Rock River Canyon is a magnificent route through high country and remote river valleys south of Munising, Michigan. The course begins at the Valley Spur Lodge and follows a rarely followed section of the North Country Trail to AuTrain and then on to the Rock River Canyon Wilderness. Runners then …
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Rock River Canyon is a magnificent route through high country and remote river valleys south of Munising, Michigan. The course begins at the Valley Spur Lodge and follows a rarely followed section of the North Country Trail to AuTrain and then on to the Rock River Canyon Wilderness. Runners then turn back for an eastward retrace back to Valley Spur.
Runners who want to immerse themselves in the wild backcountry of the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Zen quality single track have now found their experience.
The 50K features 26 miles of single track with the remainder on dirt forest roads Runners will enjoy frequent but not overwhelming ascents and descents. I would describe it as highly runnable and even a fast course for the experienced ultra runner. It’s moderate, non-technical terrain make it an ideal step up for the marathoner wishing to try their first ultra.
The 27K option traces the first 8.6 miles of the 50K course to AuTrain Forest Aid before returning back to Valley Spur Lodge.
Great Lakes Endurance
Great Lakes Endurance operates trail running events in the Great Lakes Region since 2000. Founded by local trail runner Jeff Crumbaugh, the events will now be operated by Aravaipa Running. We hope you’ll join us for some spectacular and wild trail running races in Michigan!
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A Gem of a Race!
I have run the Rock River Canyon twice and love it. It is a small trail race though the woods in Munising, Michigan. After the first couple of miles, I … MORE
I have run the Rock River Canyon twice and love it. It is a small trail race though the woods in Munising, Michigan. After the first couple of miles, I found myself running without anyone else in sight (though there were other runners not to far away from me), which is the vibe I love for trail runs. The course itself is very challenging, with a lot of elevation gain, especially right before and after the turnaround. The scenery is amazing with a single track cut through massive trees and inland lakes and ponds. The race takes place on the North Country Trail, so the trail is well-marked by the blue blazes on trees. The are ample aid stations and the aid station volunteers could not have been more friendly
I have run numerous Great Lakes Endurance events. The courses are always scenic and challenging. The races are always well-organized. The race director and volunteers are always friendly, helpful, and good humored. These are absolutely my favorite races to run and I look forward to running more Great Lakes Endurance races in the future.