Black Squirrel Half Marathon

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

The Black Squirrel Half Marathon will take place on the wonderful trails of Lory State Park to the northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado.

The half marathon course offers a tour of the outer boundaries of Lory State Park, providing breathtaking views to the south and east of Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains: and to the West of the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain swell.

The race covers a variety of terrain, all of which is runnable although technical in places. After a mile of dirt roads, the course ascends a little under four miles and 1,500 feet to the apex at 7,000 feet on Lory’s west ridge. The views are well worth the climb. A bomber descent follows, leaving three and a half miles of beautiful, gently rolling hardpacked singletrack into the finish.

Our aim is to offer a trail running experience that is challenging, yet accessible to all.

📍 Event Details

• Start: Lory State Park, Bellvue, Colorado
• Distance: 13.5 miles with ~2,000' of vertical gain/descent.
• Kids: 1 mile on gently rolling singletrack.
• Date: September 12, 2026

📝 Registration Information

Fees for the 2026 Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon are as follows:

• Dec 15 – February 28: $90 + $6.40 fee
• March 1 – May 31: $100 + $7.00 fee
• June 1 – Sep 4: $110 + $7.40 fee
• Packet Pickup: $125

🏅 What You Get

• Beautiful Course: A beautiful, challenging and well-marked course on some of the best trails in Fort Collins
• Race Support: Enthusiastic, knowledgeable race and aid station volunteers
• Aid Stations: Fully stocked aid stations
• Pancake Breakfast: Post-race pancake breakfast with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options

📅 Race Schedule

Friday 9/11:

• 4:00-7:00p: Optional packet pick-up at Altitude Running

Saturday 9/12:

• 5:30-6:45a: Race Day Packet Pickup
• 7:00a: Race Start
• 8:30a: First Finishers Expected
• 9:00a: Post-Race Pancake Breakfast & Party Begins

🚗 Parking & Directions

Parking for runners will be available at the Soldier Canyon Picnic Area in Lory State Park beginning at 5:30 a.m. Priority parking spaces adjacent to the Soldier Canyon start/finish area will be given to carpools of 2 or more runners on a first come-first serve basis.

All other vehicles will be directed to park in the Timber Trailhead lot, on the side of the Lodgepole Drive spur road and, if necessary, further down the main Lory Service Road in the Eltuck Picnic Area. Late arrivals parking at the Eltuck Picnic Area may need to walk up to a mile to the start of the race.

🔗 Learn More

For more details, visit the race official page.