Oregon Trail Run of Nebraska Marathon & Half Marathon

For the Oregon Trail Run of Nebraska, we have combined a run on the route of the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Pony Express route with one of the most picturesque roads in Southern Nebraska. The first half of the Marathon will travel parallel to and intersect with the route that settlers took as they crossed Nebraska on their way to points west. The first half of the route is mostly flat and offers a view that stretches for miles. You can imagine the trail of “prairie schooners” keeping to the hilltops as they headed west together.
The second half of the route drops down into the Little Blue River valley, the gravel road that follows the river takes you on gently rolling hills through the cottonwood, oak, locust and ash canopies, by beautiful and fading farmsteads and limestone cliffs. The trees should be in their peak fall color on race day and the surrounding landscape and abundant wildlife offer up photo opportunities around every bend.
The half marathon begins at the halfway point of the marathon, roughly where Hwy 53 and Thayer County’s River Road meet. When the first marathon runners cross the halfway point, the half marathon will begin and follow River Road back to Hebron for the finish.