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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOct 10, 2026100M
Race date today
Oct 10, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Gwinn · 100M
Entry fee
$75Varies by event and entry period
Status
ClosedTBD ~ Wed, October 7, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 10, 2026
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This is the 2nd Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra.

The event has a 24-hour time limit.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Next edition entry

Entry dates for the next edition haven't been announced yet

Ultra

Entry cost $75

Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra · until Oct 7, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra course map and elevation

Your 100M

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground, Gwinn, MI

Start · Google Maps
Show more

A backyard ultra in which you run a 4.167-mile loop at the top of every hour for up to 24 hours.

The event is Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra.

The start is at Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground, Gwinn, MI, at 9:00 a.m. local time.

Field size
65 runners
Typical race-season temperature: around 8°C (46°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Aid stations
Water and snacks are provided at base camp; prepare your own nutrition.

Participant benefits

Water stations

Where and when to collect your Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Gwin's Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra; packet-pickup information has not been made public.
10/9 (Fri) 17:00~20:00 · 10/10 (Sat) 07:00~08:30

Near the Anderson Lake competition venue in Gwin, Michigan

specific address not provided

Google MapsDirections

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit exists.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit exists. Venue is Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground, ~5 miles southwest of Gwinn, MI, off County Road 557/577. A ~1-mile gravel access road leads to the basecamp/start line.

Michigan Recreation Passport required for any vehicle. Remote US trail/backyard-ultra event - plan on driving (rental car recommended); nearest airport Sawyer International (MQT) near Marquette, ~20-25 miles.

Getting to the finish

Backyard ultra format - finish/DNF point is the same basecamp/start area.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Held at Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground, this is the first backyard ultra ever held across Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The race starts at 9:00 a.m., has a 24-hour time limit, and is capped at 65 participants.

The format is a standard backyard ultra: runners must complete a 4.167-mile (approximately 6.7 km) loop at the top of every hour to advance to the next round.

Pre-race packet pickup is available from 2:00–7:00 p.m. the day before the race and from 6:00–7:00 a.m. on race day.

At basecamp, only 3 m × 3 m canopies are permitted instead of regular tents.

Runners must bring their own personal support items, such as chairs and snacks.

Times are local to Gwinn. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Gwinn Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings
Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Gwinn with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Gwinn.

Total cost and budget for Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Gwinn runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra

FAQ
When does Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, October 10, 2026 in Gwinn, MI, United States.

How much is the Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $75.

What distances does Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra 2026 start?

The race starts at 09:00.

Where does Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra 2026 start?

Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground, Gwinn, MI.

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