Run through two beautiful Ottawa County Parks in one race! #2Parks1Race
What can we say? This trail race is Grand: Grand River, Grand Ravines, Grand bridges, and Grand views! Keep scrolling for trail maps and more information about this fun event...
Sign up by midnight on June 15 to be guaranteed a shirt! You can sign up the morning of the event but will not be guaranteed a shirt.
The course starts at Grand River County Park winding you through a natural surface trail until you hit the newly completed Idema Explorers Trail segment that leads you along the Grand River to Grand Ravines County Park. As you enter Grand Ravines, you will see an old, covered bridge and go up an incline to a spectacular view of the river. If you’re lucky, you might even see the resident bald eagles out fishing.
If you are running (or walking!) the 5K, you will turn around at this point. If you are running the 10K, you will continue to wind yourself through Grand Ravines Park, around the dog park, through the meadow, across the Idema suspension bridge, and back through the woods to Grand River Park.
Sounds pretty grand, doesn’t it?
Swing by the Grand River Park Lodge on Friday, June 23 from 4:00-7:00 pm to pick up your shirt/bib OR pick up your shirt/bib the morning of the event!Â
Why participate?
Because your participation helps support our parks.
Your participation will help bring awareness to parks and projects like the Grand River Greenway and the Idema Explorers Trail.
Because parks are for everyone.
Because parks, nature, and open spaces are essential for our mental and physical health.
Can't participate the day of the race?Â
If you want to support the parks but can't come the day of the race, you can sign up to participate virtually! Virtual supporters will be guaranteed a shirt.Â
The kids’ 1-mile fun run/walk will start at 8:00 a.m.
This course will be on a paved trail only, so strollers will be allowed. We suggest children running this race be under 12 years old. A nature-themed craft will be offered for kids after the run.Â
5k Course - $35/person
The 5K race will start at 8:30 a.m.
No strollers will be allowed on the 10K/5K route due to difficult terrain and narrow trails in some areas of the course.
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 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.
The 5K is a mostly flat course that runs on dirt early in the race and does a loop by the lake in the Grand River Park before heading out to the paved trail by the Grand River. It then follows the 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 won't have far to go before you hit the finish line.
10k Course - $38/person
The 10K race will start at 8:30 a.m.
No strollers will be allowed on the 10K/5K route due to difficult terrain and narrow trails in some areas of the course.
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 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.
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 mostly mirror the 5K course (there is an early hill thrown into the mix) 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 quite done as you will have one more big climb and descent on dirt to conquer before heading to the finish line.
Directions to the Park
Please be aware that the start/finish area is at Grand River County Park. Google Maps will give you the correct routing to get there. Do not go to Grand Ravines North or South! These parks are nearly adjacent to each other and are similarly-named, which does cause confusion at times.