Black Squirrel Half
Bellvue, United States • 12 Sep 2026
Event overview
The Black Squirrel Half Marathon is set for September 12, 2026, at Lory State Park near Bellvue, Colorado. Distances offered:
- 13.5 miles - main race, about 2,000 feet of total vertical gain and descent
- 1 mile - kids race on gently rolling singletrack
The field is capped at 400 runners. Runners are allowed a total of 5.5 hours to complete the course. Registration for 2026 opens December 15, 2025. Post-race items include a pancake breakfast, a pint glass finisher award, and overall and age-group awards.
Course and logistics
The course follows the park perimeter and includes views to the east of Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains, and to the west of the Rocky Mountain peaks. Terrain is a mix of hard-pack singletrack and dirt road: about 12 miles of dirt singletrack and 1 mile of dirt road. Elevations range from 5,400 ft to 7,000 ft, with an average elevation near 6,100 ft. Runners climb roughly 1,500 feet between mile two and mile six, then descend and finish on gently rolling singletrack.
Aid stations provide water and Gnarly Nutrition Fuel2O sports drink; the Arthur’s West aid station (mile 8.5) also offers additional snacks. The course is marked with pink flagging, flour, and directional arrows. Drop bags may be left at the start/finish and must be labeled. Crewing is allowed only at designated aid stations; pacers are not allowed. Runners must carry at least 16 oz of water and dogs are not permitted on course. Toilets are available at the start/finish and at several trailheads. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.