Grand Explorers’ Trail Race Information

Join us on Saturday, June 19, 2027

Packet Pickup Details

Packet pickup is available on Friday, June 18, from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and race morning, June 19, from 7:15 a.m. until 8:00 a.m at Grand River County Park Lodge. When you pick up your packet, either on Friday evening or on race day, you will receive a race bib and a shirt. The timing chip is on the back of your race bib, so don’t fold it. Safety pins will be available if you need them.

We can’t guarantee shirts if you registered after midnight on June 2. We did order some extra shirts, but it will be first-come, first-served.

We will have extra shirts from the last three years available on race day for a suggested donation of $10.

Race Distances
There will be two distance options, a 5K and a 10K, as well as a kids’ fun run of approximately one mile. Please bear in mind that trail races are generally not wheel-measured exact distances, and these courses are no exception. The actual distances will be more like 3.4 and 6.4 miles, although the distance your running watch may measure can vary significantly as GPS signals don’t work as well in the woods.

Starting Time
The kids’ 1-mile fun run/walk will start at 8:00 am. The 10K and 5K races will start at 8:30 am.
The kids’ fun run/walk will all be on a paved trail, so strollers will be allowed, but strollers will not be allowed on the 10K/5K route due to difficult terrain and narrow trails in some areas of the course.

Trail Conditions
This is a trail race, but there is a significant part of the trail along the river that is paved. For the 5K, this amounts to about 2 miles that will be paved. For the 10K, it will be about 4 miles that are paved. The rest of the trail will be dirt or grass, complete with roots and uneven ground, and if it rains significantly, it could be muddy. The 10K includes some steps.

Course Descriptions for 2026
5K – The 5K is a mostly flat course that follows the paved Idema Explorers Trail by the river until it gets to the lodge at Grand Ravines Park. There is an incline to navigate as you go around the lodge (where bathrooms are available) before heading down a short-but-steep dirt hill back to the river trail where you came from. There is water available at an aid station near the lodge. Once you get back to Grand River Park, you’ll do a loop on a natural surface trail before you hit the finish line.

10K – The 10K course will challenge you with some hills (who doesn’t like hills?) and stairs as you wander further into Grand Ravines Park. The start of the course will mirror the 5K course until you reach the Grand Ravines Lodge. At that point, the 10K course will branch out and continue to climb the hill behind the lodge. You will then follow the edge of the woods until you cross the park entrance road and head down towards the dog park. You will follow the edge of the dog park and cross the parking lot for the dog park (where there will be an aid station and bathrooms) before running around to the east of the dog park and heading back into the woods. You will then cross the suspension bridge, turn right, and descend the East Ravine stairs onto the Statema Woodland Trail. From there, you will get back on the Idema Explorers’ trail and head back to Grand River Park. When you get to Grand River Park, your work is not done, as you will run the natural surface trail and have two more big climbs and descents to conquer before heading to the finish line.

1-Mile Fun Run/Walk – The kids’ fun run/walk will all be on a paved trail, so strollers will be allowed.

Strollers
No running strollers will be allowed due to the narrowness of parts of the trail and the significant portions that are not on the pavement.

Dogs
Dogs will be allowed to run the 10K and 5K races with their human, but they must be on a six-foot leash at all times. We know dogs are a part of the family, we just ask that you be considerate of those around you and that you only bring a dog that is well-mannered and comfortable around people, including children, and other dogs. We want everyone to have a great time! We will have water and dog bowls at all the aid stations.

Stash Your Stuff
Friends of Ottawa County Parks will provide a secure area for race participants to store their extra belongings during the race.