The Crater Trail Run will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, starting at the trailhead of Van Peenen Memorial Park on Quarry Hill Rd in Decorah, IA. Distances include 50 km (6:00 AM start, 3:00 PM cutoff, no second loop start after 11:00 AM), 25 km (6:00 AM start), 10 km (8:15 AM start), 5 km (8:15 AM start), and a Kids Mile (8:00 AM start, parents may line the course). The course features off‑road single‑track trails through Northeast Iowa's bluff country, part of a 17+ mile system of single‑track mountain bike trails. The 50 km has approximately 5,500+ ft of climbing; the 25 km has 2,750 ft; the 10 km has 1,383 ft; the 5 km has 613 ft.
| Distance | Start Time | Approx. Climbing | Cutoff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 km | 6:00 AM | 5,500+ ft | 3:00 PM (no second loop start after 11:00 AM) | Two loops; aid/drop bags at start, Palisades Park entrance, and Death Valley (passed 4 times) |
| 25 km | 6:00 AM | 2,750 ft | Not specified | Aid/drop bags at Palisades Park entrance and Death Valley (passed 2 times) |
| 10 km | 8:15 AM | 1,383 ft | Not specified | Aid at Death Valley (passed 2 times) |
| 5 km | 8:15 AM | 613 ft | Not specified | Aid at Death Valley (passed 2 times) |
| Kids Mile | 8:00 AM | Not specified | Not specified | Parents may line the course to cheer |
All participants must follow event rules as provided by the organizer. Runners are encouraged to fuel their own race; aid stations provide water, hydration drink, and food as supplies last. Headphones are not encouraged for safety reasons (trails are tight; runners need to hear others passing). No runner is allowed to start a second loop on the 50 km after 11:00 AM. Runners may change distances up until Friday night packet pickup; after that, they are committed to the distance they start.
The trails are groomed, marked, and part of Decorah’s park system, mentioned in Men’s Journal magazine's “52 Great American Weekends” feature. The area also offers butterfly gardens, scenic waterfalls, Upper Iowa River tubing and canoeing, hiking, biking, and a charming business district.
The Crater Trail Run in Decorah, IA on June 6, 2026, offers 50 km, 25 km, 10 km, 5 km, and a Kids Mile on single‑track trails in Van Peenen Memorial Park, with significant climbing (5,500+ ft for 50 km), aid stations, drop bags, a 3:00 PM cutoff for the 50 km, and proceeds supporting local schools and trails.
Jun 06, 2026
Distance — 25K
Type — Running
06:00
$65.00
Jun 06, 2026
Distance — 50K
Type — Running
06:00
$85.00
Jun 06, 2026
Distance — 1.6K
Type — Running
08:00
Free
Jun 06, 2026
Distance — 10K
Type — Running
08:15
$45.00
Jun 06, 2026
Distance — 5K
Type — Running
08:15
$35.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for June in Decorah.
Learn more about the host city, Decorah.
Decorah is a town in Northeast Iowa.
Read more launchWatch highlights and course previews from previous years.
Read what other athletes have to say about their experience at the Crater Trail Run.
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calendar_today Jun 13, 2026
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