Run a beautiful single track route from Wycamp Lake 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 out and back up the gorgeous and highly runnable Sturgeon Bay Trail while the marathon continues up the North Country Scenic Trail and descend into wildflower blanketed lowlands before arriving at Goose Pond. This is (almost) the half way point of your race, and the start of the Half Marathon.

All three distances will run the same course from Goose Pond to the finish. 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, orange & black polka-dot ribbons, and directional arrow signs at critical junctions.

Runners are bused to the start from Mackinaw City School.

This is a cupless event. Runners are required to bring their own refillable cups. The Marathon will have five remote aid stations plus the finish aid station. Mile 3 will consist of water and electrolytes only (Gnarly Fuel2O).

All runners are required to carry a 20 oz water bottle or other functional hydration system which they can refill at each aid station. Aids will have sweet and salty snacks as well as fruit (likely bananas and watermelon). Gnarly Fuel2O is the electrolyte drink for all GLE events in 2027.

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.

There are no remote drop bags for your race. Please utilize our aid stations and plan to carry anything else on your body. Race personnel will return any items you bring on the bus to the finish line.

Awards
All finishers completing their registered course will receive a commemorative award recognizing their accomplishment.

Podium awards will be given for
• Top 3 male and female finishers in each distance

Enjoy a scenic point to point course! 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.

This is a cupless event. Runners are required to bring their own refillable cups. The Half Marathon will have two remote aid stations plus the finish aid station.

All runners are required to carry a 20 oz water bottle or other functional hydration system which they can refill at each aid station. Aids will have sweet and salty snacks as well as fruit (likely bananas and watermelon). Gnarly Fuel2O is the electrolyte drink for all GLE events in 2027.

 A bus from Mackinaw City High School will take runners to the start. Buses depart at 7:00 a.m.

Awards
All finishers completing their registered course will receive a commemorative award recognizing their accomplishment.

Podium awards will be given for
• Top 3 male and female finishers in each distance