The Last Boyscout

Event

The Last Boyscout is a Last Man Standing race held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Goreville, Illinois at Ferne Clyffe Dam. Registration is capped at 75 runners. The entry fee is listed as $75. All participants receive a shirt and memorabilia. The race follows the Big Backyard Ultra format: each loop is 4.167 miles and must be completed within one hour; runners who do not finish the previous loop and be in the starting corral for the next loop are eliminated. The event has reached 100 miles in one year of its seven-year history.

Course and venue

The start/finish area is at the Hillside pavilion in Ferne Clyffe State Park. The Day Loop uses single-track trail, jeep road trail, and finishes with a little over a mile on road. The Day Loop has about 600 feet of climbing per loop and includes two notable hills, with the Boyscout Trail being the steepest section. The Night Loop is an out-and-back route with north and south turnarounds and is about 75% paved road; runners are required to wear a headlamp and a reflective vest at night. The start/finish pavilion is the only aid station and will provide water, ice, food, and hot food later in the event. Pit toilets and porta toilets are available; pit toilets are located at the start/finish area and within the first quarter mile of each loop. The park offers electric and primitive campgrounds and lies between Interstate 57 and Interstate 24. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.