Black Squirrel Half Marathon

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.

• Start: Lory State Park, Bellvue, Colorado
• Distance: 13.5 miles with ~2,000' of vertical gain/descent.
  • Kids: 1 mile on gently rolling singletrack.
• Min/Max Elevation: 5,400'/7,000'
• Average Elevation: 6,100'
• Terrain: 12 miles dirt singletrack, 1 mile dirt road
• Fauna: Black abert squirrels, black bears, other more colorful animals
• Registration Cap: 400
• Time Allowance: 5.5 hours
• Date: September 12, 2026

Registration

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 in Return for Your Registration Fee

• A beautiful, challenging and well-marked course on some of the best trails in Fort Collins
• Enthusiastic, knowledgeable race and aid station volunteers
• Fully stocked aid stations
• Free entry to Lory State Park for the day
• Generous 5.5 hour cut-off time
• Gender specific race T-shirt
• Pint glass finisher award and overall and age group awards
• Post race pancake breakfast
  • Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and non-alcoholic options are available as part of our standard race fare
• Professional medical coverage

Waiting List

In the event that the race sells out, we will maintain a waiting list and transfer runners from the waiting list to the race roster should other runners already registered not be able to attend.

Transfer Credit Policy

If you are not able to race, we will be able to offer a race transfer credit that can be applied to any future Gnar Runners race (valid for 12 months). Credit deadlines are as follows:

Until March 31: 100% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees).
April 1 - June 30: 75% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees).
July 1 - September 3: 50% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees).

**In order to receive your credit, you must cancel your registration through the RunSignup registration platform.

To process a credit deferral:

• Log in to your RunSignup account
• Go to Profile -> Upcoming Races -> Black Squirrel -> Manage Registration
• At the bottom of the page, select “Defer Registration” and follow the automated process.
• While RunSignup will prompt you to, you DO NOT have to immediately choose which race to apply your credit to. Once you hit "Confirm Deferral" and see the "Your registration has been deferred" message, your credit is in the system and will be valid for one year past the event date.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Entries are non-refundable. Entries are non-transferable, except for transfers via the wait list. In the event the race is cancelled due to extreme weather, fire, disease or for some other unforeseeable event, we cannot offer refunds or credits.

Course & Aid Stations

Half Marathon Course Map

Click to download PDF map of course

A map of the Lory trails is available here.

Course GPX File

• Black Squirrel Half Marathon GPX (Current for 2025)

Course Profile

Aid Stations

All aid stations will be stocked with water and Gnarly Nutrition Fuel2O sports drink. The Arthur's West Aid Station at mile 8.5 will have additional snacks including fruit and chips.

Time Cut-Offs

Runners have a total of 5.5 hours to complete the course. There are no strict intermediate course cut-offs. If a runner reaches Arthur's West Aid (mile 8.5) past 4.5 hours elapsed, they may be offered a ride to the finish from a race official and/or advised that there will be limited services upon reaching the finish.

Drop Bags

Runners may leave a finish line drop bag at the start/finish. We will have a tarp to set bags out next to the start. Pack your gear to stay dry in case we get any rain.

Drop bags should be clearly labeled with your name and bib number. Please keep your drop bag to a reasonable size (small duffel bag or stuff sack). Please do not leave any valuable items in your drop bags - volunteers are not responsible for lost items. Drop bags will not be transported to any other locations on course.

Course Marking

The course will be well marked with pink flagging and pink pin flags. Important intersections will be supplemented with flour ground markings and directional arrows. On longer stretches of trail without intersections, confidence flagging will be placed approximately every quarter mile. Turns will be marked heavily.

Toilets

There will be ample facilities at the start/finish. In addition, there are park facilities that can be used at the Arthur's Trailhead, which is passed at mile 8.5 and 11.0. There is also a toilet at the Timber Trailhead at mile 1.

