Superior Fall Trail Race 2026
Lutsen, Minnesota, MN
Registration closed
- Registration opened
- January 1, 2026
- Entry price
- $175–$335
Weather
| Month | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|---|---|
| September | 51–61°F | Cool |
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
100 Mile
Point-to-point · Trail · starts 8:00 AM- Elev gain
- 17,350 ft
- Elev loss
- 17,350 ft
- High point
- 2,000 ft
- Low point
- 600 ft
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
38-hour cutoff. 13 aid stations. 95% technical single-track. Final mile routes up Lutsen Mountain ski hill before descending to Caribou Highlands Lodge finish. Average finish time historically ~34 hours. Course records: Neal Collick 18:56:02 (M), Gretchen Metsa 21:54:10 (F).
50 Mile
Point-to-point · Trail · starts 5:15 AM- Elev gain
- 7,950 ft
- Elev loss
- 7,950 ft
- High point
- —
- Low point
- —
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
16h 45m cutoff. 7 aid stations. 95% technical single-track. Qualifying standard: must have finished at least one 50K or longer trail race. Shuttle from Caribou Highlands included.
Marathon
Point-to-point · Trail · starts 8:00 AM- Elev gain
- 4,050 ft
- Elev loss
- 4,050 ft
- High point
- —
- Low point
- —
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
14-hour cutoff. 3 aid stations. Added to fall lineup in 2004. Known as the Moose Mountain Marathon. Final mile routed onto Lutsen Mountain ski hill. Shuttle from Caribou Highlands included.
Travel
- Base town
- Lutsen
- Nearest airport
- DLH · 105 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Limited
- Lodging
- Good
- Facilities
- Limited
- Trip length
- 3 nights
- Travel complexity
- 7/10
Point-to-point course
You finish in a different place than you start, so plan for transport back to your car or lodging.
Lutsen is remote Cook County — no rideshare, limited lodging that books fast around race weekend, and a ~1.75-hour drive from the nearest regional airport. Point-to-point courses require shuttle coordination.
Caribou Highlands Lodge is race HQ and the most convenient base; book immediately after lottery confirmation. Grand Marais (~20 min NE) offers additional lodging and dining options. Race-provided shuttles handle start-line transport.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- experienced trail ultrarunners seeking a prestigious bucket-list 100-miler
- runners who love boreal forest and Lake Superior scenery
- athletes comfortable with rugged rocky/rooty single-track
- fall foliage chasers
- Experienced trail/ultra runners
- Technical trail lovers
- Elevation seeking athletes
Avoid if
- first-time trail runners — qualifying standards exist for a reason
- runners who struggle with technical rocks and roots
- anyone needing a flat, fast course for a PR
- you dislike remote logistics or point-to-point transportation
- You want easy or beginner-friendly courses
- Dislike remote/rugged races
First-timer mistakes
Underestimating the technicality — 95% single-track with relentless roots and rocks destroys road-trained legs far faster than the mileage suggests. Don't arrive without verifying shuttle logistics from Caribou Highlands to your start.
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