Big Woods Run Half Marathon 10k & 5k

Home » Races » Minnesota » Nerstrand » Big Woods Run Half Marathon 10k & 5k
Date

Sep 27, 2025

Starting Time

9:00 AM

Course

Trail

Fees

$40 – $55

Location

Nerstrand

Participants

100-500

Terrain

Some Hills

Environment

Park Run

Temperature
High: 61°
/ Low: 38°
Overview

Runners get the chance to trek through the wooded, tree-lined dirt and gravel trails of southern Minnesota’s Nerstrand Big Woods State Park at the Big Woods Run, a fall race that draws several hundred runners out for each year’s half-marathon, 10K, 5K and 1-mile Kids Run.

The location for the race as well as the time of year promise a cool-weather run, and its proximity to nearby Minneapolis (the park lies about 45 miles south of the city) means it’s not a difficult race to get to.

Course Description

The terrain for the half-marathon course is hilly and challenging, race organizers say, while the 5K and 10K courses are generally flatter and easier.
The scenery is a big part of the attraction for the race as well — autumn is one of the peak seasons in the 2,882-acre park, as the turning of the leaves in this forest of sugar maple, basswood, elm, green ash and other tree varieties bring vivid reds, oranges and yellows to life.
St. John’s Church on Jacobs Avenue (just south of the entrance to the park) is the starting line for all races, which begin at 9:00 AM (for the half-marathon, 10K and 5K runners) and 10:30 AM for the children running in the 1-mile Kids Fun Run.

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