Moraine Hills Run for the Hills

Moraine Hills Run for the Hills

The Moraine Hills Run for the Hills takes place at Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry, Illinois on September 26, 2026. The event offers in-person and virtual options, with the virtual window running from September 1 to September 27, 2026.

• 5K Run/Walk
• 10K Run/Walk
• Half Marathon Run/Walk

All three in-person courses are entirely within Moraine Hills State Park and use primarily crushed limestone trails with intermittent asphalt surfaces. The 5K follows the Leatherleaf Bog Trail. The 10K uses the Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog Trails and passes lake and marsh areas. The half marathon follows the 10K route for its first segment, adds a loop on the McHenry Dam trail, and includes an out-and-back section on the River Road bike trail before returning to the Northern Woods finish. Courses are closed to motorized vehicles and will have course marshals and directional arrows at key intersections.

Course support includes water and Gatorade stations approximately every two miles; stations do not provide snacks, but bananas and water are available at the finish. Restroom availability varies by distance. Packet pick-up is offered at The Running Depot in Crystal Lake on September 24 and 25, with additional pick-up on race day at the park. The event is organized by the volunteer Friends of Moraine Hills State Park and raises funds for scholarships, educational programs, habitat restoration, and park improvements. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.