Fleet Feet Fall Classic - Trail October 18th, 2026

LOCATION

South Rim Trail Head/ Backside of Bidwell Golf Course
Chico, CA US 95928

DISCRIPTION 

Fleet Feet Chico is pleased to offer two trail races in our beautiful Upper Bidwell Park.  The two races will start on the south side of the park down Annies Trail for a fun adventure on the single-track trails. Toss in a creek crossing and a nice finish through Yahi and the golf course, you’re sure to enjoy your run! 

The two races include a half marathon and a 4-mile an hour backyard endurance challenge! 

The Half Marathon will start at 8:10am along the rock wall off Centennial/South Rim trail head. This race will be a challenging climb with 1600 ft of gain in the first half. Enjoy a party at the top of 10-mile house at Aid station #1 and enjoy an all downhill second half of the race!

4-mile endurance race will start at 8:00am. Runners will run a 4-mile loop. If you complete the loop in under 60 mins you will go back in the shoot for loop #2. At the top of each hour a new round will start. This will continue for 8 hours! Every other lap we will change the direction of the loop!  If there is more than one person going into the final hour the run will become a foot race to the finish! If you complete all 8 loops, you will have run approximately 32 Miles! Do you have what it takes? Do one loop, 3 loops or all 8! It’s sure to be a good time for the runners and the spectators!

After the race head up to Bidwell Golf Course Bar and grill for some delicious food and drinks! All runners get a breakfast burrito with your race registration plus and additional 15% off any other food or drink. 

By supporting this race, you are supporting two great causes! 

Chico Velo Trailworks. Launched in 2014, Chico Velo’s Trailworks supports and manages the creation and maintenance of sustainable and enjoyable trails in our region. They have established a strong partnership with the City of Chico to maintain the trails in Upper Bidwell Park. Trailworks have done additional work in the Oroville area and beyond. They are actively seeking new partnerships and opportunities within our community to promote sustainable trail design. Trailworks volunteers put in hundreds of hours every year improving trails for all users to enjoy. To see their latest project check out our Colby Mountain Recreation Project.  A portion of your race entry will go to this great local stewardship as they continue their work to help keep our local trails accessible for us all! If you would like more information on this program or would like to sign up for a park cleanup day, click the link below.

Chico Velo Trailworks - CHICO VELO

In addition to supporting Chico Velo Trailworks we are also donating a portion of the race proceeds to local fire academy cadets. Many of the current class are volunteer firefighters who have worked and volunteered in our community and are continuing their education to be able to make a lifelong career the Fire industry. With a fire prone environment that we live in throughout Butte County we rely on our local fire personnel, staff and volunteers to keep our community safe! Cadets will be volunteering on the racecourse to help ensure the safety of all our participants.  Cadets can be seen on our racecourse supporting our race as emergency EMTs and safety aids at the creek crossings. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter visit the links below for more information.

Become a Volunteer | Butte County, CA

RACE START TIMES

4-Mile Endurance Run            8:00am

Half Marathon                         8:10am

REGISTRATION

Registration for this race is available online.

• Online registration closes October 16th at 9:00am.
• In person registration on October 16th and 17th at Fleet Feet Chico from 10am-2pm.
• Register by Friday September 29th to guarantee yourself race shirt.
• If you register between September 18th – October 18th your shirt will NOT be guaranteed, they will be first come first serve at packet pickup.
• All leftover shirts (if any) will be available for pickup or for sale (non-registered runners) AFTER the Half Marathon race on October 18th. The shirts will be available first come first serve starting at 10:00am.  

RACE FEE SCHEDULE

• October 21st – December 31st - (online)        
  • Half Marathon   $80.00
  • 4-Mile Endurance Run     $80.00

• January 1st – May  31st (online)         
  • Half Mar._______________$85.00
  • 4-Mile Endurance Run___$85.00

• June 1st- September 30th (online)
  • Half Marathon__________$90.00
  • 4-Mile Endurance Run___$90.00

• October 1st- October 16th (online, closes at 9:00am on 10.16)
  • Half Marathon__________$95.00
  • 4-Mile Endurance Run___$95.00
    
    
• In person Registration at Packet Pickup (Oct. 16th and 17th) ONLY
  • Half Marathon__________$100.00
  • 4-Mile Endurance Run___$100.00

PRE-RACE SHAKE OUT RUN

Join us on Saturday October 17th at 7:30am at the Horseshoe Lake Parking Lot (Parking Lot E) in Upper Bidwell Park. We will head out on a beautiful 4 mile run before our race on Sunday! We will have coffee, muffins, and all the miles and smiles! All who attend will be entered in a drawing for a free race entry for 2026!

