Glacier Hills Ultra 50k
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Glacier Hills Ultra 50K : Newton Hills State Park
Glacier Hills Ultra offers three trail race distances at Newton Hills State Park near Canton, South Dakota. The event uses a 10 km loop through the park trails; each loop has roughly 850 ft of elevation gain. Distances are formed by repeating that loop.
The course shares about four miles with horse trails. The start and finish are in the same area near the picnic shelter, which also serves as the main aid station. Runners access water at a location about four miles into the loop and a full aid station at the loop finish/start (roughly six miles into each loop). The course is marked with signs, pin flags with reflective strips, tape, and volunteers. Trail surface includes tree roots, rocks, dust, mud, and occasional horse manure; runners should watch footing.
Logistics note that the horse camp parking area is about half a mile from the start/finish and can be used for additional aid or drop bag access. Drop bags may be left on a tarp beside the aid station; participants must label their own bags and are responsible for their items. Packet pickup and event swag for 2026 are to be determined.
The event awards a "Betty" challenge for runners who complete the 20K, 30K, and 50K within the event time cutoffs; runners must notify the organizers in advance to be eligible. Volunteers run the event on a grassroots basis. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
