Glacier Hills Ultra Trail Races
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Glacier Hills Ultra Trail Races
Glacier Hills Ultra Trail Races are held at Newton Hills State Park near Canton, South Dakota. The event offers three distances:
- 20K
- 30K
- 50K
The course uses a 10K loop that includes about 0.5 miles of gravel driveway through the horse campground, 3.5 miles of shared horse and foot trails, and 2 miles of foot‑traffic only trails. Each 10K loop has roughly 1,000 feet of climbing, with three main climbs per loop and runnable sections between. The footing is dirt and gravel with tree roots, occasional rocks, and some horse manure often covered by leaves.
The start and finish are at the same location where a fully stocked aid station and a drop bag area are provided. Water is available on course around mile 4. Participants may use a parked vehicle in the horse campground parking lot as a personal aid station when passing each loop.
Logistics and rules: a state park pass is required and will be enforced by park rangers. Horse trails reopen during the afternoon and the race enforces a course cutoff at 2 PM; course markers will be removed when horses return to the trails. Distance changes are not allowed on race day; they must be made before the stated deadline. Headlamp use is required for the 50K and 30K and recommended for the 20K. There is no reliable cell service in the park and no live race tracking.
Lodging options include tent and RV sites plus limited cabins at Newton Hills State Park, nearby motel rooms in Canton, and additional hotels in Sioux Falls. Swag for 2026 is a green Bella Canvas hoodie featuring the event logo and mascot Betty. The event also offers a multiyear Betty award for completing the 20K, 30K, and 50K across the challenge period. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
