Iron Furnace Trail Run

Event overview

The Iron Furnace Trail Runs take place on April 4, 2026 at Lake Hope State Park (Park Rd 9, McArthur, OH). The event is organized by SEOTR Events and offers two distances:

• 13.1 miles
• 5 miles

The race field is limited to 250 participants combined for both distances. Registration is online only via UltraSignup, opens December 1, 2025 and closes April 2, 2026. The entry fee includes a short-sleeve race shirt; registrants who register by March 1 are guaranteed their correct shirt size. All finishers receive a wooden finisher award. Post-race food is provided, with potato bowls frequently offered and options for vegan diets.

Course, logistics and policies

Both courses use singletrack trails in Lake Hope State Park and Zaleski State Forest, with scenic overviews, gorges, and rocky outcroppings. Course details:

• 13.1 mile course: true distance 13.49 miles, 2185 ft elevation gain, 12.10 miles singletrack, 1.4 miles pavement; aid stations at miles 2.93 and 8.05; cutoff at the 8.05 mile aid station (3 hours).
• 5 mile course: true distance 5.11 miles, 587 ft elevation gain, 4 miles singletrack, 0.5 mile pavement; aid station at mile 3.1.

Starting in 2025 the start/finish moved to the Lake Hope State Park Beach Parking Lot; parking attendants will help position vehicles and the walk from parking to the start is no more than a half mile. The event operates under special use permits from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Refund/rollover policy: 100% refund or rollover 45+ days before the race, 50% refund or rollover 20–44 days before, and no refund or rollover within 20 days unless volunteering. Bib transfers are not permitted; distance changes are allowed until four days before the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.