About This Race
The Black River Trail Classic unfolds across 68,000 acres of Wisconsin's Black River State Forest, where glacial formations created the rolling terrain of buttes, ridges, and scenic overlooks that define this October race. Now in its ninth year, this event has carved out a reputation for thoughtful organization and memorable details — from hand-crafted wooden finisher medals to the promise of hot food and pies at the finish line. What sets this race apart is its unique 85K format, which combines all distances into a single epic journey. Runners start with the 10K course as a warmup, tackle the demanding 50K loop, then finish with the 25K as a cooldown — though calling 15 miles a cooldown might be generous. The aggressive 12-hour cutoff has seen only 11 finishers since 2022, making completion a genuine achievement. The fall timing showcases Wisconsin's autumn colors at their peak, while the forest's extensive trail network provides variety across all distances. Race organizers emphasize excellent course marking and the kind of personal touches that make runners want to return — personalized bibs for early registrants and commemorative sweatshirts for first-time 85K finishers.
The courses wind through Black River State Forest's diverse terrain, shaped by Ice Age glaciation into the buttes, hills, and ridges that characterize this landscape. Scenic overlooks punctuate the trails as they traverse woodlands and rolling terrain, with the ridge sections offering the most dramatic views across the forest canopy.
The 85K distance uniquely combines all race courses into one comprehensive tour of the forest, starting and finishing at the Smrekar Lot. Runners experience the full range of terrain and elevation changes, from gentle woodland sections to the more challenging ridge climbs that provide those coveted overlook rewards.
Practical Info
October in Wisconsin typically brings crisp fall weather with temperatures ranging from 40-60°F, perfect for trail running and showcasing peak autumn colors.
MSN - Dane County Regional Airport (Madison)
On-site camping is available at Black River State Forest campgrounds. Area hotels are available at reasonable rates, though there is no official race hotel.
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Notable Features
The Black River Trail Classic stands out for its unique 85K format that combines all race distances into one comprehensive forest tour, complete with hand-crafted wooden finisher medals and the tradition of hot food and pies at the finish. The race's personal touches include winter beanies for all registrants, personalized bibs for early registration, and commemorative sweatshirts with patches for 85K finishers. The October timing captures Wisconsin's fall colors at their peak across the glacially-formed landscape of buttes and scenic ridges.