Course Information
THE 50K course will vary slightly from the past three years, including summits of Hogsback and Bareback Mountains. THe 50M course will NOT include the 18 mile out and back section, instead runners will do the loop again. MORE DETAILS and DESCRIPTIONS TO FOLLOW...
TOURIST PARK TO SUGARLOAF: The race starts in Tourist Park at 6:30AM. The course heads east toward Lake Superior on a paved bike path for about one half mile before entering the Noquemanon Ski Trail and heads north and west. You will be on dirt, sand, rocks, and roots the rest of the race! Follow the ski trail and markers over the Dead River and under the bridge on CR 550. Continue to follow the trail for another mile and a half until it splits to follow the North Country Trail. This is a single-track with some technical areas. Follow the markers closely. Eventually, after about two miles you will cross a gravel road and follow another gravel road north into a gravel pit. Go through a small junkyard, veering left to follow a nice two track almost due west. Follow this, gradually uphill, for several miles, then follow markers right onto the NCT single-track heading north. This connects to Hogsback trail. Follow the technical trail down to the old railroad grade, cross the grade and follow the signs out to CR 550. Turn right onto CR 550 (south) and run racing traffic about 0.3 miles to the Sugarloaf parking lot and your first aid station. (9.8 miles)
SUGARLOAF TO HARLOW LAKE ROAD: Follow the trail from the parking lot up many steps to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Superior and the City of Marquette in the distance. Follow the markers down the north side of Sugarloaf. This is a fairly steep technical single track. Take it easy on this trail -- you will have to walk a short distance. Eventually the trail ends up next to Lake Superior. The trail for the next several miles is flat except one notable section of stairs and follows the shoreline of Lake Superior. The trail eventually leaves the shores of Lake Superior and winds inland to eventually end up at Harlow Lake Road. This is Aid Station #2. (7.8 miles).
HARLOW LAKE ROAD TO "CROSSROADS": Cross Harlow Creek and take a moderately technical single-track to the "gravel pit". This is a different "gravel pit" than you saw in the first leg. Follow the single-track that goes right along CR 550 for a short distance then heads inland to the old railroad grade. Run north on the railroad grade to the "crossroads". There is no vehicular access to the crossroads, the closest parking is about 1/2 mile away. (2.9 miles)
CROSSROADS TO CROSSROADS ("Top of the World" loop): Continue down the old railroad grade for a mile, then take a sharp left and head up a gradual one mile climb to "the top of the world". This is a rock knoll with good views. Head down the south trail back down to the crossroads and aid station. (3.4 miles)
CROSSROADS TO FORESTVILLE: This leg leaves the crossroads and heads west up a gradual one mile climb. This is an old double track. You will come to a logging road. Follow this up a long hill to another dirt road that veers south. Follow this about 1.3 miles to the NCT which will be a single-track off to your right. Follow the NCT about 1.3 miles to the Forestville Aid Station (3.7 miles)
{NEW} THIS SECTION IS ONLY FOR THE 50 MILE RUNNERS: 50 mile runners will continue on for a second twenty mile loop. (We will not have the out and back section on the ski trail this year.) You will hit all the aid stations a second time. Drop bags may come in handy, but you will find nutrition at each of the four aid station again. Then continue on with the final five miles (~20 miles).
FORESTVILLE TO TOURIST PARK: This section returns you to Tourist Park. Follow the Noquemanon ski trail toward town about one half mile then take the North Country Trail toward town (this is the same trail you left town on). Eventually you will be back on the Noquemanon Ski Trail for the last mile and a half until you arrive at the CR 550 bridge. Run under the bridge and take a right hand turn to return directly to the finish at Tourist Park. (4.1 miles)
COURSE MARKERS: The course will be marked liberally with pink ribbon and white chalk/lime. The markers will be frequent! If you have not seen a marker for a long time you have made a wrong turn -- please backtrack. Some major intersections will have lime markers on the ground. There are several places where the trail comes close to other trail segments. Stay on your trail. At no point does the trail cross itself. At the "crossroads" will be an aid station that services two sections of the race, but the trail does not intersect.
OTHER COURSE INFO: The race has several road crossings and also travels some two-track and dirt roads. It is possible you will experience vehicular traffic. NO ROADS ARE CLOSED! Please use caution at road crossings! The drivers will not be looking for you! There is one small section (0.3 miles) where you have to run along CR 550. Please run facing traffic and far over on the gravel shoulder! Some of the trails may have mountain bike riders so watch for these also!
View Detailed Motion Based™ Trail Information