(Fun) Run for the Natural Areas 5K Trail Race

IT'S FREE!!!

As part of the Natural Areas Festival, join us for the FREE 2024 (Fun) Run for the Natural Areas 5K Trail Race! The race again will be again at Winding Waters Natural Area which will give you the experience of one of the most authentic and gorgeous trail races in Palm Beach County! You’ll be amazed you’re a few short miles from the hustle and bustle of West Palm Beach!

The 5K course is a loop around the wetlands trail with a short trip through a wooded double-track fire road. It’s a beautiful course offering a huge variety of surfaces and scenery!

The Race for the Natural Areas aims to showcase the Palm Beach County Natural Areas. Winding Waters is an over 500-acre natural area containing a diversity of habitats, such as mesic flatwoods, hydric hammock, depression marsh, wet prairie, and dome swamp. Several areas were cleared for agricultural purposes and have been restored to shallow-water and deep-water marshes. 

The course itself will be a trail ringing the restored wetland offering scenic views of the teeming plant and animal life.

We have a capacity of 300 this year, so it remains a somewhat exclusive event and we expect it to sellout, once again!

Course Description
The 5K loop is a mix of shallow sand, grassy areas, and firm flatwoods. Despite being a challenging course, it flows fast! The sandy areas are shallow with only a couple patches of deeper, softer sand that you can get around very easily. There are no hills or water crossings.

Water/Restrooms
There will be portable restrooms at the Festival.

Timing
This will not be a timed race, this is a fun run to enjoy the wild & scenic Winding Waters Natural Area.

Packet Pickup
There is no packet pickup (no bibs). Come and explore the Natural Areas Festival and make your way to the starting line for the 4:00 pm start.

Awards/Medal
We will have trophies for Female & Male 1st - 3rd place along with medals for the first 30 finishers.

Shirts
No shirts this year...it's free.

Race Day Schedule
2:00 pm: Natural Areas Festival starts
4:00 pm: 5K start
4:45 pm: Awards