Ruck The River 2026

Strides For Service is a nonprofit that raises money for the physical and mental well-being of first responders, military members, veterans and their families, and Ruck The River is its annual community ruck, run together with the nonprofit Reps For Responders and now in its third year. The route covers roughly 9 miles, starting at Rockland Lake State Park, following the Hudson to Nyack Beach State Park and returning to Rockland Lake. Anyone who prefers a shorter day can finish at Nyack Beach at about 4.5 miles and take a free shuttle back to the start. It is non-competitive and the organizers rate it easy to moderate — walk at your own pace, carrying a rucksack, weighted vest or backpack, or none at all. Registration opens at 9:00am at Parking Lot 1, with an opening ceremony at 10:00am and the ruck stepping off at 10:30am. In-person entry is $80 and includes a 2026 event shirt, a limited-edition patch, aid stations along the route, support vehicles, finish-line food and the half-route shuttle; a $50 virtual option is also sold. Registration runs on Strides For Service’s own ticketing site, which adds a processing fee at checkout.