Galena Sky Trail Races

Galena Sky Trail Race

Galena Sky Trail Race takes place at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, Illinois. The 2026 race date is May 16 and the event is held the third weekend of May. The course uses the resort trails and ski hills, with views across the Mississippi River toward Iowa and Wisconsin. The event includes a post-race meal prepared by the resort and an on-site after party with music.

Format, distances, awards and policies

• 8 hour timed loop event
• 4 hour timed loop event

The course is looped so runners return to the race base after each lap. The long loop measures about 2.91 miles and a short loop measures about 0.6 miles; the short loop becomes available later in the day and only counts if completed in full before the loop cutoff. Runners earn distance by completing laps; mileage is tracked and awards go to the runners with the most miles, with ties broken by who reached the mileage earliest. A heavy metal, 3-D finisher medal is given to all finishers. Overall awards are given to the top three male and female finishers and age-group awards are given in 10-year spans. There is a prize for best Nordic Viking warrior costume. The event has a rollover policy for entries (full rollover if notified well in advance, partial credits closer to the event) and a volunteer option for rollover credit. Early-bird pricing and meal ticket options are part of the event offerings. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.