Trail Running Calendar Illinois 2026-2027

A community road-and-trail event at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana supporting Grand Prairie Friends, offering 5K and 10K runs, a 5K walk, plus virtual options, medals, and t-shirts.

A Backyard Ultra in Colona, IL where runners repeat a single *4.17m* loop each hour until they stop. The course is mostly flat with one ravine hill and offers parking and space to camp.

Trail running at Camp Big Timber in Elgin, IL on November 8, 2026, featuring 3 and 5 mile perimeter courses with a creek crossing. A kids fun run and a pancake breakfast are included, and proceeds support local youth organizations.

An annual 5K trail fundraiser at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site on November 8, 2026. The 3.1 mile course runs over paved, wooded and grassy terrain and supports community outreach and educational programs.

A trail festival in Lemont on November 14, 2026, offering 10K, 20K, 30K and 60K on single and double-track trails and gravel around the Lemont Quarries and I&M Canal, with multi-lap courses and variable terrain.

A certified road and trail ultramarathon in Vienna, IL offering 100 mile, 100 km, USATF 50 mile national championship, 50 mile, and marathon distances on a smooth crushed limestone rail-trail with a 30 hour time limit.

Trail races at Mcnaughton Park in Pekin, IL on November 14, 2026, with 50, 30, 10 and about 3.5 mile options on a reversed 10 mile loop featuring creek crossings and a 13 hour time limit.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a 2 mile run through the wooded trails of Sheffield Illinois. Wear your best holiday costume for a chance to win prizes at this untimed community event.

A community Turkey Trot through Atwood Park near 5k with chipped timing, common trail obstacles and door prizes. No GPS or timing devices are allowed and donations are collected for local causes.

A Thanksgiving 5K on the Green Bay Trail at Winnetka Train Station featuring rolling start waves, a family division, packet pickup before race day, post-race refreshments, and support for local charities.

The 36th annual FOLEPI River Trail Classic in East Peoria features a 4 Mile competitive run and a 2 Mile non competitive walk, shirt and no shirt entry options, age group awards for the run, and a post race gathering at a local pizzeria.

A public cross country race in Evanston with three all-grass loops, team and individual scoring, included long-sleeve race shirt, and a post-race awards cookout; entry fees vary by registration date.

Experience a cross country style trail race through the Timber Pointe Nature Center at Lake Bloomington. Choose between 4K and 8K loops or a three hour endurance challenge while supporting local nature conservation.

A four-race winter trail series in Dixon, Illinois totaling 31 miles across varied terrain. Distances include 5K, 10K, 15K, and 20K with series awards, age-group prizes, and multi-race apparel for series finishers.

A 7.8 mile trail run through Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, IL on 12/12/2026 with packet pickup, pre race coffee and post race awards held in the park lodge. The event is planned to run in most weather conditions.

A winter trail series at Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia, Illinois featuring 5K, 8K and 10K races across January to March 2027, with centralized registration and series swag rewards.

Part of the Fox Valley Winter Challenge Trail Series, the 8K takes place at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora on February 20, 2027. Registration is consolidated for the series and includes options for series swag.

Early-season trail races at The Forge in Lemont, Illinois, on wooded single and double track trails with mud, roots and gravel. Distances offered are 13.1 miles and 6.5 miles with technical singletrack sections.

A 10K trail race at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles on March 14, 2027. The 10K is part of a winter series with 5K and 8K races and has a $45 registration fee.

A looped trail event at Lowell Park with multiple timed distances on a 2.25 mile alternating-direction loop, manual lap counting, finishers' items and awards, an aid station with varied food, and a nonrefundable registration policy.