The 6 Best Trail Running Races in Ontario
Ontario has one of the biggest trail networks in the country and many parks and conservation areas to explore—from Carolinian forest above Lake Erie to boreal wilderness on the shores of Lake Superior. That much range makes for many great races; “best” is a slippery concept, so any list will seem somewhat arbitrary. Our admittedly subjective seven best, which we tried to spread throughout the province, are based on a winning combination of scenery, history, running culture, and pure whimsy. We also tried to choose races of varied distances. This isn’t exclusively an ultrarunner’s list: it runs the gamut from a six-kilometre loop in the boreal forest to a 200-mile odyssey across the Canadian Shield.
Sulphur Springs Trail Race
Distance options: 100 mi, 100 km, 50 mi, 50 km, 20 km and 10 km, 50 mi night relay, and 100 mi team relay
Elevation gain: 500+ m per 20 km loop
Location: Hamilton (Dundas Valley), Ontario
Date: Annually in May
Highlights: Old Carolinian forest, Niagara Escarpment terrain, Western States qualifier
The Sulphur Springs Trail Race is the largest trail race and oldest currently held ultramarathon in Canada and Ontario’s only Western States qualifier. It’s also a chance to run a race in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area’s venerable, biodiverse Carolinian forest, home to trees and plants not common elsewhere in Canada, such as hickory, walnut, tulip poplar, and sassafras. Boisterous creeks and encounters with denizens of the rich environment, such as wild turkeys or deer, add to the race’s magic.
A mix of smooth hardpack dirt and somewhat rougher singletrack, the trails make for fast footing. The Niagara Escarpment’s rolling, sometimes rugged topography means that runners tackle plenty of gradual hills along with some steep climbs and downhills.
Blue Bully Ultra
Distance options: Day 1 — 5 km, day 2 — 25 km or 50 km, day 3 — 3.75 km loop for 3 hours or 1.5 hours, Woolly Bully kids’ race
Elevation gain: 400 m (Day 1), 1,800 m, 1,250 m (Day 2, 50 km, 25 km), 250 m per loop (day 3)
Location: Blue Mountain Resort, The Blue Mountains, Ontario
Date: Annually in late September
Highlights: Three-day stage format, views of Georgian Bay
The Blue Bully Ultra is a new multi-day stage race at the Blue Mountain Resort. It’s Ontario’s first three-day stage race. Participants can sign up for individual races or take on all three. The first stage is a punchy 5-kilometre loop with 400 metres of vert (!) that puts your climbing power to the test. The last two stages are long-distance grinds, as the course loops up, down and around the ski resort, including singletrack stretches of the iconic Bruce Trail. In all the event’s races, the courses cross cleared ski runs that give runners sublime views of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.
All who attend will also enjoy the festive atmosphere with social events on Friday and Saturday and live music on Saturday. At the end of the three days, the top runners over all the stages are crowned King and Queen of the Hill.
Monster of Mazinaw Trail Race
Elevation gain: 88 m (10 km), 378 m (30 km), 567 m (43 km)
Location: Bon Echo Provincial Park, Cloyne, Ontario
Date: Annually in September
Highlights: Mazinaw Rock cliffs with Indigenous pictographs, technical backcountry singletrack, local lake-monster legend
As fall begins to set leaves ablaze across the southern Canadian Shield, runners gather at Bon Echo Provincial Park for Monster of Mazinaw trail race. It may be Canada’s shortest ultra marathon, but the name should be a tip off: the long stretches of technical singletrack make it a monster of a race that’s only for experienced trail runners. Aside from the distinctly type 2 fun, it’s a chance to take in a landscape of woods and lakes that once inspired the Group of Seven.
During your stay in or near the park, you can rent a kayak to check out Mazinaw Rock, which rises 100 metres straight out of the eponymous lake. Its face has about 260 oneiric pictographs, painted by Indigenous peoples generations ago. The cliff hosts an ecosystem of exposed bedrock and ancient white cedars. You may be able to draw some race day inspiration from Earth’s fastest animals, the peregrine falcons that nest on its ledges. You might also see Ontario’s only lizard (unless the local legends about the race’s namesake are true), the Five-lined Skink sunning itself.
