Hells Hills Trail Race
Races: 50 mi, 50k, 25k, 10k, 25k Ruck, 10k Ruck, Youth 1 mi
When: April 5, 2025
Where: Rocky Hill Ranch, SMITHVILLE, TX
This event hosts a deceivingly tough course, at a really fun and easy to get to venue. If you are looking for your first trail run or to go further than ever before, come out and enjoy this beautiful course with an awesome set of well-made single track trails, bridges, stream crossings, pine trees, hill country flowers, and a whole lot of fun, passionate folks waiting to help you reach your goal. For many, this long-standing event has become an annual occurrence that has really become a reunion of friends, old and new. We'll be out all weekend and in no hurry to leave. Especially with the wildflowers popping.
Race Day Results & Timing & Scoring
Start Options
We will have a mass start per distance. Sometimes we start more than one distance together, so pay attention to the Schedule for this event. We also leave the start line open for a little while longer for those who want to avoid the mass start, enjoy a more casual entry onto the course, and don’t care about overall awards.
Results and Live Split Updates
Click this button on race day to see updated results each time a runner passes a timing mat on the course and the final results. Timing mats are always at the start/finish/next lap line, and sometimes an additional mat is placed out on the course.
Timing and Scoring
The results page will show two times for each runner. “Gun Time” and “Chip Time”. Here’s what that means for you:
“Gun Time” is the time from the mass start (when the starter officially starts your distance) until when you cross the finish line. This is everyone’s “official time”, no matter when you enter the race course; and is the time that is used for all rankings and awards.
“Chip Time” is the time from when you actually cross the start line until the time you cross the finish line. This is not used for official times or award rankings. But if you begin after the Mass Start you can see this time in the results to know the time you actually covered the course in.
Race Schedule
EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT THE RACE SITE
Tuesday, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Course Marking and Race Hub Setup: Sun up to sun down pretty much
FRIDAY
Packet Pickup: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Pre-Race Briefing: 6:00pm-6:30pm Pre Race Briefing and Q&A w/ drinks and snacks provided by Tejas Trails (not mandatory)
Packet Pickup: 6:30pm-7:00pm
SATURDAY
Packet Pickup: 5:30am-10:00am
Start:
6:30am = 50 mi Mass Start
7:00am = 50k Mass Start
7:30am = 25k & 25k Ruck Mass Start
8:00am = 10k & 10k Ruck Mass Start
8:15am-10:00am = Open Start Line all distances (for those who want to avoid the mass start and are okay not being eligible for overall awards)
10:30am = Youth 1 Mile Mass Start
Final Lap Cutoff: 4:30pm (must be on your last lap)
Course Closed: 9:30pm
Teardown: Saturday all day and night, and Sunday morning (yes, we always need help)
Course Information
RACE DISTANCES: 50 mile, 50K, 25K, 10K, 25K Ruck, 10K Ruck
ROUTE DETAILS:
10km = 1 lap, 25km = 1 lap, 50km = 2 x 15.5 mile laps, 50 mi = 3 x 16.67
Expect a lot of fun, short, steep hills (where the name comes from). There are no real long drawn out huge climbs or descents on this course, but you are almost always on a roller coaster of fun slight ups and downs; aside from a couple stretches where you can stride out through the pine trees and the fields of wildflowers. This course is a blast, and is always beautiful this time of year!
We will have a lot of on course support and a well-marked course, but keep in mind if you’re new to trail running, this isn’t a road race, plan accordingly.
Remember, we are cupless. If you don’t carry a water bottle and collapsible cup for your fluids you won’t be able to get anything around the course.
This is an old elevation profile but is meant to show you the lay of the land, not the exact course profile this year.
Course Markings
We go above and beyond on our course markings, and have become known around the world for it. We will have orange Tejas Trails caution tape blocking off any open intersections; yellow arrows stapled to stakes, signposts, fences, and trees; and hundreds of confidence markers between. You never have to navigate or use a map.
Course markings are not color-coded per distance. When you get to an intersection where a shorter distance breaks off from the longer main loop, there will be signs with distances on them pointing the appropriate ways. Simply follow the signs with your distance on them. If you don’t see your distance, you just missed your turn. Don’t ever cross caution tape. It usually is required that we keep the caution tape on the ground, but it’s always obvious, and will act as a guardrail for you at open intersections.
Also for any of our races that take place in dark hours, all our markings have high grade reflectors in them, so the course actually becomes even easier to follow in the dark!
Now of course, you can get off course… So if you’re new to trail running, you have to train your brain to keep looking up; and especially don’t trust the person in front of you. We have a special “Lemming Award” for those who blindly follow someone else off course and then get mad at us.
