A Bucket List Race: The Rock River Canyon 50K

Ever since my first ultra three years ago, I have been eyeing the Rock River Canyon 50K. This race is described as a race for runners who want to “immerse themselves in the wild backcountry of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Zen single track”.

Now that I have completed this race, I can honestly say that is a very accurate description.

The Rock River Canyon 50K Course

The Rock River Canyon 50K is almost entirely on trail – all but 2 miles. It is an out-and-back style race that is on the North Country Trail.

The race started and finished at Valley Spur Lodge, just west of Munising, Michigan. As we lined up at the start, I was surprised at how few runners there were. Only 23 of us started.

Immediately after the cowbell rang, we were on the trail. Because it was such a small race, runners spread out quickly, and soon I was left almost entirely alone on the trail.

The trail itself was well groomed with a few rocks, tree roots, or mud to make things more difficult. It was one of the lesser technical trails that I have ran in a while, making this a great first 50K for someone starting out or someone looking for a speedy race.

Boasting over 4,000 feet of elevation climb and descent, this trail does have plenty of ups and downs along the way. However, the changes are gradual enough most of the time that I hardly noticed. A few big hill climbs here and there.

My particular favorite was the hill after mile 3. It consisted of lots of downhill and switchbacks. It was fun…even when I had to climb up it to finish.

About a mile before the halfway point, we jumped off the North Country Trail and ran along a scenic dirt road. This section was short and quick but still pretty.

Because the course followed the North Country Trail it was well marked. The race organizer made sure that any potential confusion areas were well marked with their flags. Each mile was also marked.

The Organization

This is the third race of Great Lakes Endurance that I have participated in and will certainly not be the last. The race director and team really put the focus on running and not the bells and whistles you encounter in some of the larger races. I particularly love that aspect of their races.

In general, the races are kept fairly small. They are very well organized and give the best goodies away for age group winners. I placed third for my age group in the Rock River Canyon 50K and received a bottle of delicious maple syrup.

Overall

There is nothing I love more than spending a day in the woods. The Rock River Canyon 50K delivers just that. It is a quiet and peaceful race that allows you to turn inward and rely on your own strength to get through it. I look forward to returning one day and running it again.

Interested in participating in 2024? Learn more at Great Lake Endurance. There is also a 27K event.