last minute registration” window with a limited number of remaining spots will open on July 14, 2026 and will last until July 17, 2026 at 11:59pm AT or until the race is sold out. 

• Refunds and/or deferrals. Refunds or deferrals (less Movemint platform & processing fees) will be given for pregnancy, pregnancy of partner, gender affirming care, death or significant illness in family and/or chosen family, mental and/or physical health conditions that make participation feel unsafe (muscle tears, broken bones, and other activity-related injuries are covered under “Injury Refunds” and are excluded from this policy), military or NGO deployment, and fear of political reprisal (ex. NB or Canadian government adopts policies that put you or your traveling partners in personal danger). Deferrals are for 1 year, after which the refund policy will apply. This policy operates on an honour system, so we will accept any of the listed reasons, at face value, without additional scrutiny.  

  • Note: You may choose to support the race by refusing a refund and/or accepting a partial refund (75%, 50%, or 25%).

• Injury refunds and/or deferrals. Injuries happen. If you are injured (ex. Muscle tears, strains, broken bones, etc.) while training or living your life, we will offer a full refund until 21 days before the race, a 50% refund until 14 days before the race, and a discretionary refund after the final budget numbers have been calculated. Alternatively, runners may defer their registration for 1 year until 14 days before the race. All deferrals and refunds are less Movemint platform & processing fees.  

• Bib transfers. 

  • You may transfer your bib to another runner. The transfer window closes on July 17, 2026. 

  • You may transfer your bib to another distance (if transferring to a longer distance, participants will be asked to pay the difference in registration fee). The transfer window closes on July 17, 2026.

• Declaring your race division. Mines to Pines offers men, women, nonbinary, and participant divisions. We accept each runner’s declared gender at face value, with no supporting evidence required. Runners are encouraged to enter the division consistent with their gender or personal expression. Prizes will be awarded for the men, women, and nonbinary divisions. There will be no prizes for the participant division — runners in this division will be listed in alphabetical order and given an official finish time, but not a ranking because this division is for those who would rather not compete.  

• Pre-race gift: A pre-race gift will be provided to everyone who registers before July 1, 2026. Those who register after this date are not guaranteed a pre-race gift (but may get one if we have extras available). 

• Prizes: Recognition will be provided to the top 3 finishers in the male, female, non-binary, and relay divisions.

• Service animals and animal friends: Handlers of service animals are encouraged to speak with the race directors about how to integrate their service animal teammate into their race experience. Animal friends (ex. pets) without specific training are asked to remain with crew members or stay home during the race (i.e. they are not able to run the course with you). 

• Dietary accommodations: Runners are encouraged to contact the race directors about dietary accommodations. The aid station at the start/finish line will have vegan and vegetarian options and will have at least one gluten-free option. However, we recognize that runners with specific dietary needs — for ethical, religious, medical, or equity-based reasons — may not feel comfortable using aid station food. If this is you, and you would like to have food that you prepare provided at an aid station, please contact us to make arrangements.  

• Financial Assistance: Runners for whom the race entry fee is a barrier are encouraged to email contact@trailemotion.ca to request a pay-it-forward bib or a pay-what-you-can rate. No questions asked. It's important to us that anyone who wants to make it to the start line can be there.

• Free for members of Wolastoqey/Wəlastəkwey communities: This race is free for members of Wolastoquey Nation communities. Please email contact@trailemotion.ca to receive a coupon code for a free entry.

• Timing: This race will be chip-timed by Trail Time Events and official results will be posted online after the race (published based on the race category you have chosen; individuals in the "participant" category will not be included in the overall rankings but will receive an official finish time posted in alphabetical order).

• Photography: We will have official race photographers on site (On Trail Visuals - Sarah Lamos and James Duffley) as well as videographers who will be capturing footage before, during, and after the race for a documentary film project about the race. If you do not wish to have photos or videos of yourself shared online, please contact us directly; by participating in the race you agree to have photos and media shared publicly unless otherwise noted.

Recognizing Mountain Bike Minto:

In 2012, Dr. Sean Morrissy, went into the woods behind his office and realized that he was in the middle of a landscape primed for trail building and outdoor recreation. Through the years, Sean and the team at Mountain Bike Minto have lovingly and creatively stewarded the development of what they call "some of the best singletrack trails in Eastern Canada." Included in each registration, is a contribution to the trails and the great work of the team at Mountain Bike Minto.

JULY UPDATE: The 2026 Athlete Guide is now available online
View (and download) the Athlete Guide here.