Aid Stations
Aid Stations Plans:
We will provide 2 full aid stations out on course, plus the start/finish/next lap station (called Saloon) that will each be covered by amazing volunteers and a lot of food and drink choices. We will also put out a self-support aid station on the far side of the loop. This one will have ‘grab n go snacks’, ice, water, and Tailwind.
There will be one more aid station with water and snacks only, positioned for the 10k (at 3.7 miles into your loop) to have something on the 10km route since you will turn before the first Full Aid Station. Keep in mind, if you are in the longer distances you may see this temporary aid station on lap 1, but it may disappear after the 10km runners have all gone by it, so don’t count on it after that (if you see it at all).
All in all, everyone will have supplies every 3.2 - 4.7 miles.
Please pay attention to the details on the Aid Station Chart below to see it all spelled out with exact distances.
Drop Bags
Start/Finish Area: For all events, you are always allowed a Drop Bag or whatever you want at the start/finish area. Please note, we do not offer security watch over your belongings, and therefore do not guarantee the safety of your items. As for your drop bag placement around the start/finish area, we keep this event loose. You can place your drop bag anywhere around the race chute or the Saloon.
On Course: We will not provide Drop Bag Delivery Service to any on course aid stations.
Ruck Division
If you haven’t experienced a ruck challenge or competition, they are wonderfully simplistic and can take place in a variety of looks and feels. We are not going to have challenges along the way. Just straight hiking/jogging on a trail with a ruck (pack), from the start line to the finish line. So, all you need to join in on the Ruck division is a ruck (pack) with some weight in it, and the ability to cover some rugged Texas Hill Country trail miles.
Top finishers will be rewarded nicely (same divisions as our regular trail runs). All finishers will receive a patch and finisher medal.
We are now offering a ‘long course’ and ‘less long course’ at each event we offer the Ruck Division!
FURTHER DETAILS:
If you weigh under 150lbs, we will require a 20lb weight.
If you weigh over 150lbs, we will require a 30lb weight.
Mandatory ruck weigh in will take place prior to the start when you pick up your timing chip, and at the finish line.
Weight cannot be anything consumable or wearable like food or water or clothing. But pretty much anything else goes.
The mandatory amount of weight cannot be on the shoulders or chest. It must be on your back.
No sling bags or duffel bags or anything like that.
Any type of backpack (ruck) is acceptable otherwise.
No trekking poles allowed.
You can carry additional gear and supplies like food, water and clothing (and you should), but that will be additional weight.
Volunteering
We fully recognize we could not (and would not want to) put on any of these events without your help. Volunteers breathe life into these events. You make them personal for people. We no doubt need you and love this component to our business. So, know that we will always do everything we can afford to do to help you enjoy your time out there in the trenches helping those runners achieve their goals and dreams.
As a volunteer, you get:
Park entry fees and Camping fees paid for (if your role requires you to sleep at the park)
Food brought to you while you are volunteering
Shirt, hat, race swag, etc.
Loads of good memories
All the gear you need to successfully accomplish your task
Volunteer hours exchanged for future race entries
We can always use help, specifically for: course marking, packet pickup, aid stations, course sweeping, teardown, and more!
Swag & Stuff
Your race entry comes with a bunch of good stuff! You’ll get the comfort of our world-renowned course markings so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. You’ll get our notorious staff and volunteer support (and probably leave with new friends you met at an aid station or the finish line)! We will offer a plethora of aid station food and drink options, as well as finish line drinks. There will be a relaxing race hub area with backyard games and toys for kids to play with for your spectators, friends, and family. We also typically have a food truck at the finish line serving a variety of good food and drink options, including an accommodating menu of most food allergies and vegan options.
You can also expect awesome gear you’ll actually want to wear, and a truly unique medal that you’ll be proud to have. Those who sign up before the shirt cutoff (when we actually have to put the shirt order in) will receive a nice shirt. Sometimes long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless, tank top, or something else we find that’s cool and different from the year before. Those who register after that date will receive a cool non-size specific item, such as a hat, beanie, arm warmers, scarf, drink ware, or something else we find.
If you don’t like the swag item you received, you may swap your item after the final Packet Pickup is over (when we have ensured everyone got the item they signed up for). You can also purchase the other item(s) if you like all of them. This will all happen from the Tejas Trails merchandise tent when it’s onsite, and otherwise will be made available at the Packet Pickup Tent or the Finish Line Tent.
