Cherry Creek Race for the Watershed 2026

Get ready to lace up your sneakers and join us at the Cherry Creek Race for the Watershed 2026 to support clean water in our communities!

 

Welcome to the Cherry Creek Race for the Watershed 2026!

 

Join us for a fun-filled day of running, walking, and most of all, supporting the Cherry Creek Watershed! Lace up your shoes and get ready to hit the trail with friends and family. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just looking for a leisurely stroll, this event is perfect for all ages and fitness levels. 100% of this year's proceeds will be donated to the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers Scholarship Fund!

Come out and show your love for stormwater and the environment while enjoying the great outdoors! Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference and have a blast doing it. See you at the starting line!

SEMSWA, Splash and the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners are excited to announce this year's Cherry Creek Race for the Watershed event! This year’s race will take the form of a 5K walk/fun run and will be held on Saturday, May 9th at 10 am at the Smoky Hill Shelter area at Cherry Creek State Park. SEMSWA and Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners are inviting our partner organizations within the Cherry Creek Basin to participate and extend the invitation to any interested staff members, family, or friends!

 

Race Location:

Smoky Hill Shelter, Cherry Creek State Park

(Enter through 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80015)

 

Race Course:

**Please note!** The Race Course was updated on 3/15/2026 to create a loop course. The distance is still 5k, or 3.1 miles total and is a combination of sidewalk trail, single-track trail, and asphalt road running. The 5K course is a loop course that begins on the west side of the Smoky Hill Parking Lot. Participants will run or walk the loop for two lengths in order to complete the 5k course. From the start/finish line, participants will head west to connect with the Smoky Hill trail and then continue south along the east shades for approximately 0.4 miles. Runners will then turn right at Cherry Creek Park Road at 0.45 miles. At 0.75 miles, participants will turn left to reconnect with the Smoky Hill trail. Runners will continue north along the Smoky Hill Trail until returning to the Smoky Hill Parking Lot at 1.35 miles. Participants will circle around the east and north sides of the parking lot before returning to the start at 1.55 miles to complete the first loop. Participates will repeat the loop a second time to complete the 5k course. Volunteers will be present to direct participants along Cherry Creek Park Rd and the East Boat Ramp Access trail crossing. 

(see attached Overall Event Map and Proposed Route)

 

See the race course and "Course" Page. Also linked below:

https://runsignup.com/Race/CherryCreekRaceForTheWatershed/Page-1

 

 

Race Day Schedule:

Participants may arrive at the Smoky Hill parking lot as early as 8:30 am. Packet pick-up will be available starting at 8:30 am in the sponsor booth area of the Smoky Hill shelter and parking lot (please see the detailed event map for the exact location). At 9:45 am, participants can begin to line up near the start/finish line. The race will begin promptly at 10:00 am. Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female finishers at 11:00 am.

 

Costumes:

While there is no obligation to dress up, we encourage anyone who wishes to represent the watershed in a creative costume of your choosing, in honor of past race traditions! We will be giving out an award for the best-dressed race participant and/or group! 

 

Park Entry:

Daily park entry fees are included in the race registration and for volunteers. Please print out a copy of your race registration confirmation email and have it ready to present at the entry booth for free access to the park. Please enter the State Park through the East Entrance Station (this is the closest access point to the Smoky Hill Shelter parking lot). 

 

Parking:

Parking for the event will be allowed at the south and east sides of the Smoky Hill parking lot (west of the Swim Beach Access Road approximately 0.8 miles after the East Entrance Station).

 

T-Shirts: 

Please note that if you register for the race after April 15th, we cannot guarantee your shirt size, or that you will receive a t-shirt on race day.

 

Food and Drinks:

We are providing free food and drinks after the race. Food items will include fresh fruit, granola bars, and snacks. Drinks will include water, coffee, and sports drinks. We ask that participants bring their own water before the race to stay hydrated.

 

Sponsors:
We are still seeking sponsorships for the race. For sponsors that donate $500 to the race fund, SEMSWA will cover the registration cost of up to 4 members of your organization, and have your company's logo added to the event t-shirts. We are hoping to receive sponsorships by April 15th in order to have logos included on the shirt order.

 

Volunteers:

Volunteers are still needed for this event! We are seeking volunteers to help with race set-up, directing traffic for event parking, and running the water station. Volunteers will also be granted free entry to the park for the event and receive a t-shirt for their participation. Please contact James Linden at (336) 404-2716 or via email at jlinden@semswa.org if you are interested in volunteering.