Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack

Event Overview

The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail (BT). Join us for the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater, and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking, and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.

Race Events

There is a trail experience and distance right for you:

• Half Marathon: 13.1 miles
• 10K: Standard 10K distance
• 5K: Run/walk option available
• 10 Mile Hike: Enjoy scenic hiking on the BT
• Backpacking Trek: An overnight adventure awaits

Running Events Schedule

Participants can expect the following start times:

• Half Marathon & 10K: 9:00am
• 5K: 9:15am

Hiking the Buckeye Trail

The 10-Mile Hike will start at 8:00am (1 hour before the running events) in Shawnee. All hikers will be given a race bib/number with a timing chip used to monitor when hikers start and finish the hike. The hike is designed and led by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA, with a number of historical points following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide with historical points of interest and the route map will be provided to participants.

Event Location

The festival takes place at:

• Address: 127B W. Main St., Shawnee, OH
• Date: 2026-09-25

Registration

For more details and to register, please visit the official race page: Blue Blaze Festival Registration.