NCTraces: Bird Sanctuary
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NCTRaces: Bird Sanctuary
The NCTRaces: Bird Sanctuary running event takes place on the North Country Trail in the Douglas County Wildlife Area, known locally as The Bird Sanctuary. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, and offers two race distances: a 10k and a 20k. The course is 100% North Country Trail and 99.9% single-track.
- 10k
- 20k
The Bird Sanctuary is a managed brush prairie habitat featuring open fields, wildflowers, ponds, and widespread views. The trail often becomes clear of snow early in the spring. The 10k course is an out-and-back route from the race headquarters. It travels through both open prairie and timbered sections with mostly rolling hills, including one or two steeper sections. The turnaround point is at the Highway 53 Trailhead, which has a water-only aid station.
The 20k course is designed as two out-and-back sections, allowing runners to see the entire Bird Sanctuary area. The first section follows the 10k course to the Highway 53 Trailhead and back. After looping through the headquarters area, runners then head southwest to the Twin Bridges Road trailhead (another water-only aid station) and return to the finish. The course features a mix of rolling hills and flats.
Participation is limited to 75 runners for the 10k and 75 runners for the 20k. A limited number of RV sites are available at the headquarters, start, and finish area. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
