The First Blaze Trail Race
The First Blaze Trail Race 2026 : Kelso Conservation Area and the Bruce Trail
The event runs on the Toronto section of the Bruce Trail near Milton, Ontario. It offers three trail race formats on permanently marked trail blazes. The event is capped at 200 participants.
Race options:
- about 51.8 km point-to-point, 10 hour cutoff.
- about 27.5 km point-to-point, 8.5 hour cutoff.
- 10 km out-and-back from Kelso Conservation Area.
The 25 km and 50 km formats are point-to-point and include a shuttle from the finish parking area to the start. The 10 km is an out-and-back using the final 5 km segment of the longer courses in reverse. Only the final 5 km of the route will receive additional flagging; runners follow the white blazes for the remainder. Blue blazes indicate side trails that will not be used.
Terrain varies from flowing groomed single track to technical sections with rocks, roots, short road sections, punchy climbs and descents, bridges, boardwalks, and stiles. The Limehouse "Hole in the Wall" section requires walking through a short cave and climbing a wooden ladder. Elevation gain for the 50 km course is about 800 m.
Aid stations will be spaced roughly 8–12 km apart and supply water, electrolyte drink and trail foods. The event is cup-less; participants should bring a collapsible cup or bottle and are advised to carry at least 1 L of fluids. Registration includes a soft-spun t-shirt, a finisher's medal, parking at Kelso, and a Toronto Bruce Trail Club End-to-End patch for 50 km finishers. Organizers will donate CA$20 from each registration to the Toronto Bruce Trail Club. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.