PACKET PICKUP

Packet pickup will be held at Fleet Feet Chico on the following days and times:

• Friday and Saturday October 16th and 17th, 2026
• 10:00am-2:00pm 

Race Day Packet Pick up (At Race Location)

• Sunday October 18th
• 6:45 - 7:45am

Fleet Feet - Chico
241 Main Street
Chico, CA 95928
(530) 345-1000

SWEAT CHECK

Sweat check will be available for all runners at this year’s race! If you have a jacket, extra shoes, a key or a phone that you don’t what to run with, you can check your bag at the sweat check tent. Clear poly bags will be provided for all runners who would like to use this service. At the tent we will tag your bag with your bib number and hold on to it while you run. Come back after the run to collect your items.

• Sweat check will be available from 7:30am to 4:15pm on race day.

OFFICAL COURSE CERTIFICATION AND MAPS

Both the Half Marathon and the 4-Mile Endurance run will start on the south side of Upper Bidwell Park.

The 4-mile run will take Annies to J-Ford to cross over the creek to Yahi trail. On Yahi runners will continue up the trail to Day Bear Hole parking lot where there will be an Aid Station and restroom if needed before continuing down the Fire Road back to Lower Yahi to finish through the Golf Course. (Hopefully for your next loop) 

Click here for both course maps:

• Half - Half Marathon Race Map
• 4MPH Endurance Race Map

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING FOR OPTIONAL RACE LOCATION

To the course:

The race is located along the Centennial/South Rim rock wall, approximately a quarter mile past the gate at Centennial Ave and Chico Canyon Rd. 

Directions from HWY 99: 

Take exit at HWY 32 and head east on HWY 32/ Deer Creek HWY towards Bruce Rd. 

At the stoplight at Bruce Rd, you will turn left and continue to Chico Canyon Rd. 

Follow to the end where the road meets the gate. 

This is a drop off ONLY location! 

PARKING

Parking can be found at the following locations: 

• 5 Mile Recreation - .5 mile from the start. The preferred parking area, gate will be open at 6am on race day.
• Hooker Oak Park - .75 mile from the start
• Observatory Parking Lot (limited) - .75 mile from the start
• Horseshoe Lake Parking Lot – 1 mile from start
   

BIKE VALET

Bike valet will be available at the race this year! We encourage you to ride your bikes to the race and Chico Velo will have their bike valet services available to make sure your bike is safe while you run! This is a great way to warm up or cool down before and after your race. To encourage you to ride we are doing a raffle for everyone wo checks a bike in!

NO PARKING ALLOWED AT BIDWELL GOLF COURSE!
 

 
RACE RULES:

• Be courteous when overtaking slower runners or walkers in your elected race location. We want you to race hard and fast, but with the safety of yourself and others in mind.
• Use best trail educate. Calling out “runner back’ or ‘runner up” when on the trails
• Follow all trail flagging and marking assigned to the race. Do not go off trails or cut the course. (Pink and Orange Flags)
• Do NOT remove any course markings!
• Where your race number on the front of your body so it is visible to the timers!
• You must cross the timing mat for your chip to be read at the finish of the half marathon. If you are planning to race for top finisher, the race is based on gun time start and first to cross the finish line.
• 4-Mile runners must complete the loop under the 60 min threshold to be able to start the next loop. If you choose not to start the next loop, you must drop by placing your race tag/bracelet in the drop box for your laps to be logged.
• Please pack out all trash that you may have from your nutrition or hydration. Trash cans will be available at all aid stations. Leave no trace!
• No crews or pacers will be allowed for either race on course. All crewing must happen at the start/finish area in the designated runner prep area.
• All drop bags for the 4-mile race must be checked in by 7:45am on race day. They can be checked in and out between each lap as needed.
• No pets will be allowed on the course during the race.
• No strollers will be allowed on the course.
• Run hard, run fast and have fun!
• You must complete all 8 laps to be considered for top 3 male/female in the endurance race.

Thank you for understanding. 
 

AID STATIONS AND RESTROOMS
There will be 3 for the Half Marathon and 2 for the 4-Mile Challenge.

