Crater Trail Run
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Crater Trail Run - Decorah, IA
The Crater Trail Run is a trail running event held on the single-track trails of Van Peenen Memorial Park in Decorah, located in Northeast Iowa's bluff country in Winneshiek County. The trails are part of a 17 mile plus system of single-track mountain bike trails and are groomed and marked for running.
Distances include:
- 1 Mile
- 5K: 3.2 miles, 613 feet climbing
- 10K: 6.3 miles, 1,383 feet climbing
- 25K: 15.5 miles, 2,750 feet climbing
- 50K: 31.1 miles, 5,500+ feet climbing
Aid stations are available but participants should plan to fuel their own race. Aid stations will offer water, hydration drink and food as supplies last. Station locations noted for the 50K include a start/Van Peenen entrance drop bag location, an entrance at Palisades Park, and a station at Death Valley that 50K runners pass four times. The 25K has Palisades Park and Death Valley stations, with Death Valley passed twice. The 5K and 10K use the Death Valley station twice.
Packet pickup is scheduled Friday, June 5, 2026, 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Decorah Hatchery, 406 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101. Changes of distance are allowed until Friday night packet pickup; after that point the entered distance is final and a nonfinish will be recorded if the race is not completed.
The event is a grassroots fundraiser. Proceeds are split among the Northeast Iowa Montessori School, Decorah Human Powered Trails, and Decorah Park and Rec. The event generally runs rain or shine, with postponement or cancellation possible only for extreme weather, and no refunds are guaranteed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
