Falcon Trail Fest

Powered by Trails of ‘Toba Events, FALCON TRAIL FEST is Manitoba’s first ever multi-day stage race. Set against the stunning granite-slabbed boreal forest backdrop of Falcon Lake in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park, this weekend trail running festival will see runners testing their abilities over two distance options. The highlight of the weekend will be the brand new onishkatoon gwaykaadiziwin trail, the stunning new trail that wraps around the east end of Falcon Lake! Whether you’re tackling a single race or taking on both days, Falcon Trail Fest will be as much about the trails community experience as it is about the finish line.

Overview

• Race Date: September 26–27, 2026
• Race distances: 8K, 16K (Saturday), 28K, Marathon (Sunday), Half Flight (8K + 28K), Full Flight (16K + 42K)
• Race Location: Falcon Ridge Ski Hill, Whiteshell Provincial Park, MB, Canada
• Start time: Saturday 10:00 AM, Sunday 9:00 AM
• Cut-off times: Saturday 2:00 PM, Sunday 4:00 PM
• Full details + course maps: Trails of 'Toba website

THE FULL FLIGHT: 58 KM 2-day STAGE RACE

The FULL FLIGHT is the ultimate weekend test — two tough days, two beautiful courses, and one serious badge of trail honor. You’ll kick off Saturday with a punchy 16k Classic Up & Down with 540m of vert packed with steep climbs, granite ridgelines, and fast-flowing singletrack through Falcon Ridge’s rugged interior. Then, after a night of lakeside recovery (or celebration), you’ll toe the line again Sunday for the 42K Loop the Lake marathon with 592m of vert — a full circumnavigation of Falcon Lake featuring cedar groves, beautiful climbs, and sweeping shoreline views.

FULL FLIGHT runners should expect 58k of leg-burning Manitoba singletrack, including everything from ski hill paths to granite slabs and loamy forest trail. The Full Flight rewards runners who can pace wisely, recover quickly, and bring big trail energy two days in a row.

THE HALF FLIGHT: 36 KM 2-day STAGE RACE

The Half Flight is the perfect weekend combo for runners looking to dip their toes into multi-day trail racing. The Half Flight kicks off with an 8k Classic Up & Down with 270m of vert on the first day — a short but spicy loop that charges up the ski hill before diving into classic shield singletrack, full of roots, rocks, and rolling forest flow. Runners then return Sunday for the scenic 28K Better Half, an out-and-back along the new onishkatoon gwaykaadiziwin trail (at the east end of Falcon Lake) with open pine stands, cedar groves, and shimmering lake views to distract you from the 🫣 620m of vert.

Across both days, you’ll log 36K of varied terrain, from steep climbs to tree-covered lakeside trail, all with generous support and festival vibes. The Half Flight is ideal for newer trail runners or road racers looking to take the leap into back-to-back trail events — challenging, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Classic Up & Down - 8K & 16K (Saturday only)

The Classic Up & Down lives up to its name — a punchy, scenic course that makes full use of the Falcon Ridge ski hill and surrounding trails. Starting beside the Falcon Ridge Ski chalet, the route climbs and descends multiple sections of the hill on mowed, off-trail terrain, throwing steep, grassy grinds at your legs right from the start. Once the vertical settles, runners connect with the 5 of Diamonds trail for a mix of rocky shield, rooty technical stretches, and fun granite slab running. From there, the course blends into lightly used winter trails — mowed and clearly marked for race day — leading to the steep and scenic Pine Ridge Trail. After 1.3km of slabby climbing, you’ll turn onto the flowy High Lake Trail for a fast and runnable finish.

The 8K event ends here, but 16K runners return to the aid station to refuel — and then tackle the entire loop again for round two of leg-burning vert and epic views. Whether you're racing short or going double, this course brings steep climbs, iconic Shield terrain, and the kind of trail fun that Falcon Trail Fest will soon be known for!

Loop the Lake Marathon / The Better Half - 42k & 28k (Sunday only)

The Loop the Lake Marathon is Falcon Trail Fest’s crown jewel — whether you are tackling the full 42k marathon that circumnavigates Falcon Lake on a mix of new singletrack, classic trails, and shoreline connectors, or you're taking on the shorter 28k Better Half out-and-back (but with just as much vert), this will be a day to remember! Starting at Falcon Ridge Ski Chalet, runners will head east around the lake on the freshly built onishkatoon gwaykaadiziwin trail, with flowing forest paths, copious amounts of vert and lake views before linking up with the Trans Canada Trail on the lake’s rugged north shore. 14k in, the 28k runners turn around and head back while the 42k runners continue on around the entire lake, through the Falcon Lake town-site before coming around and back in the direction of Falcon Ridge. The 42k route finishes up with climbs up to the granite ridges of “Top of the World,” before dropping back in to the finish.

