Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail RunningUTMB Index Races
Loud Thunder 50
Illinois City, United States
Date to be announcedDate TBA
80.47 km50 km21 km
MountainNature & Off-Road+2
USTrail Running · Illinois · 12 Events · 31 Races
Trail Running in Illinois
12 verified events with 31 individual races (9 confirmed dates) in Illinois complete with route maps and elevation profiles.
Events129 confirmed dates
Competitions31Races & courses
Distances4.5 - 161 kmCourse distance range
Max. Elevation Gain+7,620 m D+Course elevation profile
Selected Events
Featured Events & Highlights
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Gafoto · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
Howl at the Moon
Danville, United States
Date to be announcedDate TBA
8 h4 h
FestiveNature & Off-Road+1
Photo: Wickedender · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
Tom Short 5K
Shelbyville, United States
Date to be announcedDate TBA
5 km
Nature & Off-RoadForest+1
Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail RunningUTMB Index Races
Pacific Trails California by UTMB (HOKA)
Santa Ynez, United States
November 14, 2026 to November 15, 2026Date confirmed
51 km25 km
City RunNature & Off-Road+4
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
JFK 50 Mile
Boonsboro, United States
November 21, 2026Date confirmed
50 km
Nature & Off-RoadForest
Photo: NPS · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
HURT 100 Trail Endurance Run
Honolulu, United States
January 16, 2027 to January 17, 2027Date confirmed
160.93 km
City RunIsland+4
Photo: BLMUtah · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsTrail RunningWorld Trail Majors
Black Canyon Ultras (Hoka)
Spring Valley, United States
February 13, 2027 to February 14, 2027Date confirmed
100 km50 km
DesertMountain+4
Photo: NPS · Public Domain · Wikimedia CommonsTrail Running
Valencia Trail Race
Valencia, United States
March 20, 2027Date confirmed
50 km21 km10 km
Nature & Off-RoadMountain
Dates & Schedule
Race Calendar
Date to be announced
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date to be announced | Loud Thunder 50 | Illinois City, Illinois, US | Trail Running | 80.47 km50 km21 km |
| Date to be announced | Howl at the Moon | Danville, Illinois, US | Trail Running | 8 h4 h |
| Date to be announced | Tom Short 5K | Shelbyville, Illinois, US | Trail Running | 5 km |
November 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 - Nov 15, 2026 | Pacific Trails California by UTMB (HOKA) | Santa Ynez, California, US | Trail Running | 51 km25 km |
| Nov 21, 2026 | JFK 50 Mile | Boonsboro, Maryland, US | Trail Running | 50 km |
January 2027
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2027 - Jan 17, 2027 | HURT 100 Trail Endurance Run | Honolulu, Hawaii, US | Trail Running | 160.93 km |
February 2027
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2027 - Feb 14, 2027 | Black Canyon Ultras (Hoka) | Spring Valley, Arizona, US | Trail Running | 100 km50 km |
March 2027
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2027 | Valencia Trail Race | Valencia, California, US | Trail Running | 50 km21 km10 km |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Chuckanut 50K | Bellingham, Washington, US | Trail Running | 50 km |
April 2027
| Date | Event | Location | Disciplines | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 2027 - Apr 11, 2027 | Trail Running Festival Desert Rats by UTMB | Fruita, Colorado, US | Trail Running | 100 km48 km21 km9 km |
| Apr 16, 2027 - Apr 18, 2027 | Sea Otter Classic | Monterey, California, US | Gravel BikingMountain Biking | 144.84 km112.65 km96.56 km48.28 km |
| Apr 23, 2027 - Apr 24, 2027 | Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB | Auburn, California, US | Trail Running | 161 km100 km50 km25 km |
Events by Month
Overview & Route Character
Off-road running on singletrack, forest paths, and alpine ridges, spanning short discovery trails to high-mountain ultra-trails. Trail running is defined by elevation gain, technical terrain, and natural landscapes across forest singletrack, coastal cliffs, and mountain passes. In this Trail Running in Illinois directory, RunningCompass curates 12 events comprising 31 individual races, including 9 events with confirmed upcoming dates.
Courses span distances ranging from 4.5 km to 161 km and elevation gains up to +7,620 m. Key host locations include Illinois City, Danville, Shelbyville, Santa Ynez. Notable events in this selection include Loud Thunder 50, Howl at the Moon, Tom Short 5K.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How many events and races are listed under Trail Running in Illinois?
This overview currently includes 12 verified events featuring 31 individual races. Of these, 9 events have confirmed upcoming dates on the calendar, while 3 events await next edition date confirmation from the organizer.
What race distances and elevation profiles are included in Trail Running in Illinois?
Races in this selection span distances of 4.5 km to 161 km. The most demanding courses reach up to +7,620 m of positive elevation gain. Featured disciplines include Trail Running, Gravel Biking, Mountain Biking.
Which host cities and flagship events stand out in Trail Running in Illinois?
Top host locations include Illinois City, Danville, Shelbyville, Santa Ynez, Boonsboro. Representative events in the catalog include Loud Thunder 50, Howl at the Moon, Tom Short 5K, Pacific Trails California by UTMB (HOKA). Off-road running on singletrack, forest paths, and alpine ridges, spanning short discovery trails to high-mountain ultra-trails.
How can I inspect route maps, elevation charts, and date filters for Trail Running in Illinois?
Every event profile provides an interactive route map, a detailed elevation chart across all 31 races, and a GPX track download. You can also switch directly to the interactive map explorer to filter by date range and distance.