On Saturday, July 24, meet at Mountain Lakes Park, Hemlock Lake Parking Area, ready to run a course check of the Mountain Lakes Backyard Ultra. Brian Vanderheiden will be starting a preview run of the daytime course at 8:00, followed by the night course immediately after. I’m going to start early, at 7:00 a.m. and run the nighttime course first, then catch the festivities at 8:00. Anyone interested in checking out the Backyard Ultra course is welcome to join either time. If you’re thinking about running the race, this is a great opportunity to check out the course, talk to the race director, or talk with a few of us that have run the race before. The race starts August 20. Brian’s Preview Run waver is here. More information about the race is here ››
Run Calendar
Backyard Ultra Course Check

WHERE AND WHEN
UPCOMING
Trail Thursday
August 20 @ 5:30 am – 7:00 amFitness Friday
August 21 @ 5:45 am – 7:00 amAn event every week that begins at 5:45 am on Friday, repeating until December 18, 2026
Stark Raven Mad
August 22 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 amMeadow, Michigan, & Museum
August 23 @ 8:00 am – 9:30 amTrail Tuesday
August 25 @ 5:30 am – 7:00 amAn event every week that begins at 5:30 am on Tuesday, repeating indefinitely
Workout Wednesday—Kimberly Bridge
August 26 @ 5:30 am – 7:00 amAn event every week that begins at 5:30 am on Wednesday, repeating until December 30, 2026
Trail Thursday
August 27 @ 5:30 am – 7:00 amAn event every week that begins at 5:30 am on Thursday, repeating indefinitely
Fitness Friday
August 28 @ 5:45 am – 7:00 amAn event every week that begins at 5:45 am on Friday, repeating until December 18, 2026
Loops of Levy
August 29 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 amMichigan, Overlook, Raven Rocks v2
August 30 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 amTRAIL DAMAGE REPORT
Help keep the trails clear by reporting downed trees or other conditions that the park should know about.
Report Damage ››
DONATE
STAY ON COURSE
The Free Avenza Maps software now has a free trail map of the Reservation available here. You can use that or the free GaiaGPS to load KML files of some of our runs as overlays. Now there’s no excuse to get lost.