Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon

Trail Marathon in Northern Minnesota

The Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon is a point-to-point race held on rough woodland trails. The course connects the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, MN, to the Munger Trailhead in Carlton, MN. The route covers 26.2 miles and utilizes half of the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultramarathon course with additional sections to complete the marathon distance. Participants navigate a track featuring approximately 2,969 feet of ascent and 2,566 feet of descent.

The course primarily consists of rugged singletrack with hazards such as roots, rocks, and potentially slippery bridges. The trail is marked with orange pin flags at regular intervals. As a point-to-point event, a bus service is provided to transport participants from the finish line area in Carlton to the starting point in Duluth.

The event is a cup-free race, meaning paper cups are not provided at aid stations. Runners must carry their own hydration vessels, such as bottles or collapsible cups. There are five aid stations along the route, spaced between 3 and 7 miles apart. These stations offer water, electrolyte drinks, soda, fruit, and snacks. Specific locations have strict cutoff times that runners must meet to remain in the competition.

Finishers receive a medal, while the top ten male, female, and nonbinary participants are awarded pottery mugs. The race was established in 1992 and was renamed in 2013 to honor its founder, Eugene Curnow. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.