The Willow 10 & 20 miler

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Willow River State Park, Hudson, WI

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Willow River State Park is one of the most beautiful places to run in western Wisconsin. The Willow Trail Race gives you two ways to take it on.

The 20-mile race starts at 7:00 am and sends you through two full loops of the park — grass and gravel single-track, rolling terrain, and enough elevation to remind you that you earned this. The 10-mile race starts at 8:00 am, with one loop and the same scenery.

This is not a flat, fast course. It is the kind of run that asks something of you and gives something back. Roots, ridgelines, open meadows, and views that make you forget how tired your legs are.

Whether this is your first trail race or your fiftieth, Willow is worth your morning.

Come run it with us.

Where

Willow River State Park - 1034 County Highway A, Hudson, WI 54016

From downtown Hudson, turn east at the Vine Street stoplight. Follow Vine Street up the hill to County Highway A. Turn left to the park entrance.

From I-94, take Exit 4 north on US-12 for about 3.5 miles. The park entrance will be on your left.

Course map

Here you will find a course map showing the start line, finish line, and aid station.

Morning of the Race

Packet pick-up opens at 6:00 AM for 20-mile runners and after 7:00 AM for 10-mile runners. Registration closes 10 minutes before each start. Plan to arrive with enough time to pay for park admission, find parking, and settle in before your race begins.

20 miler starts at 7:00 AM, 10 miler starts at 8:00 AM

There will be a short pre-race briefing five minutes before your start time.

Parking

We recommend the nature center parking lot in the southern part of the park — it's closest to the start and finish area. Signs will be posted, and park staff can point you in the right direction if needed. State park admission fees apply; current rates are available on the DNR website.

Drop bags

20-mile runners can leave a drop bag near the start of the second loop. We'll collect them at the start line before the race begins. Don't forget to grab yours before you leave.

Aid stations

At about midway through the loop (6.75 miles), we will have an aid station with water, gels, and a selection of individually wrapped snacks.

The 20-milers will have an aid station near the finish of the 10-mile loop, where they can replenish water, grab a snack, and use materials in their drop bags.

Cupless event

We run a cupless event to keep our footprint in the park as small as possible. Bring a handheld bottle or a pack — there's water at every aid station. It's a small thing that makes a real difference.

Restrooms

Portable toilets will be available at the start/finish area and at the aid station on the course. Please use them and pack out what you pack in.

If You Need to Stop

If you need to withdraw from the race, remove your bib and hand it to the race director or an aid station captain before you leave the course. This lets us account for every runner out there. Leaving without checking out means we spend time looking for you — and we'd rather not do that to our volunteers.

Runners who leave the course without notifying race officials will be asked not to participate in future St. Croix Running Company events.

Who’s Welcome Here

Everyone. Full stop.

Willow is a race for people who want to run trails, challenge themselves, and spend a morning in a beautiful park with a community that actually shows up for each other. Whatever you look like, wherever you come from, however fast you run — you belong here. If you ever have feedback on how we can do better, we mean it when we say we want to hear it.

Delay, suspend, or cancel the event.

The race director reserves the right to delay, suspend, or cancel any part or all of the event if weather conditions or acts of your god or mine deem it dangerous to the participants, volunteers, or staff or harmful to the course.

If the event needs to be canceled or delayed, we will reach out to you by email, website, and/or social media. No refunds or transfers are allowed.