Black Squirrel Half Marathon – Bellvue, CO 2026

The Black Squirrel Half Marathon will take place on the wonderful trails of Lory State Park to the northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado. The half marathon course offers a tour of the outer boundaries of Lory State Park, providing breathtaking views to the south and east of Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains; and to the West of the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain swell. The race covers a variety of terrain, all of which is runnable although technical in places. After a mile of dirt roads, the course ascends a little under four miles and 1,500 feet to the apex at 7,000 feet on Lory’s west ridge. The views are well worth the climb. A bomber descent follows, leaving three and a half miles of beautiful, gently rolling hardpacked singletrack into the finish. Our aim is to offer a trail running experience that is challenging, yet accessible to all. Start : Lory State Park , Bellvue, Colorado Distance : 13.5 miles with ~2,000' of vertical gain/descent. Kids : 1 mile on gently