Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival - Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Run, Hike and Backpack

127B W. Main St., Shawnee OH

Saturday, September 27th, 2025

🏞️ The Blue Blaze Festival

The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of the trail, whether you are a Trail Runner, Hiker or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail. Join us for the 2025 Buckeye Trail (BT) Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.

🚶 Distance and Trail Options

Event Types: Half Marathon, 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike, overnight Backpacking trek
Trail Location: All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.

🏃 Running Events

Half Marathon and 10K: Uses the Buckeye Trail with an out and back course.
Start Times: Half Marathon and 10K at 9:00AM, followed by the 5K at 9:15AM.
Course Details: Includes mile markers, directional signs, aid stations with water and Gatorade, and volunteers at road crossings.
Elevation: The half marathon has over 1,000 feet of elevation change.

All running events will be chip timed.

After returning to Shawnee, participants can enjoy post-race food and there are options to purchase food from local merchants.

🥾 Hiking the Buckeye Trail

Hike Length: 8-Mile Hike will start and finish in Shawnee.
Start Time: The hike starts 1 hour before the running events.
Historical Guide: A guide to historical sites will be provided to participants.

More Hike Information.