1.     10 Mile House (Green Gate) – Half Marathon
2.     End of Fire Road (U Ford/North side) – Half Marathon
3.     Bear Hole Parking Lot Mile 2/11.5 – Water, electrolytes, nutrition gels - 4-Mile and Half Marathon

4.      Start/Finish Area – Water, electrolytes, trail snacks, bars and gels, and more. This will also serve as a post-race fuel station for the Half Marathon and 4-Mile Endurance runners! 

Unnecessary waste and trash are something we are working to eliminate from our events. As an organization dedicated to maintaining a clean race and doing our part to keep our trails (roads) clean, starting this year, we will be making a push in our sustainability efforts. This means we are eliminating the use of disposable cups at our races. Runners will have the option of carrying their own hydration vessels or using a HydraPak reusable SpeedCup provided at packet pickup.

HydraPak is offering all race registrants a onetime use 20% sitewide discount. Use discount code: FF-sr25 to save on training and race day hydration. Visit HydraPak by clicking the link here

BATTLE OF THE AID STATIONS!                                                                                                                                    

This year we are having a battle of the aid stations!

This will be a fun competition for the aid stations to pump up of the spirit and have a good time on the course. Your job as a runner is to hit the aid stations and check out the energy, the refreshments and report back. We will have a voting box at the Fleet Feet tent for you to judge the aid stations! Winners of the Battle of the Aid Stations will be announced after each race.

Who has the "Best snacks, Best Energy, Best Overall aid station"

To sign up to be in the Battle of the Aid Stations or any other volunteer position please click the link below!

Fleet Feet Chico: Fleet Feet Fall Trail Classic 2025 Volunteers

Limited restrooms on the course will be located at the finish area of the race (South Rim Trail), Aid station one at the top of 10-Mile house road, and Bear Hole

POST RACE REFRESHMENTS

T-SHIRTS AND AWARDS

• Guaranteed Tee-shirt cutoff is September 17th, 2026
• Cotton blend shirts from Upper Park Clothing Co. will be provided to all participants who register for this event before the tee shirt cutoff. (9/17/26) Any participant who registers on or before September 17th will be guaranteed a race tee.
• Any participant who registers after September 17th will be able to receive a race shirt based on limited size availability (very few extras will be ordered). Any shirts not picked up at packet pick up prior to the race will be available on a first come first serve basis to all paid runners for pick up, and available for sale to any unregistered spectators starting at 10:00am at the Fleet Feet booth.
• All shirts come in adult male (unisex) sizes, so you may wish to choose a smaller size than normal for female and child runners.
• No youth sizes will be available.

Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in the half marathon as well as the top 3 in each age group bracket. 

 Age group brackets will be as followed: 

• 14 and under / 15-19 / 20-29 / 30-39 / 40-49 / 50-59 / 60-69 / 70 and over

The winner of the 4-Mile Endurance Challenge will be either the last person standing or the first to cross the finish line in the final hour foot race to the finish. 2nd and 3rd place will also receive an award for their efforts! (Male and Female)

SPECTATING

We would love to see everyone come out to support our local athletes in this new trail race! Because the trail is a single track there are limited locations that you can safely watch your favorite runners without interrupting the flow of the race. Here we have provided a few locations where you can safely watch your runners and help cheer them on to the finish.

• Start/Finish area- in the meadow of the finish/ South Rim area. At this location you will not only see the runners start on the run, but this is also the location    of the finish. For the 4-Mile runners this will also serve as the location where they will hold until the start of the next loop.
• Green Gate Parking Lot – This location will serve at Aid Station one for the half marathoners and will also be a great spot to cheer on your runners as they      will have just climbed the final hill of their run…. All downhill from here! Parking will be very limited. If you plan to cheer for your runners at this location, carpooling is highly recommended!
• Bear Hole parking lot- This location is about one and a half miles past the Horseshoe Lake gate on Upper Park Rd. You will need to walk or bike to this location as the road will be closed to cars for the day. The Parking lot serves as aid station 3 for the half marathon as well as aid station 1 for the 4-mile runners. Runners will be coming in and out of this location from both directions, so this will be a fun and high energy place to spectate. 

VOLUNTEERING 

If you are interested in volunteering at the race, please check out all the available shifts! We cannot put on this event without great volunteers!

Fleet Feet Chico: Fleet Feet Fall Trail Classic 2025 Volunteers

For more information, please email shawna@feetfeetchico.com

            **No Refunds on race entries or merchandise purchased for this event**