About This Race
The Doan Creek Trail Run offers runners a unique urban trail experience through Cleveland's hidden gorge system. Starting at Lower Shaker Lake, the course descends into the narrow corridor of Doan Creek, where runners encounter a fascinating blend of natural beauty and post-apocalyptic urban ruins. This technical trail system, unknown to most Cleveland residents, has no published maps and requires runners to navigate gnarly single track with significant elevation changes per loop. The race is organized as a fundraiser for The Steve Pierce Memorial Scholarship through the 501c3 organization Running Forward and Giving Back. Participants must either volunteer or make a charitable contribution to register. Race directors emphasize that weather conditions take priority, and the event may be cancelled if trail conditions are deemed unsafe. This challenging course is marketed as the hardest 50K or 50-mile race in Ohio, with technical terrain that significantly extends typical finishing times. The geological history of the gorge dates back thousands of years, making it both a physical and historical journey through Cleveland's earliest settlement areas.
The course follows mostly single track trail through the Doan Creek gorge system, featuring immense rock walls, narrow ledges with steep drop-offs, and cascading waterfalls. Runners encounter urban ruins, car wreckage, graffiti-covered flood retention dams, and urban artwork mixed with abundant wildlife. Multiple road crossings break up the trail sections, though the course avoids asphalt running otherwise. Each loop provides over 800 feet of elevation gain, creating a rolling, punishing profile that tests technical trail running skills. The route starts and ends at Lower Shaker Lake, providing a scenic bookend to the challenging gorge sections.
Practical Info
CLE - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Best For
Notable Features
The only trail ultramarathon within Cleveland city limits, this race combines urban exploration with serious trail challenges. The unmapped course system through Doan Creek gorge offers runners a journey through Cleveland's geological and settlement history, complete with cascading waterfalls, rock formations, and fascinating urban ruins. The charitable component requiring volunteer hours or donations adds community purpose to the physical challenge.