Important Note
This is the official race registration page for the Big Sioux Rec Trail Races. Please refer to the Sioux Falls Area Running Club's website and SFRAC Facebook page for more information on this race, the Trail Race Series, and membership.
www.runsiouxfalls.org/Big-Sioux-Rec-trail-race / www.facebook.com/RunSiouxFalls
Due to the race routes being held on trails within the Big Sioux floodplain, there is a possibility the courses could be vastly altered or races canceled due to heavy rainfall leading up to the race.
Celebrating 10 years of the Trail Run Series & 25th anniversary of Newton Hills in 2026! We have some updates that were brought on from the surveys sent out at the end of last year.
1. Change in age groups. We changed 50+ to 50-59 and added 60+. These age groups are used for the overall points series awards.
2. We brought back swag to all races.
3. We have added another partner race to the series. Now you can run the Good Earth Trail Festival races presented by 605 Running Company and Mount Lucia Trail Race presented by Missouri River Runners and earn points towards our series.
Pricing
2 & 5-mile races are the same price.
Registration Price: $40 through registration cutoff
Current SF Run Club Member: A discount code was sent out to all current members at the opening of registration. DO NOT use the Run Club member discount code for those under 18 please! Are you current and need the code? Please email runsiouxfalls@gmail.com and we'll get it to you!
18yrs old and under (as of race day): $15 through registration cutoff
Not a member and want to become one? Sign up at www.runsiouxfalls.org
Sign up for all 4 races at once! Select 'All 4 Races' ($170*) or ‘4 Race-Under 18’ ($70*) on the Deer Dash Trail Races registration page. (Run Club discount available here as well – DO NOT use for 18 & Under pricing please)
Signing up for short distance will register you for all the short distances in future races and likewise if signed up for the longer distance races. Contact us to change your distance for any of the races.
*Special swag gift for those who sign up for all 4 races using this price point!
Free Kids Race
We will have a free kids race starting at 10:30am. The distance will be around a mile and will follow some of the trails in the park. Kids will get some cool gifts for participating and parents are welcome to join them on the run!
Please sign up you child through the registration link under the Free Kids Race. This will sign their waiver and help us plan for how many kids will be running.
When registering them, you can sign them up all individually with their information, or you can sign up with your information and list your kid/s that are running.
About This Race
The Big Sioux Rec Trail Races were part of the initial first three years of the trail series, but were hampered by the park flooding significantly in ‘18 & ‘19. We pivoted away from Big Sioux and Good Earth for that reason, adding in other races in future years, but we’ve always wanted to come back! Big Sioux Recreation Area is a beautiful park along the east edge of Brandon and has the Big Sioux River running through the middle of it. There are wide open prairies, bluffs, and heavily wooded areas to explore. There is a paved bike trail stretching the entire park north to south. There are also several dirt/grass trails and we’ll utilize them all to showcase this awesome park.
The park also has a playground and large covered picnic shelter at the start/finish area. There is a vault toilet and we’ll bring in a port-a-potty as well.
Course Description
The park has a paved trail stretching the entire park north to south. It also has several dirt/grass trails coming off the paved trail in different areas, taking you through prairie and wooded areas. Both the 2 and 5 mile races will start and finish in the same place, by the main picnic shelter and playground. Runners will head onto the paved trail and venture throughout the park heading onto the dirt/grass trails. The trails will take participants through the woods, prairie areas, and up a bluff for fantastic view overlooking the city of Brandon.
Distance Changes
If you need to change your race distance for any reason, please email njschwab@gmail.com directly and we'll get that updated for you. Once the change has been made we'll send you a confirmation email and you can double check your race entry on UltraSignup.
FAQ
Do we need a park pass to get into the park on race day?
Yes, all State Parks require a park permit, or day pass to enter the park.
Do we get a shirt for participating?
Maybe. We give our different swag for all our races. Sometimes that is a shirt, sometimes not. Please refer to the specific race website for details. If you sign up for all 4 races at once using the special price point on the Deer Dash page, you'll get a special swag gift.
Are the races chip timed?
Yes! 605 Running Company had generously agreed to provide chip timing for all of our trail series races!
Are headphones allowed?
Yes, but you must be mindful of your surrounding if wearing them. Trail races generally take more concentration given the terrain, and with narrow trails and many turns, you'll need to be able to hear if people are needing to pass you and take directions from any volunteers.
Can I get my money back if I can't run?
No, we do not offer refunds or credit for future races.
I've never run trails, how do I train for these races?
Find a gravel road, run on the grass next to the sidewalk or bike trail, or better yet, head to Sertoma Park and run the flat, wide trails there. There is also single track trails along the south side of the bike trail in Yankton Trail Park between Minnesota and Western Ave and in Tuthill Park. This will get you used to running on uneven ground. Be very careful as you ease into it and be mindful of you footfalls. After you've mastered that, head to any of the other trails around Sioux Falls: Leaders Park, Great Bear Recreation Area, Big Sioux Rec, Good Earth State Park, Newton Hills, Beaver Creek Nature Area, Union Grove State Park, etc. SFARC host a group run every Thursday night at Good Earth State Park - 6pm - if you'd like to run with a group too.
Can I run with my dog?
No, pets are not allowed to run in the Trail Race Series.
Points Series
Points:
1st place in each division for each race receives 10 points. Points go down by 1 sequentially. 2nd place receives 9 points all the way to 10th place receiving 1 point. At the end of the series, we’ll tally up the points in each age division, and give out gift cards to the top three male and female finishers.
We’ll see how this works out, and hopefully be able to crown overall champions (male/female) and still get them framed pictures of their favorite course.
Age Divisions: 29 and under, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
5 Mile Course Map
2 Mile Course Map
1 Mile Kids Course Map
Event's current local time: 12:08 PM CT
