Black Squirrel Half
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Black Squirrel Half
The Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon is held on the trails of Lory State Park northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. The course follows a perimeter route that provides views to the east of Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains and to the west of the Rocky Mountain peaks.
The race distance is 13.5 miles with approximately ~2,000' of total elevation gain and descent. Terrain consists mainly of dirt singletrack (about 12 miles) with roughly 1 mile of dirt road. Runners climb about 1,500' between mile 2 and mile 6 to reach the course high ridge, then descend over the next few miles before several miles of gently rolling singletrack to the finish. Reported elevations range from 5,400' to 7,000' with an average elevation near 6,100'.
Start and finish are at the Soldier Canyon Picnic Area in Lory State Park. Aid stations are fully stocked with water and a sports drink; the Arthur’s West aid station also offers snacks such as fruit and chips. There are toilets at the start/finish and at several trailheads. The event has a registration cap of 400 and a 5.5 hour overall time allowance. A one-mile kids race is offered on gently rolling singletrack.
Race facilities include packet pickup options, post-race breakfast, gender specific race shirts, a pint glass finisher award, and professional medical coverage. Certain rules apply, including no poles, no dogs, and a minimum 16 oz water carrying requirement. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
