Trail Running Calendar Illinois 2026-2027

A trail 5K at Byron Forest Preserve with chip timing and awards by age group, plus a 1 mile Fun Run with a participation medal. Parking and indoor restrooms are available onsite.

H-F Beast Obstacle Course Dash in Homewood, IL on July 12, 2026 features two age categories with obstacle runs. The event awards finisher medals and t shirts and includes an optional prep course in June.

A team-focused 5K cross country race behind the Carterville Community Center on July 17, 2026, with grass, gravel, and paved sections. Teams compete by standard XC scoring and medals and team awards are presented.

An overnight loop endurance event at Lowell Park in Dixon, IL where participants repeat a .411 mile paved loop for 6, 12, or 24 hours. Solo and three person relay options are available and the event is self supported.

CMAR Trail Races at Camp Wokanda near Chillicothe, Illinois offers multiple looped and out and back trail distances on wooded singletrack with substantial elevation, staffed aid stations, and time cutoffs for each distance.

A Backyard Ultra at Quail Ridge Farm in Albion, Illinois on July 18, 2026. Registration includes a t shirt and a ten dollar food truck voucher, with free camping available the night before.

A summer **5K** at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, IL featuring winding forest trails, a one third mile river crossing through the Embarras River, a steep finish climb called Billy Goat Hill, and a small field limited to 125 participants.

Experience a trail run through Forest Park on the General Dacey Trail in Shelbyville. Participate in a 5K or 1 mile race featuring team competitions, post race refreshments, and a gathering at the local aquatic center.

The Lake Land College 5K will take place in Mattoon on Saturday 1 August 2026. You can run 5 kilometers.

Experience the final race of the summer at Farmdale Reservoir in Washington Illinois. This five mile trail run features a mix of prairie woods and singletrack paths through a diverse landscape.

A loop ultrarunning event at Kennekuk Cove County Park with 3.25 mile laps, aid stations, camping, shirts and swag bags, and four hour and eight hour runner and walker options. Field limited to 250 participants.

Timed 6 hour and 3 hour endurance runs on a 1.01 mile loop at Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville, IL, with a mixed crushed limestone and pavement surface. Field limited to 120; proceeds support the nature center.

Night trail races in Dixon Illinois on an approximate 5 mile loop with solo distances and a three person relay, single aid station, post race snack, and on site tees for all participants.

A multi-event day in Coal Valley with a 5K Mud Adventure Run, a Ninja Kids Run, and a Cross Country Trail Run. Main obstacles include a Tire Wall, Ninja Scaling Wall and Weight Lift; spectator entry is $7.

A youth and family 2K obstacle course at Maxwell Park with about 15 obstacles. Waves serve ages 5 and up; participants get a shirt, medal and a timed result, with trophies for top three in each competitive age group.

A community cross country event in Mount Prospect offering 1, 2 and 3 mile races. Entry is $25 and proceeds benefit the Little Giraffe Foundation.

A Scottish Highlander themed obstacle race in Pingree Grove, Illinois featuring 3K family, 5K and 15K heats with 20 to 30 obstacles, plus a torch lit night race and a haunted 5K. Spectator fee on-site is $10 and parking is free.

Hill of a Race 2026 in Bloomington, IL combines a lap based Endurance Challenge with multiple 3 mile obstacle course waves, including competitive men, women, masters and several recreational waves.

Loop format trail event at Busse Woods in Ned Brown Forest Preserve on August 15, 2026. Runners complete 3.1 mile loops on crushed limestone and packed gravel with a centralized aid station and distances from 5K to 50K.

A loop trail ultramarathon at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village Illinois on August 15 2026. It offers 40 mile and 50 mile options, with registration closing August 14 2026.