Swamp Forest Trail Run

🏃‍♂️ Event Date

Saturday, January 3, 2026

🕗 Race Start Time

Race start: 8:00 AM

🌳 Event Location

Join Gulf Winds Track Club for the Swamp Forest Trail Run on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. The annual event offers runners a chance to complete a one-loop Quarter Marathon (6.8 mi), two-loop Half Marathon (13.6 mi), or three-loop 20-Mile Challenge (20.4 mi).

📝 Registration

• Open date: October 1.
• Race Shirt Deadline: December 15 is the last day to register to receive a race shirt.
• Event Limit: This event is limited to 150 runners: sign up early to guarantee your spot!

🏞️ About the Course

The course consists of beautiful rolling terrain on both single-track and multi-use trails. The Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park Trail is comprised of three main loops: Swamp Forest, Coon Bottom, and Oak Hammock, along with several connecting trails. The course connects these trails into a 6.8-mile loop.

• Swamp Forest Loop: runs next to a seepage basin swamp and a profusion of ferns, passes ephemeral ponds, and a Beech-Magnolia forest.
• Coon Bottom Loop: runs beside a clear sand-bottom seepage stream in many places, and passes through Beech-Magnolia and Spruce Pine forests. The trail crosses a black-water stream that drains a seepage basin swamp.
• Oak Hammock Loop: runs near the shore of Lake Jackson where deer can often be seen along the edges of open fields.
• Creek Forest Trail: runs around the head of a seepage stream, curves around an ephemeral pond, and encounters a series of meander loops of the main stream.
• Big Tree Cutoff: passes a swamp that contains Pinckneya, Needle Palms and a stand of huge Tulip-Poplars.

Course Map

⏱️ Course Cut-Off

The cut-off time for this event is 1:00 PM. This will give runners five (5) hours to complete the 20-Mile Challenge. If you do not finish your second loop in 3.5 hours, you may not continue and will be awarded the half marathon finish time.

🎫 Packet Pick-Up

Saturday morning at the race from 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM. We encourage everyone to make any attempt possible to pick up your packet early so we can start the race on time.

📜 Race History

Read about the 2020 run and view past years results:

• 2025 Results
• 2024 Results
• 2023 Results
• 2022 Results
• 2020 Results
• 2019 Results
• 2018 Results
• 2017 Results
• 2016 Results
• 2015 Results
• 2014 Results

🌐 Race Information

For more details, visit the official race page: Swamp Forest Trail Run.