Trail Running Calendar Illinois 2025-2026

The Cornell Days 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk is a family-friendly event held at Clinton Keith Mills Memorial Park in Cornell, Illinois. The event takes place on Saturday, September 6, 2025. It offers two distances: a 5K and a 1 mile Fun Run/Walk, starting and finishing at the park along a county blac..

Naperville Trails Half Marathon & 10K, organized by All Community Events, takes place in Wheaton, Illinois. The course runs through the Danada Forest Preserve on crushed limestone trails, finishing on the grass around a horse racing track, with the Start/Finish at the DuPage County Forest Preserve D..

The Hobo Trail Runs, hosted by Rockford Road Runners, take place at Rock Cut State Park in Rockford, Illinois. This annual event offers multiple trail running distances including 10k, 25k, and 50k races, with options to participate in single races or the challenging Triple Crown series (85k total) o..

Dirt Circus Chicago is a one-day, free community trail-running festival in the Chicago area, organized by UltraSignup. The event blends a casual social run with a pop-up expo featuring local race directors, brands, shops, and coaches. Participants choose between two routes, approximately 4.5 miles o..

The Wild Wild Wilderness is an annual running event held at Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Oakwood, Illinois. Established in 1981, the race features multiple distances including a 5K and a challenging 7.45-mile trail run that covers steep hills, creek crossings, and scenic woodland terrain. The c..

The Last Boyscout is a challenging Last Man Standing race held at Ferne Clyffe State Park in Goreville, Illinois. Participants run a 4.167-mile loop featuring single track trails, jeep roads, and paved sections, with about 600 feet of elevation gain per loop. The race tests endurance and resilience,..

The Big Horse Vineyards 5K, hosted by Gut Check Fitness in Lewistown, Illinois, is a unique trail and mud run featuring natural obstacles like hills, hollers, streams, ponds, and an epic slip-n-slide. Set on the scenic grounds of Big Horse Vineyards, this event offers a fun and challenging experienc..

Timely Nonsense is an urban ultramarathon held at a 58-acre park in Chicago, at the intersection of California and Montrose. The course features a 0.75-mile paved loop that runners complete for the 6-hour or 12-hour timed events. An aid station at the Start/Finish provides typical ultrarunning fare,..

Limestone Rocks! 8-Hour or 4-Hour Race takes place at Limestone Park in Kankakee, Illinois. Runners choose an endurance 8-Hour or a 4-Hour option, competing on a 1.65-mile loop course. The surface is mostly crushed limestone with sections of asphalt; the course is roughly half flat and half hilly, f..

Half Day at the Lake is a unique ultra-running event held in Evanston, Illinois, featuring 6- and 12-hour race options. The race takes place on a scenic 2-mile loop along Chicago’s north shore lakefront path, passing through Evanston’s lakefront and Northwestern University’s campus. The course is a..

The 4sta Hike is an annual trail running event held at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve near Andalusia, Illinois, along the Mississippi River. Participants run a challenging 1-mile loop featuring smooth single track, rocks, roots, downed trees, and steep gradients up to 48%. The course offers two option..

The Tiger 10 Miler is an annual trail race held at Byron Forest Preserve and the Nardi Equine Prairie in Byron, Illinois. The 8th edition of this event features a challenging 10-mile course with twists, turns, and hills through scenic natural areas. Participants receive a custom finisher's medal and..

Run The Woods is a charity running event held in Hudson, Illinois at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center (20 Timber Pointe Lane). The series includes 5K, 5K for Youth, 8K, 8K for Youth, and a 1 Mile Trail Walk – Untimed. While the site doesn’t describe a specific course layout, the venue suggests a family-..

Miles of Madness is a grassroots ultra-running event held at Pekin Park District Sports Complex, Pekin, Illinois. It offers 2, 6, 12, and 24-hour options with 1.2-mile laps, for solo runners or relay teams (minimum 3 members; only one team member on course at a time). The atmosphere is laid-back and..

Bloomingdale Trail 5K is an annual, family-friendly running event in Chicago, Illinois. The day features a timed 5K race along with ¼- and ½-mile dashes for young runners. The event location is 1834 N Lawndale Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, and the site describes a welcoming atmosphere for runners of all a..

Hindsight Ultra Trail Runs, held in Dixon, Illinois, offers a grassroots ultra running experience with distances of 25K, 50K, 100K, and 100 miles. The course features a 7.85-mile loop combining roughly 50% singletrack, 30% grassy meadows, and 20% gravel paths, with about 6,200 feet of elevation gain..

Miles for Marshall 5K Trail Run for Childhood Cancer is held in Greenville, Illinois, at 1000 Patriot's Park, on Saturday, September 27, 2025. The event features a 5K Run/Walk along a scenic trail course suitable for runners of all levels. Described as an extraordinary, heartwarming adventure, it bl..

Anderson Humane's Walk4Animals & 5K Run takes place in Batavia, Illinois, centered at the Peg Bond Center at 100 N Island Ave along the Batavia Riverwalk. The event offers a 5K Run (timed), a 1.5-mile Walk, and a T-Shirt Only option. The Walk4Animals route is a 1.65-mile loop around the Batavia Rive..

The Fall Trail Classic 2.0 is a trail running event held at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area in Marengo, Illinois. It features two races on the same day: a 4-mile run through oak and hickory woodlands, small stream bridges, and restored prairie trails, and a 7-mile run that includes the 4-mile loop p..

Located at the SIU Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Makanda, Illinois, the Rocky Ledges 5K/10K Trail Run/Walk offers two trail distances: 5K and 10K. The course unfolds through wooded and natural terrain, delivering a scenic, nature-rich atmosphere that welcomes individuals and teams of a..