Black Squirrel Half Marathon
About this race
A trail half marathon at Lory State Park northwest of Fort Collins — a perimeter tour of the park with breathtaking views east over Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins and the Great Plains, and west toward the Rocky Mountain peaks. Capped at 400 runners.
Choose your distance
Half Marathon
What's included in your entry
- Well-marked course on some of the best trails in Fort Collins
- Fully stocked aid stations
- Free entry to Lory State Park for the day
- Gender-specific race t-shirt
- Pint-glass finisher award plus overall & age-group awards
- Post-race pancake breakfast — vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free options
- Professional medical coverage
The course
Runners head south on the Lodgepole Drive spur for a little under half a mile before looping north to the Timber Trailhead, then ascend the Timber Trail up to the Westridge Trail.
The course climbs ~1,500' between miles 2 and 6, descends roughly the same over the next 2.5 miles, then finishes with gently rolling terrain for the last 4.5 miles.
Course records: men's 1:26:40 (2024), women's 1:36:26 (2020).
Race weekend timeline
Cup-free race: carry a 16 oz minimum water bottle or bladder that refills at aid stations. No water cups are provided.
Aid stations
Four aid stations: Timber/Westridge (mi 4.5), Arthur's West (mi 8.5), Arthur's East (mi 11.0), Finish (mi 13.5).
All serve water and Gnarly Fuel2O; Arthur's West adds fruit and chips. Past 4.5 hrs elapsed at Arthur's West you may be offered a ride to the finish.
Getting there & lodging
Directions
- Address: 708 Lodgepole Dr, Bellvue, CO 80512. Priority parking is reserved for carpools of 2+ (first-come, first-served).
- Overflow at the Timber Trailhead lot, the Lodgepole spur, and the Eltuck Picnic Area — late arrivals at Eltuck may walk up to a mile. Lodgepole Drive is one-way (south to north).
- A CO State Parks annual pass is required; a $9 day pass is available or provided by organizers.
Good to know
- Registration cap of 400. Bib must be visible from the front. Pacers not allowed; crewing at designated aid stations only. No dogs on course.
- Drop bags allowed at start/finish only (a tarp is provided). USATF Colorado Half Marathon Trail Championship in past years; packet pickup at Altitude Running.
- Transfer credits: 100% through Mar 31, 75% to Jun 30, 50% to Sep 4 — valid 12 months. Entries are non-refundable.
Awards
Overall top 3 men's/women's and non-binary; age-group top 3 men and women in Under 18, 18–39, 40–49, 50–59 and 60+. All finishers within the 5.5-hour cut-off receive a pint-glass finisher award.
Discounts, deferrals & transfers
Plans change. Discounts, deferral windows, and bib-transfer rules are the same across every Gnar Runners race — see the details on our Discounts & Deferrals page.
Who puts this on
Directed by Nick Clark & Brad Bishop. Questions? Email racedirector@gnarrunners.com.