The Devil's Key
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The Devil's Key 2026
The Devil's Key is a challenging trail running event held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Devil's Glen Country Club in Duntroon, Ontario, Canada. The event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario.
The race offers three distances:
- The Beast: A 66.6 km course with close to 6000 feet of cumulative climbing, reaching the highest point of the Bruce Trail. The cut-off time is 12.5 hours.
- The Half Beast: A 33.3 km course with around 2500 feet of elevation gain. The cut-off time is 12 hours.
- The Mini Beast: A 16.66 km course with close to 1200 feet of elevation gain, most of which occurs in the first 5 km.
All courses take place primarily on the Bruce Trail, with some sections on blue-blazed side trails. Course highlights include climbing the Devil's Glen ski hill, crawling through a "keyhole" on a side trail, running alongside the Mad River, and traversing the hills of Pretty River Valley Provincial Park. The terrain is described as highly technical with steep climbs and descents.
All participants receive a Skeleton Key at the start, which must be carried and presented during the race; losing it results in disqualification. Aid stations are placed less than 10 km apart and offer electrolyte drinks, salty and sweet snacks, pickles, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The event is cup-less, requiring runners to carry their own bottle or collapsible cup.
The race kit includes a race bib, sticker, race shirt (available in unisex or women's cut), and the Skeleton Key. Finishers receive a medal. A portion of each registration fee ($20) is donated directly to the Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
