Moraine Hills Run for the Hills

Moraine Hills Run for the Hills : Moraine Hills State Park

Moraine Hills Run for the Hills is the 17th annual running event held at Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry, Illinois (1510 South River Road). The event offers three distances listed below, with both in-person and virtual participation available. The virtual window runs from September 1 through September 27, 2026.

• 5K
• 10K
• Half Marathon

All three courses are entirely within Moraine Hills State Park and use primarily crushed limestone trails with intermittent asphalt. The 5K follows the Leatherleaf Bog Trail. The 10K uses the Lake Defiance and Leatherleaf Bog Trails. The half marathon follows the 10K route for the first portion, then continues onto the McHenry Dam loop and River Road bike trail before returning to the park. Trails are closed to motorized vehicles; course marshals and directional arrows mark key turns.

Support and logistics notes: water and Gatorade are available at stations roughly every two miles; snacks are not provided on course, though bananas and water are available at the finish. Restroom access varies by distance. Place medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each category; participation medals are optional for an additional fee. Packet and shirt pick-up occur before race day at The Running Depot in Crystal Lake and on race day in the park. Proceeds support Friends of Moraine Hills State Park programs, scholarships, and park improvements. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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