Course

Full Marathon:

The God’s Country Marathon begins 1,300 feet above sea level in Galeton, Pennsylvania. After a 2-mile dogleg east to Nob Hill Motel, runners tour around Galeton’s Berger Lake and then head west on Route 6, entering the majestic Susquehannock State Forest. Just past the 15-mile mark, runners begin the most challenging section of the race, conquering Denton Hill, which peaks at 2,424 feet. From there, it is rolling hills on a mostly downhill track to the finish line at the picturesque Coudersport Courthouse Square.

Half Marathon:

The Half Marathon begins at the base of Denton Hill State Park at the base of Denton Hill. After a 1.9-mile dogleg, the course heads toward the infamous Denton Hill, peaking at 2,424 feet. Runners will head west on historic Route 6 and enjoy the rolling hills and the downhill track through the neighborhoods of Coudersport, finishing at the Courthouse Square.

Relay Team Race:

The relay course, broken into 5 legs, is the same at the Full Marathon course, which begins at the Galeton Area High School.

Relay Exchange Points:

First Leg (Start to Mile 6.21): Exchange Point located past the #6 water station at the end of the guard rail. (Park off the road on the grass after the guardrail.)

Second Leg (Mile 6.21 to Mile 9.31): Exchange Point located at Larry’s Sport Center. (Park at Larry’s.)

Third Leg (Mile 9.31 to [approx.] Mile 15): Exchange Point located at Denton Hill State Park Entrance.  (Note: This leg will be shorter than the Ekidan Marker designation by about a half mile to allow for a safe exchange point). Exchange point located after the water station. (Park across the street at the Lumber Museum Rest Area.)

Fourth Leg (Mile 15 to [approx.] Mile 18.62): Exchange Point located at the pull-off on the west side of Denton Hill, after the Water Station.Fifth Leg (Mile 18.62 to Mile 26.2): Finish Line.

Registration is open on Active here: GCM 2026

Special thanks to Harrison Cole from GeoGraphics Lab, a multimedia cartography laboratory, at Penn State Department of Geography for creating the God’s Country Marathon Race Series map.