Trail Running Calendar Illinois 2025-2026

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

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 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..

The Shake Your Trail Feather Trail Run takes place at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, Illinois, offering a variety of distances including 5K, 8-mile, 16-mile, and 50K ultra runs. Set amidst pristine timber, grassy riverside paths, and babbling creeks, the course features technical single-track trail..

The Palos Park Spooky Shuffle is a 5K and 10K trail run/walk held at Swallow Cliff South Forest Preserve in Palos Park, Illinois. The event features scenic courses through the Sag Valley Trail System, known for its unique topography with ravines and hills uncommon in the Chicagoland area. The 5K cou..

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 it once or twice depending on their endurance. The race sta..

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 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 Allerton Park Trail Run, held at Robert Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois, features a challenging 5.7-mile trail run and a 2-mile nature walk. The course follows the Sangamon River and includes natural obstacles like hidden roots, ruts, and sharp turns, offering a rugged t..

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

The Big Timber XC Challenge is a trail running event held at Camp Big Timber in Elgin, Illinois. Participants can choose between a 3-mile run/walk (one loop) or a 5-mile run (two loops) through a natural wooded area featuring grass, gravel, dirt, and a notable creek crossing with a rope for support...

The Fast Track Cross Country Open is a 3-mile cross country running event held in Schaumburg, Illinois, on the MacNider course near Hoover Elementary School. Open to all ages and abilities, the event features separate women's and men's races. Participants can enjoy running on grass and have the opti..

The Forge Trail Run Festival, held in Lemont, Illinois, offers a challenging late-fall trail running experience with distances of 10K, 20K (half marathon), 30K, and 60K. The courses start and finish at The Forge and wind through single and double-track trails in the woods, gravel paths, and around t..

The Arctic Frog Run in Libertyville, IL, is a challenging winter endurance event featuring multiple race distances: 50K, 25K, 15K, 10K, and 5K. The course offers a scenic mix of pavement, wooded, and crushed limestone trails around the Des Plaines River and Casey Trails, with rolling hills adding to..

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-tra..

The Muddy Shamrock @ The Forge is an annual trail running event held in Lemont, Illinois, featuring a Trail Half Marathon (approximately 13.1 miles) and a Trail Quarter Marathon (about 6.6 miles). The race courses wind through wooded single and double-track mountain bike trails and gravel paths arou..

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..

The Schon Park 3/6/9 Endurance Runs, hosted by Ultra Bound Coaching, take place in Glen Carbon, Illinois. This timed event offers three durations: 3, 6, and 9 hours, where participants run loops on a 1.5-mile paved course featuring rolling hills. Runners aim to cover the greatest distance within the..

The Earth Day 50k is a trail running event held in Crystal Lake, Illinois, at Veterans Acres Park. 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..