Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack
Sat, Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
- Type
- Run
Finish signup on the organizer site (check fees and dates there).
Race feel
Celebrate Ohio's Buckeye Trail with a festive run, hike, or backpacking adventure through the challenging and beautiful Wayne National Forest.
- Fun
- Scenic
- Competitive
- Festive
Fun
Scenic
Competitive
FestiveGreat for
- Walkers Welcome
Walkers WelcomeThe Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival invites you to celebrate Ohio's renowned Buckeye Trail and National Public Lands Day. This event in Shawnee, Ohio, offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse beauty of the Wayne National Forest. Choose from a half marathon, 10K, or 5K run/walk, a 10-mile hike, or an overnight backpacking trek. Experience challenging single-track trails and discover the historic Village of Shawnee, making it a perfect outdoor destination for runners, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
What to expect
- Experience challenging single-track trails within the Wayne National Forest.
- Choose your adventure: a chip-timed Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K run/walk, a guided 10-mile hike with historical points, or an overnight backpacking trek.
- Enjoy live results for running events and a timing chip for hikers.
Standout details
- Celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail
- Runs, hikes, and backpacking options
- Challenging single-track terrain
- Guided hike with historical points
Perks & features
- Chip Timed
Chip TimedFrom the public listing; confirm on the official site.
Distances & registration
3 optionsUse the official signup link above for all distances.
10K
1 option · closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
4mo 26d 19h 49m leftGeneral entry
Closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT · From $32.80
Half Marathon
1 option · closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
4mo 26d 19h 49m leftGeneral entry
Closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT · From $48.70
5K
1 option · closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
4mo 26d 19h 49m leftRun/Walk
Closes Sep 26, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT · From $27.50
Summaries use public event text. Confirm schedule, fees, and rules on the official page before you sign up.
From the organizer
The Blue Blaze Festival - Run, Hike & Backpack on the Buckeye Trail
The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail (BT). Join us for the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.
There is a trail experience and distance right for you: Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike and an overnight Backpacking trek. All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.
Running Events - Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
9:00am Half Marathon and 10K, 9:15am 5K start.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
The 10-Mile Hike will start at 8:00am (1 hour before the running events) in Shawnee. All hikers will be given a race bib/number with a timing chip used to monitor when hikers start and finish the hike. The hike is designed and lead by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA, with a number of historical points following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide with historical points of interest and the route map will be provided to participants.