Events
10 Mile Hike
60 spots left. Registration Opens March 1, 2026 at 12:00am EST
Event registration will open on March 1st
September 26, 2026 - Shawnee, Ohio
Information
The Blue Blaze Festival - Run, Hike & Backpack on the Buckeye Trail
The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail (BT). Join us for the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.
There is a trail experience and distance right for you: Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike and an overnight Backpacking trek. All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.
Running Events - Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
9:00am Half Marathon and 10K, 9:15am 5K start.
All running events will be chip timed.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
The 10-Mile Hike will start and finish in Shawnee with hikers following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. The hike starts 1 hour before the running events. The 2026 Hike was designed by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA. A guide to historical sites will be provided to participants.
Schedule of Events
Friday
4:00pm-7:00pm Early Packet Pickup
Saturday
8:00am 10-mile Hike leaves
9:00am Start of Half Marathon and 10K run
9:15am Start of 5K
Trail Running Events
The 10K and Half Marathon Course
The Half Marathon and 10K runs will use the Buckeye Trail with an out and back course. There will be mile markers and directional signs on the course. There will be several aid stations with water and Gatorade, and volunteers at all road crossings. The Half Marathon and 10K Run will start at 9:00am. The 10K and Half Marathon courses are out and back on the Buckeye Trail. Most of the course is on single-track trail, with some challenging and hilly conditions, and there are some sections on roads. The half marathon has over 1,000 feet of elevation change.
All running events will be chip timed.
After returning to Shawnee, participants can enjoy post race food and there are options to purchase food from local merchants.
5K Course - Buckeye Trail and Wood Thrush Trail
The 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:15am.
The 5K course is a loop starting in Shawnee to the Tecumseh Lake, onto the Wood Thrush Trail to the Buckeye Trail then back to Tecumseh Lake and to the finish line in Shawnee.