Crewing & Spectating

The best viewing points are at the start/finish line and at the Arthur's Trailhead, two miles south of the start at the end of the main park road.

The entire trail system is open to the public if you want to spectate and encourage elsewhere on course; however, crewing and pacing is not allowed outside of designated aid stations and will result in the disqualification of your runner.

Kids Race

We will hold a free one-mile kids race beginning at 10:30a from the race start. Parents are welcome to accompany their children on the course, and we will also have race volunteers available to help chaperone the kids through the course.

Training

Our Lory Summer Trail Series (Tuesdays in August) previews much of the Black Squirrel course. There may also be organized training runs on Saturdays in August for Black Squirrel. See the Fort Collins Trail Runners Facebook Group and our Community Page for more info.

We also offer a basic 9-week training plan leading up to the event.

Detailed Course Directions

The Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon will start and finish at the Soldier Canyon Picnic Area in Lory State Park to the northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. Runners will head south on the Lodgepole Drive Spur Road for a little less than a half mile before looping back north on the main Lory Service Road to the Timber Trailhead where they will access the Timber Trail and ascend all the way to the Westridge Trail.

The course takes a right on Westridge, looping around to connect with the Howard Trail (right turn), which runners will take down to the Arthur's Rock Link Trail (hard left) and Arthur's Rock Trail (right) to the Arthur's Rock Trailhead. From the trailhead/aid station, the course will run south on the west side of the South Valley Trail until it turns back north on the east side of the loop at the Horsetooth Mountain Park border. Runners will then pass through the Arthur's Rock Trailhead again to connect with the East Valley Trail which will take them back to the finish.

You will climb ~1,500 feet between mile two and mile six, descend an equal distance over the next two and a half miles and then run on gently rolling terrain for the last 4.5 miles.

Rules

Race rules are designed to provide a safe and fair experience for everyone involved and to help ensure our ability to produce the race again next year. Major rule infractions by racers will result in immediate disqualification of the racer. Please do not argue with or harass our volunteers. Please direct any questions and feedback to us here.

1. The race will be limited to 5.5 hours and will end at 12:30pm. There are no strict intermediate course cut-offs. If a runner reaches Arthur's West Aid (mile 8.5) past 4.5 hours elapsed, they may be offered a ride to the finish from a race official and/or advised that there will be limited services upon reaching the finish.
2. Please make sure that your bib number is visible from the front.
3. If you need to drop out of the race for any reason, you must check out with the nearest aid station or course volunteer.
4. Purposeful littering is prohibited and will result in an immediate disqualification.
5. Stay on the trail. No bushwhacking or short cutting. In case of wet trail conditions, please run through any muddy sections to avoid widening the trail. Yield to pedestrian and horses. Mountain bikers should yield to runners, but please use common sense in all circumstances.
6. Pacers are not allowed. Crewing is allowed at designated aid stations only.
7. No mechanical aid (poles, traction devices, etc.) unless approved by race staff prior to the race for a specific reason.
8. All runners should carry a 16oz minimum water bottle or bladder that can be refilled at aid stations. There will be no water cups at aid stations.
9. Dogs are not allowed on the course with runners.

Schedule

Friday 9/11:

Saturday 9/12:

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. Plan to arrive early to give yourself enough time to walk to the start and check in.

The Lodgepole Drive spur road will be restricted to one-way traffic from south to north. Vehicles will enter on the south end of Lodgepole Drive and will fill in the first available space on the right side of the road. Vehicles will exit on the north end of Lodgepole Drive.

We are asking any runners who are able to arrive in a vehicle that already has a state park pass to do so. We WILL provide passes for any that do not. Due to some recent charges, we now have to pay per pass, and appreciate your help keeping costs down. As usual, any other vehicles (crews/spectators) will be required to have a Colorado State Parks Annual Pass or purchase a park entry pass on-site for $9.

Driving Directions

708 Lodgepole Dr, Bellvue, Colorado 80512