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O'Brien Trail Races race photo

O'Brien Trail Races

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

O'Brien Trail Races race photoMarine on St Croix
US
Peter Mooney · flickr (CC BY-SA)McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Marine on St Croix · 50km
Entry fee
$55From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 26, 2026 · Entry Nov 28, 2025 ~ Sep 22, 2026 · Entry fee $10 · Start 08:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 9, 2026
O'Brien Trail Races race photo
Peter Mooney · flickr (CC BY-SA)
O'Brien Trail Races race photo
McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About O'Brien Trail Races — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This is a trail race held in William O'Brien State Park along the St. Croix River in Minnesota.

Based on a 25km loop, the 50K is two loops, with 25K, 10K, and 5K also on the schedule.

A classic Midwest park trail race starting at the state park visitor center, with 4 aid stations per loop.

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.

O'Brien Trail Races runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

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

Race reports: 1
imtheguzRan in 2026 · Finish time 6:04:47
“I certainly felt good enough to go out and celebrate Oktoberfest at a friend's house that night!”

At the O’Brien Trail Race 50km, they walked most climbs and lengthened their stride downhill over two laps of course. A late push for a sub-6-hour finish ended at 6 hours 4 minutes 47 seconds, but they were pleased to complete an ultra for a 17th consecutive year.

Read the original on Start Slow, then Taper

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

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 O'Brien Trail Races — 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.

From the 2026 edition
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

O'Brien Trail Races course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
Time limit9 hours
Show more

50K 9 hours (5:00 p.m.), 25K 5 hours, 10K/5K 2 hours

EventStartTime limit
Ultra08:009h
10K10km09:052h
5K5km09:102h
Other25km09:005h
START · FINISH

William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center

Start · Google Maps

Events include 50K, 25K, 10K, and 5K.

The start is at Marine on St Croix, MN at 8:00 a.m. local time.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your O'Brien Trail Races 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 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packets are distributed only on race morning, with no advance pickup, so please arrive early.
Race morning only on 9/26 (Saturday) (08:00 start)

William O'Brien State Park, 16821 O'Brien Trail North, Marine on St Croix, MN

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startWilliam O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, 16821 O'Brien Trail North, Marine on St Croix, MN
  • Getting to the finishSame Visitor Center area — 50K uses two 25K loops returning to start.
  • IC cardNo dedicated transit card system; Marine on St Croix is a rural venue well outside the Twin Cities metro.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center, 16821 O'Brien Trail North, Marine on St Croix, MN

Races start at the park Visitor Center, with runner parking at the Visitor Center lot. A state park vehicle permit is required ($7 daily / $35 annual).

Per web search (gotrail.run). No public transit — rural Minnesota state park, car access only (park entrance permit required).

Map

Getting to the finish

Same Visitor Center area — 50K uses two 25K loops returning to start.

Finish cutoff is 9 hours (5:00 pm) for the 50K; finish at the same Visitor Center base area.

Map

Road closures

Park in the visitor center parking lot

IC card

No dedicated transit card system; Marine on St Croix is a rural venue well outside the Twin Cities metro. Visitors coming from Minneapolis/St.

Paul would use the Go-To Card for local buses and light rail, but service doesn't extend out to the race site, so car access is required.

Source · checked Aug 24, 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.

Starting from William O'Brien State Park visitor center, with an 8 a.m. start and a 9-hour finish cutoff (5 p.m. Time limit).

Four aid stations per lap.

Course is a 25km loop encompassing the park's west and south sections and Jackson Meadows, with 50K consisting of two laps.

Times are local to Marine on St Croix. 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.

What to see in Marine on St Croix after the race

Seeing Marine on St Croix with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

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 map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Marine on St Croix.

Total cost and budget for O'Brien Trail Races

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 O'Brien Trail Races

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Marine on St Croix runners' room

Frequently asked questions about O'Brien Trail Races

FAQ
When does O'Brien Trail Races 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, September 26, 2026.

When does registration for O'Brien Trail Races 2027 open?

Not announced yet. Entries for the 2026 race opened on Fri, November 28, 2025.

How much is the O'Brien Trail Races 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $10.

What is the time limit for O'Brien Trail Races 2027?

50K 9 hours (5:00 p.m.), 25K 5 hours, 10K/5K 2 hours. (From the 2026 edition)

What distances does O'Brien Trail Races 2027 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does O'Brien Trail Races 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does O'Brien Trail Races 2027 start?

William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does O'Brien Trail Races 2027 finish?

William O'Brien State Park Visitor Center. (From the 2026 edition)

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