Please note, we don’t always get the shirt color we had planned these days, as things are goofy with shipping and fulfilling. If the shirt color changes, sometimes we have to change the design colors too. But you can count on a quality item.
Timing & DNF
Chip Timing
All races will be chip timed. Chips will be attached to an ankle strap, picked up on race morning only at the event venue, and must be worn on your ankle during the race. Chips are likely to not work if worn anywhere other than your ankle.
Once you finish, we will have a bin for you to place your chip into. Our head timer will take care of it from there.
Please reference the “Start Options” section above for exact details of how we are utilizing “Gun Time” vs “Chip Time”, depending on which Start Option you choose during registration.
Check Out
If you leave the race for any reason before completing the full race distance, you must turn in your timing chip. If we have your Chip, then we know you have left the course & we won't go looking for you all day & night.
DNF (Did Not Finish)
If you decide to not finish the distance you registered for, you may get a finisher medal to commemorate the miles you did finish; but you will be a DNF in the results; and you will not be in contention for awards for the shorter distance category.
Split Time Collection
Some races may have mid-point reads to help us track progress during the race. If you see a timing mat on the course, make sure you run over it.
Pacers
Pacers are allowed for the final 2 laps for the 50 milers only for any age. 60 and older may have a pacer their whole race, for any distance of 50km or 50 miles. Pacers must start and end at an aid station. Only one pacer with a runner at a time. No mule-ing. All pacers must complete free registration.
Overall Awards
We love celebrating our top finishers! However, we don’t have awards ceremonies at most of our events. But all the top finishers will receive some really great stuff!
We will have some fun, special, handmade overall awards to hand out when you cross the finish line. Volunteers will check results as you cross, but sometimes there’s a delay since our events are mostly remote. So, if you think you may be in contention for one, please ask before leaving.
Please note, we do not mail awards to anyone who leaves without their earned award. If there is any signal, you can also look up how you did on the results page (found in the pre-race email and at the top of this event webpage).
For this race, we will be awarding Top 3 male and Top 3 female, as well as Top Masters male and Top Masters female (50 & up).
There are special awards handed out uniquely for the Tejas 250, Tejas 300, and Tejas 400.
For anyone who completes 500, 1000, 1500km or miles at the same event, we give away special fleeces for you to make others jealous with.
Families & Youth Run
Tejas Trails is for families! We have a few things going on to help everyone have fun on race weekend.
For you runners who are trying to figure out how to train and race while trying to be a good friend, partner, spouse, or grandparent.
For you family members and friends who are trying to support your runner, but get bored out of your minds trying to keep your young ones safe and busy.
Our goal is for the runner’s family and friends to have fun things to do, enjoy hanging out, exercise, play in the woods, and create great life-long memories together. Bottom line, we want families to grow closer together because of Tejas Trails events. So, we will provide things like family discounts, yard games, practically free youth races, and a family-friendly environment.
One of our favorite parts of our events is the Youth Trail Run. The course will be around a mile, and at most events it’s possible to run less for our really young racers! You can register your child on the main Reg button at the top of this page. It is an untimed race, and every runner receives a race bib and finisher medal.
We will also have a bunch of backyard games setup around the Race Hub. Just look for the ‘Fun and Games’ flag, and dig through the totes to find some fun toys and games for all ages.
We are proud to be a part of the Youth Trail Series by ATRA & USATF
If you see this badge on an event page, that means that event is a part of the Youth Trail Series, which is a growing nation-wide series of events that are seeking to help grow youth trail runners, to have more fun and be involved at the recreational level, and to ultimately lead to more competitive runners repping Team USA at international trail running races!
For any registrant who is 19 & Under, your registration will automatically be discounted 15-20%. No code is needed. This is good for all our races of 10 miles and shorter.
Getting Here
Everything happens at Rocky Hill Ranch.
Rocky Hill Ranch is in Smithville, TX which is near Bastrop. It’s also very close to Buescher State Park (shares the same road). Once you get onto FM 153, look for the Rocky Hill Ranch entrance. Once you drive in, you’ll see a small pond on your right. The Race Hub is next to that. The huge grass/dirt field to the left is where all parking will take place. There’s plenty of room for everyone. Just park in straight rows perpendicular to the road you drive in on. Once parked, walk around the pond to the Saloon, as we call it. Packet Pickup is in there. This is also the same spot where the showers, bathrooms and start/finish area are.
Address:
578 Farm to Market Road 153
Smithville, TX, 78957
Closest smaller cities: Bastrop, Giddings, La Grange
Closest bigger cities: Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, College Station, Houston
Camping & Lodging
There is ample amount of camping onsite at Rocky Hill Ranch.
