Moraine Hills Run for the Hills
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Moraine Hills Run for the Hills - Moraine Hills State Park
Moraine Hills Run for the Hills is an in-person and virtual running and walking event held in Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry, IL on September 26, 2026, with a virtual window from September 1 to September 27, 2026. The event offers multiple distances and a virtual trifecta option that lets participants complete all three distances within the virtual period.
Course details:
- 5K Run/Walk entirely on Leatherleaf Bog Trail (asphalt and crushed limestone).
- 10K Run/Walk on Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog Trails with lake and marsh views.
- Half Marathon follows the 10K route for the first miles, adds the McHenry Dam loop and a River Road out-and-back.
All courses lie entirely within Moraine Hills State Park and are primarily crushed limestone with intermittent asphalt. Trails are closed to motorized vehicles. Course marshals and directional arrows will mark key intersections. Water and Gatorade are provided at stations approximately every two miles; there are no snack stations, and bananas and water are available at the finish. Restroom access varies by distance: none on the 5K, two along the 10K, and three along the half marathon.
Event organization and proceeds are managed by the volunteer group Friends of Moraine Hills State Park. Net proceeds support environmental scholarships, educational programs, park improvements, and visitor services. Packet pick-up occurs before the event in Crystal Lake and on race day at the park. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
