The Traverse City Trail Running Festival, held on May 8-9, 2026, invites runners to Northern Michigan's premier celebration of off-road running in Traverse City, MI. Starting and finishing at the Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, this festival offers distances for every trail enthusiast, with individual races including 10K, 25K, 50K, 75K, and 100K on Saturday. For those looking for a different experience, Friday evening kicks off with a 5K and a two-person 10K relay. Runners consistently praise the event for its well-groomed trails, beautiful scenery, and the friendly, helpful race staff, creating a small, comfortable event with great vibes.

The courses wind through the stunning Pere Marquette Forest on the VASA Trail system, known for its soft, smooth, and forgiving terrain. Expect a picturesque blend of singletrack and wide doubletrack trails amidst nature and wildlife. While the 5K and 10K routes feature mostly flat terrain with a few gentle rolling hills (around 109 feet of elevation gain for the 5K loop), the longer distances, particularly the 25K loop, introduce more challenging, hilly sections with the biggest climbs in the first half. Runners in the 50K, 75K, and 100K races will tackle multiple loops of the 25K course, accumulating significant elevation gains of approximately 1938 feet for the 50K and 3876 feet for the 100K. Typical race day conditions in early May feature comfortable highs around 63°F and lows around 40°F, with a minimal 14% chance of precipitation, providing ideal weather for hitting the trails.

Runners are well-supported on their journey with well-stocked aid stations offering water, electrolyte drinks like Skratch Hydration, gels, and a variety of food options including fruit, PB&J sandwiches, chips, and even hot chicken broth in the evening for the ultra-distances. Post-race, the festival atmosphere continues at Timber Ridge with snacks, beverages, fire pits, and yard games, fostering a vibrant community spirit and a chance to celebrate accomplishments with fellow participants. Each finisher also receives a unique wooden medal to commemorate their achievement.