Black Squirrel Half: September 7, 2024

Registration 2024

  • Start: Lory State Park, Bellvue, Colorado
  • Distance: 13.3 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: 350
  • Time Allowance: 5.5 hours
  • Date: September 7, 2024

Taking place on the trails of Lory State Park to the northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, the Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon offers a perimeter tour of the park, providing breathtaking views to the east of Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains; and to the west of the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain peaks.

The race covers a variety of terrain, with a mix of technical and non-technical hard-pack trails. After a mile of dirt roads, the trail ascends a little under 4 miles and 1,500 feet to the apex of the course on Lory’s west ridge. The views are well worth the climb. A rapid and – at times – technical descent follows, leaving three and a half miles of gently rolling and smooth singletrack into the finish.

After the race, kick back and enjoy a hearty breakfast, awards and generous sponsor giveaways at the newly updated Soldier Canyon Picnic Area. Our aim is to offer a trail running experience that is challenging, yet accessible to all.


Registration

Register

Current Entrant Lists

Fees for the 2024 Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon are as follows:
Dec 15 – February 29: $85
March 1 – May 31: $95
June 1 – Sep 7: $110
Packet Pickup: $115

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
  • Lory State Park day parking pass
  • 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 and raffle
  • Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and non-alcoholic options are available as part of our standard race fare

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 UltraSignup fees).
April 1 – June 30: 75% credit of registration (excluding UltraSignup fees).
July 1 – September 3: 50% credit of registration (excluding UltraSignup fees).

** In order to receive your credit, you must cancel your registration through the UltraSignup registration platform. You can cancel your registration by clicking the link at the bottom of your registration receipt or by logging into your UltraSignup account

The credit will be valid for one year from the event date, and will be tied to your account. It will apply automatically the next time you register for a Gnar Runners event.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

With the exception of wait-list transfers, entries are non-refundable and non-transferable. 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

Black Squirrel Map Click to download PDF map of course

A map of the Lory trails is available here.

Interactive Map

Course GPX File

Course Profile

Black Squirrel Half Marathon Course Profile

Aid Stations

Aid Station Mile Split Total Gain Descent
Timber/Westridge 4.5 4.5 1600 50
Arthur’s West 3.8 8.3 50 1600
Arthur’s East 2.5 10.8 250 250
Finish 2.5 13.3 20 200

All aid stations will be stocked with water and Gnarly Nutrition sports drink. The Arthur’s West Aid Station at mile 8.3 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 intermediate course cut-offs.

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 8.3 and 10.8. 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.

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 intermediate cut-offs.
  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 9/6:

4:00-7:00p: Optional packet pick-up at Altitude Running 2531 S Shields St #2N, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Saturday 9/7:

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
10:30a: Kids Race
11:00a: Awards
12:30p: Race Cut-Off

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.

All vehicles containing registered runners will receive a park pass – good for one vehicle – as part of their entry fee. 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.

Black Squirrel Parking Map

Driving Directions

708 Lodgepole Dr, Bellvue, Colorado 80512