Great Turtle Trail Run

Great Turtle Trail Run is held on October 24, 2026 on Mackinac Island, Michigan, with a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5.7-mile run/walk. The half starts in front of the Mission Point Resort and follows the shoreline early on, past views of the lake, the neighboring islands and the Arch Rock formation. From there the route turns inland and winds across the island on bike paths and roads — mostly paved, with a few gravel stretches — before returning to the shoreline and finishing back at Mission Point.

Despite the name, this reads closer to a road race than to technical trail running, so ordinary road shoes work for most runners. The half suits anyone with a base of 25 to 30 miles a week and a long run around 10 miles; the 5.7-mile option is a good step up if you have been racing 5Ks and want more distance without committing to a full half marathon build.