Camp Ondessonk Hosts the Annual Shawnee Hills Trail Races
Camp Ondessonk is once again proud to serve as the host site for the annual Shawnee Hills Trail Races. This prestigious event draws runners nationwide to test their endurance on some of the Midwest’s most challenging and scenic trails. This year’s races took place August 24 – 25, 2024, offering participants the chance to compete in a Half-Marathon, 50K, 100K, or the grueling 100-mile race.
The race course is a true testament to the natural beauty of Southern Illinois, with a route that departs from and returns to Camp Ondessonk. Runners began their journey in Le Coeur, looping around the Lake Road toward Lalande before venturing onto the Red/Cedar Falls Trail at Lalemant. The course guided participants through the Red Trail to Lower Pakentuck, leading them off Camp Ondessonk’s property deep into the Shawnee National Forest. The return journey brings runners back onto Camp’s grounds near Pine Alley, guiding them to the Spillway, across the Amantacha Bridge, and back to Le Coeur.
Each race presents its own unique challenge. The 50K runners complete this loop once, while 100K runners tackle it twice. The 100-mile runners, however, face the daunting task of completing the loop three times, plus a little extra for good measure. The 100-mile race kicked off at 6:00 am on Saturday morning, with runners given up to 33 hours to complete the course. All runners were equipped with geo-tracking chips, allowing their progress to be monitored in real-time from Race HQ.
Stephanie Page led the event as Race Director. She and a dedicated team of volunteers began flagging the route August 23 – 28, with most of the course set within the boundaries of the Shawnee National Forest. The entire race route is available at http://www.shawneehills100.com/maps–stuff.html.
The Shawnee Hills Trail Races was a weekend of outdoor adventure and trail running fun for the runners and their families and friends. The event allowed participants to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of the Shawnee National Forest, renowned for its extraordinary rock formations, lush oak-hickory and maple-beech forests, and towering waterfalls. Highlights of the course included Cedar Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Illinois, as well as Jackson Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Runners will also be treated to inspiring views from Salomon’s Ridge and the deep sandstone canyons of the Shawnee Hills Natural Division.
Whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or a supporter cheering from the sidelines, the Shawnee Hills Trail Races at Camp Ondessonk offer something for everyone.
Click here to learn more about the Ondessonk Trail Races.