The 5K Championship Cross Country Course weaves through the Saratoga Spa State Park. It starts and finishes on the “mall”, a wide grass area located between the Administration Building and the Automobile Museum. This course is the home course of the state and national champion Saratoga Springs High School Cross Country Team. On the third Sunday in October, the Saratoga National Bank Cross Country Classic is held here. The course, a combination of flat and hilly, open and wooded trails, winds through the beautiful and
scenic park.

The following map and description, with corresponding pictures, shows what a great place it is to run and race. By clicking on each of the 35 map annotations, you will have a virtual tour of the course. Print the 35 descriptions, take it with you and preview the course.

1. The course starts on the mall in front of the first park bench on the left, heading toward the flagpole
2. Continuing on the mall, with the reflective pool to your right
3. At end of the mall, making a right turn on the pavement, heading toward the Roosevelt bath parking lot
4. At end of Roosevelt parking lot heading left down the gravel road
5. Heading down the first hill on the gravel road
6. Looking toward the Geyser parking lot (the fountain to your right is natural spring water)
7. Mid-way through the parking lot and heading toward the footbridge
8. Crossing the stream and heading passed the old fountain before making a sharp right turn
9. After the sharp right, heading toward the pump house
10. Bear left up the hill on the gravel road
11. Continuing up the hill, before taking the second sharp left into the woods (there is a concrete marker at ground level, with yellow paint markings, at the turn on the left)
12. Heading through the woods
13. Continuing through the woods to the Peerless Pool (note the bench on the right, for looking at only)
14. Make a sharp right turn as you exit the woods, the Peerless Pool will be on your right (one mile point)
15. Following the fence and the front of the Peerless Pool building.
16. Following the road around to the right, with the Peerless Pavilion on your right. Continue to bear to right as the road begins the downhill segment.
17. Heading back down the gravel road, and just before the bottom of the hill turn right (you will run passed the spot where you previously turned left to run up the hill)
18. Running on the trail with the stream on your left (great spot with the sound of the stream and the smell of pine)
19. Continuing beside the stream past the first footbridge
20. Coming up on the second footbridge
21. Crossing the second footbridge
22. Running on the walkway along the edge of the parking lot
23. Turning right at end of walkway toward the road (the small stream is on your left)
24. After crossing the road, start on the path up the Ferndell hill (a bench will be on your left)
25. Mid-way up the winding Ferndell hill (on a hot day the temperature drops about 10 degrees)
26. Passing the two mile point before making the final push to the top
27. At the road turn left, heading towards the gatehouse ( the golf course is on your right)
28. After passing the gatehouse, follow the path to the left
29. Turning left between the light pole and the back of the Yield sign, continue on the trail into the woods. At fork, bear left
30. Continuing across the Ferndell parking lot and back into the woods
31. The trail loops around to the right
32. The Ferndell pavilion is on your right and the volleyball court is on your left (at the fork, follow the trail to the right)
33. The final stretch in the woods before you emerge at the mall
34. Out of the woods, daylight abounds, as you head up the path to the finish
35. The course ends at the last park bench on your left, just across from the start.