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The Bluffs Trail Runs 2027

Date
Saturday, May 1, 2027
Start time
7:00 AM start (Chicago)
Entry fee
From $15 · goes up to $95 on Dec 31, 2026
Included with entry
Includes a shirt and a pint glass or mug
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Registration is open.

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
Trail Half MarathonHalf MarathonMay 1, 20277:00 AM$85$95 after Dec 31, 2026–
Trail MarathonMarathonMay 1, 20277:00 AM$115$125 after Dec 31, 2026–
15k15KMay 1, 20277:30 AM$65$75 after Dec 31, 2026–
10k10KMay 1, 20278:00 AM$55$65 after Dec 31, 2026–
10k (Youth Under 19)10KMay 1, 20278:00 AM$45$55 after Dec 31, 2026–
5k5KMay 1, 20278:30 AM$40$45 after Dec 31, 2026–
5k (Youth Under 19)5KMay 1, 20278:30 AM$30$35 after Dec 31, 2026–
Elevated Youth 1MKidsMay 1, 20279:30 AM$15–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

Register on RunSignup

The Half Marathon fee goes up to $95 on Dec 31, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • Trail Half Marathon: $85 until Dec 31, then $95 until Apr 30.
  • Trail Marathon: $115 until Dec 31, then $125 until Apr 30.
  • 15k: $65 until Dec 31, then $75 until Apr 30.
  • 10k: $55 until Dec 31, then $65 until Apr 30.

Online registration closes Apr 30, 2027, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $115, entry is about 15 percent above a typical marathon in Missouri, which costs $100 right now.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:11 AM, and the Trail Half Marathon starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 1,060 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

Echo Bluffs State Park, Eminence, MO 65466

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.

5k

51
finishers
8:52:42
median (171:50 /mi)
8:33:41
winning time
63% / 37%
women / men
median 8:52:428:35:0010:32:00
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Trail Half Marathon

40
finishers
7:00:01
median (32:02 /mi)
7:00:01
winning time
43% / 57%
women / men

Aggregated from official results (Split Second Timing) for The Bluffs Trail Runs. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at The Bluffs Trail Runs?

At the 2026 5k, the fastest tenth finished in 8:43:29 or better, the top quarter in 8:44:56, and half the field in 8:52:42; the last tenth came in after 9:35:40.

At the 2026 Trail Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 7:00:01 or better, the top quarter in 7:00:01, and half the field in 7:00:01; the last tenth came in after 7:00:01.

Third place by age group, 2026 5k
AgeWomenMen
20-298:50:52n/a
30-398:45:00n/a

Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.

What would my time get me?

Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.

Finishers by year

Down 7 percent since 2023.

All events combined, from official results.

The Bluffs Trail Runs 5K year by year

From 2023 to 2026, the field went from 26 to 51 finishers, and the median time rose from 1:03:59 to 8:52:42.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
202651 (+2%)8:52:42under 8:43:298:33:41
202550 (+150%)52:40under 40:1731:28
202420 (-23%)8:30:01under 8:30:018:30:01
2023261:03:59under 38:4730:38

From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.

How fast is it?

Slower than most US trail 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 8:44:56, against 31:02 in a typical US trail 5K, so times here run 1592 percent slower.

Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.

From the race's page

What the organizers of The Bluffs Trail Runs cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

RACE START TIMES

PLEASE arrive no later than ONE hour before your race start time if you are doing same day race bib and packet pick up. If you have picked up your packet already, and only need to check-in, please show up no later than 15 minutes before…

Schedule and packet pickup

PACKET PICK UP

OPTION #1: Pre-Race Packet Pick Up: Friday 4/30/27 4:00pm-6:00pm at the Start/Finish (Bluff Top Pavilion) Echo Bluff State Park. OPTION #2: Race Day Packet Pick Up: Will be available. Early Check in begins at 5:30 am. Please arrive 30-45…

Course

COURSE MAPS | ELEVATION PROFILES

Download the Course Map to your phone and follow along by downloading the Plotaroute Mobile App. https://www.plotaroute.com/mobileapp. TRAIL RATING | TERRAIN. COURSE MAPS. MARATHON (2 LOOPS)/ HALF MARATHON VIEW INTERACTIVE COURSE MAP HERE…

COURSE MAPS | ELEVATION PROFILES, from the The Bluffs Trail Runs page

Course

AID STATIONS

Please note that this is a CUPLESS event, so make sure to bring some form of hydration vessel the day of! **Please note that each aid station has approximate mileage based on mapping programs, and may differ a bit from each person's watch…

AID STATIONS, from the The Bluffs Trail Runs page

Parking and travel

LODGING | CAMPING

Give your race weekend a chance to EXPLORE beautiful Echo Bluffs State Park with scenic LODGING AND CAMPING OPTIONS. RECOMMENDED CAMPING SITES. ECHO BLUFFS STATE PARK | START/FINISH. https://icampmo1.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/. BETTY LEA LODGE…

Shirt and medal

FINISHER

All FINISHER'S of the Marathon | Half Marathon | 15k |10K | 5K will receive a custom super soft tri-blend shirt (unisex) a handcrafted wooden medal all designed. by ELEVATION CULTURE. FREE RACE DAY PHOTOS. LAST DAY to register to guarantee…

FINISHER, from the The Bluffs Trail Runs page
Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
Echo Bluffs State Park, Eminence, MO 65466Map
Course
Trail
Start elevation
About 1,060 feet
Included with entry
Finisher T-Shirt or ECRS Cup; Kid's Fun Run T-Shirt or ECRS Cup
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Kids
Editions
2027 (May 1, 2027), 2026 (May 2, 2026), 2025 (May 3, 2025), 2024 (Apr 27, 2024), 2023 (Apr 29, 2023)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

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Quick answers

When is The Bluffs Trail Runs?
Saturday, May 1, 2027, starting at 7:00 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $15 before processing fees, and rises to $95 on Dec 31, 2026.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Apr 30, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Missouri?
At $115, entry is about 15 percent above a typical marathon in Missouri, which costs $100 right now.
Do runners get a shirt or medal?
Entry includes a shirt and a pint glass or mug, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
Can I donate to a cause when I register?
Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
What distances can I run?
5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Kids.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2026, 51 runners finished the 5k; the median finish was 8:52:42 and the winner ran 8:33:41.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 8:44:56, against 31:02 in a typical US trail 5K, so times here run 1592 percent slower.
Where does it start?
Echo Bluffs State Park, Eminence, MO 65466.
Is there a course map?
Yes, the organizers publish the route on Plotaroute; the link is under Start location and course.

From the organizers

THE BLUFFS TRAIL RUNS

TRAIL MARATHON | HALF MARATHON | HALF MARATHON | 15K | 10K | 5K

The trail running experience you don't want to miss. Located in the most beautiful state parks in Missouri Echo Bluffs State Park and Current River State Parks. We offer something for the experienced trail runner to your first time running or hiking the trails.

TRAIL MARATHON follows the Half Marathon course taking you through Echo Bluffs State Park through Current River State park and back to the finish. You complete the Half Marathon Course x2.

Read the full description on RunSignup