The course follows a remarkable section of the North Country Trail that travels from Cross Village to Mackinaw City in the far northwestern region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The course features over 90% single track and includes rolling bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, coastal forests, inland wilderness lakes. The 50K also includes a five mile section of the tranquil Sturgeon Bay Trail.  The half marathon starts near Goose Pond in Wilderness State Park.

2025 Waugoshance Trail Run Event Schedule

Registration

Online only.
Deadline is July 11, 2025 at 9:00 p.m.  *Register by June 20 to guarantee a race t-shirt. 
Participant Limits: 50K (100), Marathon(100), Half Marathon (200)
Current Registration Status: Open on November 23, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Travel & Lodging

Nearest Airport: Pellston, MI
Camping at Wilderness State Park: (231) 436-5381
Wilderness State Park Cabins & Camping: Info & Reservations
Chamber of Commerce: 888.455.8100
Chamber of Commerce Website: http://www.mackinawchamber.com/

Runner Check In

Where: Mackinaw City School, 609 West Central Avenue, Mackinaw City, MI
When: Friday, July 11, 2025 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.
If you can't make packet pickup (and your waiver is signed) someone else can pick up your packet for you.  

Race Map

Weekend Schedule

Events

50K & Marathon

Run a beautiful single track route from Cross Village to Mackinaw City in northern Michigan. The marathon starts at Wycamp Lake and winds up and along the Sturgeon Bay bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. 50K runners will depart from the course for a 5 mile route up the gorgeous and highly runable Sturgeon Bay Trail. After this scenic detour they will rejoin the marathon course and descend into wildflower blanketed lowlands before arriving at Goose Pond. This is the half way point and the start of the Half Marathon. The next six miles feature pine needle carpeted trail through rolling forest. The trail opens up as it reaches French Farm Lake, a sandy bottomed wilderness lake with towering pines along the shore. The route follow its shoreline for several miles before runners enter a dense balsam fir forest for 2 miles. The last 3 miles feature a converted rail trail that is flat and smooth. Runners finish at the Mackinaw City School athletic grounds. The course is well marked with colored flags, directional arrows, and mile markers. Runners are bused to the start from Mackinaw City School. Buses depart at 5:30 a.m. Gear bags will be transported back to the finish.
Marathon Start: 7:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12 2025, Cross Village. 
Map 

Profile

Half Marathon

The half marathon starts in Wilderness State Park and follows the last half of the marathon course past Canada Goose Pond, crossing of the Carp River, the north shore of French Farm Lake and then through a dense balsam fir forest before joining a tree canopied rail grade into Mackinaw City. A bus from Mackinaw City High School will take runners to the start. Buses depart at 7:00 a.m.
Half Marathon Start: 8:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025 Wilderness State Park.
Map 

Profile

Aid Stations

The marathon will have five aid stations at 4.2, 7.5, 12.9, 18.2, and 22.5 miles. The 50K will have six aid stations at 4.2, 7.5, 12.4, 17.9, 23.2 and 27.7 miles. half marathon will have two aid stations at 5.1 and 9.4 miles. All runners are required to carry a 20 oz water bottle or similar functional hydration system that can be refilled.  Volunteers will have large pitchers with cold water and cold Gnarly Fuel2O energy drink with electrolytes to quickly refill your hydration system. Hammer Nutrition Energy Gels, Fizz and Endurolytes will be available at each aid station.

Time Limits

There is a 8 hour time limit for the 50K, 6 hour time limit for the marathon and 4 hour time limit for the half marathon.  Aid stations will close at the times listed in the table below. Runners who decide to drop out of the race are advised to drop out at an aid station where there will be transportation back to the finish line.  A sweep runner will follow the last runner, thus closing the race course. 

Marathon Aid Station Closing Times

50K Aid Station Closing Times

Race Fees

Race fees include:

1. Bus transportation to the start (50K, Marathon & Half Marathon).
2. Custom race shirt by deadline. 
3. Post race refreshments.
4. Custom hardwood finisher medallion

Refund & Transfer Policy

Refunds:  There are no refunds.  However,  Active.com offers entry fee insurance.
Participant transfers: You may transfer your entry to another person for a $10 transfer fee.  You can manage your transfer using your Active.com account. 
Distance changes: You can change your race distances by using your Active.com account.  However, there are no refunds for entry fee differences between events.

Bus Transportation

Age Groups

Awards

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in the start/finish area but not on the race course.  Please pick up animal waste.