Trail Running Calendar Illinois 2025-2026

Half Day at the Lake is a unique 6- and 12-hour ultramarathon held in Evanston, Illinois, along a scenic 2-mile loop on Chicago’s north shore lakefront path. The course features paved and crushed gravel surfaces, passing through Evanston’s lakefront and Northwestern University’s campus, offering bea..

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..

The Hennepin Hundred is a premier ultramarathon held in Sterling, Illinois, featuring 100-mile, 50-mile, 50K, and 100-mile team relay races. The event takes place along the scenic, flat, and fast Hennepin Canal State Trail, Illinois' longest multi-use trail, stretching from Sterling to Colona near t..

The Des Plaines River Trail Races, held in Lake County, Illinois, offer a scenic and fast trail running experience with distances including a Half Marathon, Marathon (Boston Qualifier), 50K, and 50 Mile ultra. Starting and finishing at Half Day Forest Preserve, the course features a flat, wide, crus..

The Arrowhead Endurance Run, held at Arrowhead Lake Campground in Johnston City, Illinois, features a certified 2.07-mile loop around the lake with mostly gravel terrain and minimal elevation change, ideal for fast times and high mileage. The event offers multiple race options including 24-hour, 24-..

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 including a 10K, half marathon, 30-mile, 50-mile, and 100-mile ultramarathon. The course features miles of single-track trails, service r..

Soul Crusher is a challenging trail running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, offering 5-mile and 10-mile distances. The course, designed by Jeff Lenard, is known as the toughest 5-mile loop in the Midwest, with runners able to complete one or two loops depending on their endurance. The race sta..

The Shake Your Trail Feather Trail Run, held at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, Illinois, offers a scenic and challenging trail running experience. Participants can choose from distances including a 50K ultra, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. The course features single-track trails winding through pristi..

The Fancy Nonsense 25K/50K is a whimsical ultramarathon held in the Palos Trail System near Willow Springs and Lemont, Illinois, about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Runners can choose from 25K, 50K, or 5-mile distances on a mostly single-track, 5.5-mile loop course that encourages joy and imagin..

The McNotagain Fall Trail Run takes place at McNaughton Park in Pekin, Illinois, known for its scenic, flat terrain in Central Illinois. The event offers multiple race distances including 3.5, 10, 30, and 50 miles, all run on a 10-mile loop course that is run in reverse direction compared to the spr..

The Allerton Park Trail Run, organized by the Second Wind Running Club, takes place at Robert Allerton Park in Monticello, Illinois. The event features a challenging 5.7-mile trail run along scenic river trails with roots, ruts, and sharp turns, and a 2-mile nature walk. Participants can enjoy a fes..

The Tunnel Hill 100 & 50 Mile Runs take place in Vienna, Illinois, on the scenic Tunnel Hill State Trail, a crushed limestone rails-to-trails path featuring gentle grades and iconic landmarks like the historic tunnel. The event offers 100-mile and 50-mile distances, both USATF-sanctioned and IAU Gol..

The Forge Trail Run Festival, scheduled for November 15, 2025, in Lemont, IL, features a variety of trail running events including 10K, 20K (Half Marathon), 30K, and 60K races. Participants will navigate single and double-track trails through scenic woods and gravel paths around the historic Lemont..

The Arctic Frog Run in Libertyville, IL, is a challenging endurance event held in early December, featuring distances of 50K, 25K, 15K, 10K, and 5K. The scenic course combines pavement, wooded, and crushed limestone trails around the Des Plaines River and Casey Trails, with rolling hills adding to t..

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, a 10K race, and relay options for teams of two or five. The course consists of a scenic 10K single-track..

The Skunk Ape 806/314 Trail Race is a challenging ultramarathon event held at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois. Scheduled for March 21, 2026, it features two main race distances: 33.75 miles to be completed within 8 hours and 6 minutes, and 13.5 miles within 3 hours and 14 minutes. The course consists..

The Earth Day 50k is a trail running event held at Veterans Acres in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It offers three race distances: 50 kilometers, 15 miles, and 5 miles, all starting together on a 5-mile loop course featuring single track trails and rolling hills. The race emphasizes an eco-friendly approa..

Childish Nonsense is a trail running event held in Palatine, Illinois, at Deer Grove Forest Preserve West. It offers multiple distances including a 50-mile, 50K, 25K, and 10K, with courses consisting of laps on a mostly wide, non-technical trail. Runners encounter a single aid station at the start/f..