Shawnee Trail Runs
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Shawnee Trail Runs - West Portsmouth, Ohio
Shawnee Trail Runs is a multi-distance trail running event held in and around Shawnee State Forest near West Portsmouth, Ohio. Courses follow remote, rugged forest trails and include substantial elevation gain on single-loop and out-and-back sections.
Distances and climbing:
- 54 miles 11,000 feet of climbing
- 50K 6,500 feet of climbing
- 13.1 miles 2,600 feet of climbing
The 54 mile route begins with a 7 mile Opening Loop, then continues on a 47 mile loop that covers the majority of the 40 mile Shawnee State Forest Backpack Trail in a clockwise direction. At roughly mile 36 the route turns onto the Wilderness Area Side Trail toward a largely undeveloped 8,000 acre Wilderness Area where trail maintenance is done by hand. This nine mile stretch, referred to as "The Dark Side," passes through very remote terrain before rejoining the Backpack Trail and returning to the start/finish.
The 50K bypasses the Opening Loop to start on the Backpack Trail, runs with the longer course until about mile 20, then uses the Mackletree Bridle Trail for 2.3 miles and Service Road #2 for 2 miles of ridge top gravel before rejoining the Backpack Trail and following the same finish sequence.
A 13.1 mile option was added in 2023 and includes notable hills along smoother, more runnable trail sections. Registration closes Oct 1 at 11:59 PM ET. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.