The course may be tough, but the atmosphere is welcoming and positive. “Part of what makes this race special, besides the gorgeous scenery, is the grassroots community vibe at the start/finish of the race,” says race director Jeff Rowthorn of Happy Trails Racing. “It is amazing to see the smiling faces as the runners cross the finish line and receive their well-earned medal.”
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The Limberlost Challenge
Distance options: 7 km, 14 km, 28 km, 42 km, 56 km
Elevation gain: 365 m (15 km), 138 m (7 km)
Location: Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve, Huntsville, Ontario
Date: Annually in early July
Highlights: Lakes and wetlands, supports Trails Youth Initiatives, proximity to Algonquin Provincial Park
The Limberlost Challenge is held in the wild, beautiful Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve that’s open to the public. The course loops through diverse northern hardwoods with prime moose habitat along pristine lakes and wetlands. The area’s Canadian Shield topography includes plenty of calf-burning climbs. Footing on the trails varies: some technical sections will keep you dialled into the rocks, mud, and roots, while long smooth stretches let you turn on the jets. Part of every entry fee supports Trails Youth Initiatives, which supports vulnerable youth with experiential education.
Huntsville also sits close to the iconic Algonquin Provincial Park. If you want to do some running there before or after the race, check out our article “Algonquin Provincial Park Trail Running Guide.”
SOO 200
Distance options: 200 mi, 100 mi, 100 km, 50 km
Elevation gain: Not available
Location: Pancake Bay Provincial Park, Batchawana Bay, Ontario (200 mi start); Stokely Creek Lodge, Goulais River, Ontario (all other distances and 200 mi finish)
Date: Annually in July
Highlights: Eastern Canada’s only 200-miler, Canadian Shield wilderness
As Eastern Canada’s only 200-mile race, the SOO 200 finds its place on the list through the sheer absurdity of its brutal distance. The trail running odyssey explores the forests of the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma regions on a mix of singletrack, double track, dirt road, and outright bushwhacking. Racers take two to four days to traverse the classic, thickly forested Canadian Shield wilderness full of lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Runners are well supported during this wilderness test, with aid stations every 20 to 40 kilometres. For safety, every participant carries a mandatory satellite communicator. If 200 miles feels like too much of a good thing, you can enter the 100-mile, 100-kilometre, and 50-kilometre races, which all start and finish at Stokely Creek Lodge.
The Wawa Trifecta
Distance options: 6 km run, 1.5 km hill climb, 22 km half-marathon (3 events over 2 days)
Elevation gain: 693 m (half marathon)
Location: Wawa, Ontario
Date: October 17-18, 2026; annually, the weekend after Thanksgiving
Highlights: Small-scale event, boreal forest, giant goose, views of Lake Superior
Does contemplating a 28-foot-tall goose get you in just the right mindset for running? This event is the race for you because that’s exactly what you’ll see on your way to the starting line. And if you’ve ever dreamed of receiving a cartoon hotdog rendition of yourself, the Wawa Trifecta has you covered. All that goes to show that it sometimes takes a particular sense of humour to run after Thanksgiving in northern Ontario.
Whimsy aside, the race is a chance to experience the wild beauty of a course through a boreal forest of pine, spruce, and paper birch with views of Lake Superior. The hilly 22-km route links up a mix of cross-country ski trails, techy singletrack, and dirt roads. You can sign up for one, two, or all three of the races. The overall winners of all three earn the prestigious title of hotdog of the year.
Race director Brian Lachine traces the race's culture back to its roots: "The Trifecta began as a small gathering of friends and has evolved into a vibrant community of runners, welcoming those new to trail running as well as seasoned athletes seeking their next adventure. And, in true Trifecta fashion, many athletes celebrate their accomplishments by gathering around the post-race hotdog stand, where stories from the 6 km and 22 km trails are shared almost as enthusiastically as the hotdogs themselves."
