THE LIMBERLOST CHALLENGE 2026

The Limberlost Challenge® returns to Huntsville, Ontario on July 4, 2026. Hosted by Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve, the trail festival takes place on the Reserve’s private wilderness property — more than 10,000 acres of mixed forest and waterways. The race has been held for many years; archive photos and race records date back to at least 2010, and the event sits on the calendar as a staple of the Ontario trail scene.

The event is a single-day race with multiple distance options: 7 km, 14 km, 28 km, 42 km and 56 km, plus a 1 km Kid’s Fun Run. Longer distances are made up of laps of the 14 km loop. Race-day registration and packet pickup open at 6:30 a.m., the ultra fields (56K and 42K) start at 8:00 a.m., the 28K follows shortly after, 14K waves roll out between 8:30–8:40 a.m., and the 7K begins at 9:00 a.m. Mandatory pre-race briefings are scheduled for the longer distances.

What distinguishes Limberlost is the setting and the course character: historic woodland trails that run alongside five lakes, wetlands, creeks and rock formations, with boardwalks and sections of technical footing. The Reserve’s trail network and lakeside cover temper summer heat, and race entry includes a donation to Trails Youth Initiatives — Limberlost serves as their northern campus. Runners can also expect a well-marked course, enthusiastic volunteers and a substantial post-race lunch included with entry for 7–56 km participants.

Online registration is capped at 700 runners and typically closes just before race week; the event’s FAQ lists an online registration deadline of July 1 at 11:59 p.m. Race-day registration is available if the cap hasn’t been reached (exact cash only).

- **Charity support:** entry includes a donation to Trails Youth Initiatives and Limberlost is their northern campus
- **Scenic lakeside trails:** the course runs alongside five lakes, ponds, wetlands and notable rock formations
- **Post-race lunch included:** lunch (protein options, carbs, vegetables and fruit) is provided for 7–56 km runners from 10:30 a.m.
- **Looped course structure:** 14 km loop used for 14/28/42/56 km races so ultras are multiple laps of the same challenging circuit
- **Challenging trail terrain:** primarily singletrack (95% trails, 5% gravel) with rocks, roots, boardwalks, creek crossings and a Ski Hill climb
- **Field size cap:** online entries limited to 700 runners to preserve trail quality and on-site experience