Trail Running calendar near Sterling 2025-2026

Located in Franklin Grove, Illinois, the Grist Mill Grind 10K is a technical trail race held in Franklin Creek State Park’s natural area. The fifth annual event offers a challenging 10K course with about 800 feet of elevation gain, winding over forest trails with several hills and four crossings of..

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..

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..

Last Dot Standing at Belleville, Wisconsin, organized by Ten Junk Miles Racing, kicks off at Belleville Community Park. The LMS format features a 4.2-mile out-and-back course between Belleville and Dot's Tavern, a 70-year-old tavern off the trail; each leg must be completed in one hour, with the nex..

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..

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..

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..

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..

The Swiss Valley Trail Races, held in Peosta, Iowa, offer runners three distance options: 5.2 miles, 25K, and 50K. Set within the scenic Swiss Valley Nature Preserve, the course features rugged terrain, creek crossings, and steep inclines, with each 5.2-mile loop climbing approximately 875 feet. The..

October 4-5, 2025, The Hennepin Hundred is Illinois’ only point-to-point, all-trail ultramarathon, running from Sterling along the Rock River to Colona near the Mississippi and following the 104-mile Hennepin Canal State Trail through northwest Illinois’ historic locks, lift bridges, and scenic farm..

Autumn Leaf Run is a 5K trail race held in Freeport, Illinois, at Oakdale Nature Preserve. The course loops through diverse terrain, including wide tree-lined trails, moderate hills, prairie areas, bridge crossings, and several single-track sections. The start and finish are in close proximity, and..

The Farmdale Trail Run, held October 11-12, 2025, takes place at Farmdale Reservoir near East Peoria, Illinois. This premier trail event offers multiple distances: 10K, half marathon, 30-mile, 50-mile, and 100-mile ultras. The course features miles of single-track trails, service roads, and open pra..

Mines of Spain 100, held in Dubuque, Iowa, offers 100-mile and 100-kilometer ultramarathons on October 17-18, 2025. Set in the driftless region’s bluffs, prairies and forests above the Mississippi River valley, it delivers a true Midwest trail experience. The course is described as a ~20‑mile loop f..

The Over The Vines Wine Run/Walk is held at Over the Vines Vineyard & Wine Barn in Edgerton, Wisconsin. This event offers a 5K timed run, a 5K untimed walk, and a 2K untimed walk, all on a scenic trail featuring grass, gravel, and compacted dirt terrain. Participants must be 21 or older and enjoy fo..

The Miner 49er is an endurance running event held in the scenic Mines of Spain near Dubuque, Iowa. It features two race distances: a 25K and a 50K, with the 50K being a double loop of the 25K course. Runners experience approximately 2,200 feet of elevation gain on the 25K and 4,400 feet on the 50K...

Big Timber XC Challenge is an autumn trail race held at Camp Big Timber in Elgin, Illinois (Big Timber Road at Tyrrell Road). Runners can choose between a 3-mile Run/Walk (one loop) and a 5-mile Run (two loops), with the course featuring gravel roads, open grass, wooded paths, and a creek crossing w..

The Frozen Gnome is a challenging winter trail running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, at Veteran Acres park. Featuring a "Triple Black Diamond" rated course, the race offers a 50K ultra run and a 10K race, both run on a scenic 10K single-track loop through Veteran Acres and Sterne’s Woods. Th..

The Skunk Ape 806/314 Trail Race, held at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois, offers challenging trail running events on March 21, 2026. Participants can choose between a 33.75-mile race to be completed in 8 hours and 6 minutes, a 13.5-mile race with a 3 hour and 14 minute limit, or a relay option. The..