The Black Squirrel Half Marathon is a half-marathon running event taking place in Bellevue, Colorado on September 12, 2026. The race starts at 7:00 AM from 708 Lodgepole Drive. Entry fees range from $90 to $125 depending on registration timing and options. As a September race in the Colorado mountains, this event offers a solid option for runners looking to test their fitness in the fall season. Runners planning to stay in the area should book accommodations well in advance, particularly if other regional events coincide with the race weekend.
From the Race Organizer
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 rolling singletrack. Min/Max Elevation : 5,400'/7,000' Average Elevation : 6,100' Terrain : 12 miles dirt singletrack, 1 mile dirt road Fauna : Black abert squirrels, black bears, other more colorful animals Registration Cap : 400 Time Allowance : 5.5 hours Date : September 12, 2026 Registration Fees for the 2026 Black Squirrel Trail Half Marathon are as follows: Dec 15 – February 28: $90 + $6.40 fee March 1 – May 31: $100 + $7.00 fee June 1 – Sep 4: $110 + $7.40 fee Packet Pickup: $125 What You Get in Return for Your Registration Fee A beautiful, challenging and well-marked course on some of the best trails in Fort Collins Enthusiastic, knowledgeable race and aid station volunteers Fully stocked aid stations Free entry to Lory State Park for the day Generous 5.5 hour cut-off time Gender specific race T-shirt Pint glass finisher award and overall and age group awards Post race pancake breakfast Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and non-alcoholic options are available as part of our standard race fare Professional medical coverage Waiting List In the event that the race sells out, we will maintain a waiting list and transfer runners from the waiting list to the race roster should other runners already registered not be able to attend. Transfer Credit Policy If you are not able to race, we will be able to offer a race transfer credit that can be applied to any future Gnar Runners race (valid for 12 months). Credit deadlines are as follows: Until March 31: 100% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees). April 1 - June 30 : 75% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees). July 1 - September 3 : 50% credit of registration (excluding RunSignup fees). **In order to receive your credit , you must cancel your registration through the RunSignup registration platform. To process a credit deferral: Log in to your RunSignup account Go to Profile -> Upcoming Races -> Black Squirrel -> Manage Registration At the bottom of the page, select “Defer Registration” and follow the automated process. While RunSignup will prompt you to, you DO NOT have to immediately choose which race to apply your credit to. Once you hit "Confirm Deferral" and see the "Your registration has been deferred" message, your credit is in the system and will be valid for one year past the event date. Cancellation & Refund Policy Entries are non-refundable. Entries are non-transferable, except for transfers via the wait list. In the event the race is cancelled due to extreme weather, fire, disease or for some other unforeseeable event, we cannot offer refunds or credits. Course & Aid Stations Half Marathon Course Map Click to download PDF map of course A map of the Lory trails is available here . Course GPX File Black Squirrel Half Marathon GPX (Current for 2025) Course Profile Aid Stations Aid Station Mile Split Total Gain Descent Timber/Westridge 4.5 4.5 1600 50 Arthur's West 3.8 8.5 50 1600 Arthur's East 2.5 11.0 250 250 Finish 2.5 13.5 20 200 All aid stations will be stocked with water and Gnarly Nutrition Fuel2O sports drink. The Arthur's West Aid Station at mile 8.5 will have additional snacks including fruit and chips. Time Cut-Offs Runners have a total of 5.5 hours to complete the course. There are no strict intermediate course cut-offs. If a runner reaches Arthur's West Aid (mile 8.5) past 4.5 hours elapsed, they may be offered a ride to the finish from a race official and/or advised that there will be limited services upon reaching the finish. Drop Bags Runners may leave a finish line drop bag at the start/finish. We will have a tarp to set bags out next to the start. Pack your gear to stay dry in case we get any rain. Drop bags should be clearly labeled with your name and bib number. Please keep your drop bag to a reasonable size (small duffel bag or stuff sack). Please do not leave any valuable items in your drop bags - volunteers are not responsible for lost items. Drop bags will not be transported to any other locations on course. Course Marking The
Hotels Near This Race
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Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for September 12.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Bellvue, CO.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
When is Black Squirrel Half Marathon 2026 — Bellvue, CO?
Black Squirrel Half Marathon 2026 — Bellvue, CO takes place on September 12, 2026. The race is held in Bellvue, Colorado.
Where is Black Squirrel Half Marathon 2026 — Bellvue, CO held?
Black Squirrel Half Marathon 2026 — Bellvue, CO is held at 708 Lodgepole Dr in Bellvue, Colorado.
Where can I find hotels near Black Squirrel Half Marathon 2026 — Bellvue, CO?
RaceHotelFinder shows hotels sorted by distance from the race venue in Bellvue. Use the map or list view on this page to compare options and book race weekend accommodation.
