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

The Blue Blaze Festival - Run, Hike & Backpack on the Buckeye Trail 

The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. 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 (BT). Join us for the 2026 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.

There is a trail experience and distance right for you: Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike and an overnight Backpacking trek. All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.

Running Events - Half Marathon, 10K and 5K

9:00am Half Marathon and 10K,  9:15am 5K start.

All running events are chip timed with live results posted.

Hiking the Buckeye Trail

The 10-Mile Hike will start at 8:00am (1 hour before the running events) in Shawnee. All hikers will be given a race bib/number with a timing chip used to monitor when hikers start and finish the hike. The hike is designed and lead by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA, with a number of historical points following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide with historical points of interest and the route map will be provided to participants.

Hike Route

The 10 Mile hike will follow much of the out and back course of the Half Marathon and 10K run. However, the hike will include Tecumseh Lake and the Upper Rock Run Lake. There will be a Lead hiker and a Sweep.

• Tecumseh Lake
• Salem Hollow Road
• New Straitsville Mine Fire
• Columbus Face Brick Co
• Old root celler
• Wayne National Forest
• Back to Shawnee

The Backpacking course is a Friday-Saturday introduction to backpacking and will be covering sections of the Buckeye Trail. This course is being planned and  coordinated by Appalachian Understories and Outdoor Adventure Guides. This event will start and finish in Shawnee.

Backpacking Schedule

• Meet at Tecumseh Theatre, on Friday at 11:00am, for the backpack shakedown and group discussion. Following the brief orientation you will hit the Buckeye Trail for a backpacking experience and 1 night of camping. Planned departure from Shawnee is in the early afternoon.
• Saturday, the backpackers will return to Shawnee in the early afternoon.

To register for the BACKPACKING, please use the eventbrite site.  Registration is now open!

BACKPACKING WORKSHOP registration

Participants will learn all necessary skills to complete a backpacking trip, and will leave empowered to hit the trail again soon. This is a good first backpacking trip for people with hiking experiences or a regular fitness routine. It is also a fun time for people with backpack experiences to share the love of the trail with others.. Group size will be limited to 10 participants.

Workshop instructors

Scott Kreps, originally hails from NW Ohio, but came for school and fell in love with the foothills of Appalachia. He enjoys the biodiversity and terrain, alongside the resilience and creativity of this region. Scott currently serves as the Shawnee Trail Town Coordinator based out of the Tecumseh Theater, where he is also the Director of Youth Development and Theater Manager. Scott is looking forward to meeting you and learning together on the trail.

Seda Feldman a senior at Ohio University studying Social Work with a minor in Outdoor Recreation and Education and a certificate in Women Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is a passionate outdoor enthusiast with experience in backpacking, coastal kayaking, bike-packing, rock climbing, skiing, and general outdoor love.

All participants registered by September 1, 2026, will receive an event shirt. If registering after 9/1/26, shirts will not be guaranteed.

All finishers of the trail Run, Hike or Backpacking will receive the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival patch.

Top 3 Overall male and female finishers for 5K, 10K and Half Marathon

Top Finisher Awards produced by Aravaipa Artworx.

Age Group finishers recogized in results

• 19 and under
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60 and over

Participants can pick up their race packet at the Buckeye Trail Association office, Main Street, Shawnee, OH.

EARLY Packet Pickup: Friday, September 25, 2026, from 4:00PM-7:00PM

RACE DAY, 6:30AM-8:30AM

Course for the Half Marathon and 10K are the same, with identified turnarounds, on the out and back route. The 5K course is shown separately.

The 5K course is a loop from Shawnee to the Tecumseh Lake, onto the Wood Thrush Trail to the Buckeye Trail. The Buckeye Trail will lead back to Tecumseh Lake and then back to Shawnee. The course starts and finishes in Shawnee.

Are you considering camping on Friday?

There are multiple options for camping in the area.

Smiley’s Campground

8545 State Rt 93, Shawnee, Ohio 43782, 740-684-6381

https://www.smileyscampground.com/

Smiley's Campground is nestled in the heart of Wayne National Forest, a short drive from downtown Shawnee. Offers full hookup and electric sites, tent camping, as well as cabin rentals and an onsite bathhouse. Contact Smiley’s for prices.

1.  Shawnee Hills

7857 Upson Hollow Rd, Shawnee, Ohio 43782, 740-603-8155 Owner: Zach McIntosh

Tent camping only, primitive sites with porta john toilet.

2.  Camp Bell

657 W. Main St, Shawnee, Ohio Owner: Dan Campbell

Bunkhouse with 2 beds, electricity. Tent sites, shared bathroom in house, fire ring

3.  McLean Property

5981 Tecumseh Rd SE, Shawnee, Ohio  Owner: Jeff McLean

Space is available for tents and RV camping. Water, electricity and porta john.

Other options: There are a variety of Airbnb and Vrbo options in and around the Shawnee area and lodge accommodations ranging from $140 per night (2 bedrooms) to $300 per night (10 beds).

The backpacking workshop participants will leave on Friday to backpack to a camping location on the Buckeye Trail as part of their experience. 

Take a look at the 2019 event... and see you in 2024.

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