Minocqua No Frills Marathon

The Minocqua No Frills Marathon™ & Half-Marathon keeps it simple and affordable because, at this marathon, it’s all about the race. The race accommodates those who aspire to run their first marathon, as well as veteran runners trying to better their times or qualify for the Boston Marathon.

The picturesque course begins at Nokomis Community Park, 20 miles south of Minocqua, and follows the scenic Bearskin Trail back to finish at the trail head behind the Minocqua Post Office. The No Frills Marathon is proud to be a certified qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is the only mass-participation marathon that requires qualifying times in certified marathons observing guidelines set forth by the Boston Athletic Association and USA Track and Field.

The Minocqua No Frills Marathon™ is a point-to-point course, beginning at Nokomis Community Park on Highway L (Old 51) about 20 miles south of Minocqua. The first 6 miles are on paved town roads. The remaining 20 miles follows the entire length of the Bearskin Trail with the course ending at the trail head behind the U.S. Post Office in downtown Minocqua. The 1/2 Marathon begins at Lakewood Road and Bearskin Trail. Both marathons enjoy the same unique trail. The Bearskin Trail is what makes this Marathon unique among races. The trail is a surface of crushed granite with no soft spots, and there will not be sidewalks filled with spectators. In fact, you will not see a single sidewalk along the entire route. What you will see is some of the most beautiful forests and scenery that Wisconsin’s Northwoods has to offer!

There is one stretch of 9 miles of the trail without a road or driveway crossing. This stretch is the first 9 miles of the ½ marathon. This race starts a few hundred yards north of the intersection of Lakewood Rd. and The Bearskin Trail just north of Pinewood Golf Course. Spectators will not even have access to many parts of the course and will usually be friends or family of other runners when you do see them. You will see streams, lakes, balsam swamps, hardwood forests, marshes, open meadows, a golf course, old railroad bridges, and a variety of wildlife if you’re watching for them. The Bearskin Trail itself crosses 15 of these old railroad bridges and has a slight roll to its topography, but no hills to speak of. It allows you to keep a steady pace with plenty of passing room. We expect a lot of good times and many PRs!