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

Buckeye Trail Blue Blaze Festival

Join us for the 2025 Buckeye Trail (BT) Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors in Shawnee, Ohio. 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.

Events:

• Half Marathon
• 10K
• 5K run/walk
• 10 Mile Hike
• Backpacking Workshop

Running Events: The Half Marathon and 10K runs will use the Buckeye Trail with an out and back course. The 5K course will be a loop. All running events will be chip timed.

Hiking: The 10-Mile Hike will start and finish in Shawnee, following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide to historical sites will be provided.

Backpacking Workshop: If you are new to backpacking, consider participating in this workshop led by Appalachian Understories. Orientation is Friday at 11:00 AM, with the trek starting in the early afternoon and returning to Shawnee on Saturday.