This course delivers a full showcase of Whiteshell terrain: loamy forest trail, mossy Canadian Shield rock, rooty lakefront, and wide-open lake views. With two well-placed course aid stations and plenty of wide open runnable stretches, this is a marathon for both first-timers and trail veterans looking to race (or roam) in one of Manitoba’s most scenic natural areas.

What's Included?

- A stellar weekend of trails with Manitoba's amazing trail running community
- Awesome finisher medals for all events
- A shot at a top three finisher trophy
- Custom Falcon Trail Fest performance running shirts for ALL runners
- Fully stocked aid stations
- Amazing single track and amazing views on the new trail at Falcon Lake
- UTofMB points for all Manitoba Association of Trail Runner (MATR) members
- Taking part in Manitoba's first ever 2-day stage race trail running festival weekend!
- Loads of volunteers ready to make your race day remarkable!
- And more surprises to come...!

PLEASE READ BEFORE REGISTERING

*** Once registered for the race, we will not be offering refunds for any reason, due to the fact that many expenses are incurred well before the event is hosted
*** There will be bib transfers allowed through UltraSignup until April 25, 2026.
- A Manitoba Park Pass will be required for all vehicles on race day.
- Participants must be 18 years of age or older for the 25, 50 and 100km/relay and 15 years or older with parental consent for the 8km on date of event to register, under the age of 15 must run with a parent who is also registered for the 8km.
- The Race Directors reserve the right to make changes to the course or cancel the event and change to a virtual format dependent on weather/trail conditions, government regulations, etc.

Spectator Info

Spectators are welcome and encouraged to cheer runners on — especially at the start/finish area, where a festival-style gathering space will be set up near the Falcon Ridge chalet. Bring a lawn chair, a cowbell, and your loudest cheering voice to help us create an amazing Falcon Trail Fest atmosphere!

Please note: only official crew may provide supplies or support, and only at the start/finish aid station. Handing off gear or fuel anywhere else on the course is not allowed.

Parking is limited, so please carpool if you can (especially from the Falcon Lake town-site) — it helps the event run smoother and keeps our environmental impact low.

Places to Stay

Falcon Trail Fest is hosted out of Falcon Trails Resort & Falcon Ridge Ski Chalet, which offers cozy, on-site cabins just steps from the race start. These lodges are popular and tend to book up quickly, so we highly recommend reserving your spot as early as possible. Just a short drive away, The Hotel at Falcon Lake (located in the Falcon Lake townsite) offers a variety of rooms along with on-site dining options — perfect for runners and families looking for convenience and comfort. There are also numerous other accommodations within a 30-minute drive of Falcon Ridge. For more options, explore listings in the South Whiteshell region via Explore the Whiteshell.

Camping

Looking to camp? The closest campground is at Falcon Lake, with several other options available nearby. Check out the South Whiteshell camping listings on Explore the Whiteshell for details.

Note: Manitoba Parks has not yet released reservation opening dates. Keep an eye on their official site for updates: Manitoba Parks.

Volunteers

Want to get involved without racing? Volunteering is one of the best ways to experience the magic of Falcon Trail Fest — and volunteers receive 25% off registration to any of our events the following year as a thank-you! This event runs on community energy, and we’re always looking for enthusiastic folks to help with aid stations, course marshalling, timing, and more. It's a fun, rewarding way to connect with the trail running community and be part of the action.

A huge shoutout goes to the South Whiteshell Trails Association (SWTA), the volunteer group that maintains nearly all the trails used during Falcon Trail Fest — and were instrumental in developing the new and much talked about east end connector trail: onishkatoon gwaykaadiziwin (wake to honesty on the eastern shores of Falcon Lake). Interested in helping them out or donating to their work? Click here to donate to SWTA.

Important note: Please direct any concerns or issues on race day to event staff at the start/finish area, NOT volunteers. Our volunteers are here to support you, and they also have the authority to remove participants from the course if cutoff times aren’t met or if a runner appears unfit to continue. Safety is our top priority.

Event's current local time: 10:08 PM CT