Deadfall Trail Races
About the race
Set in the heart of Brighton Recreation Area, Deadfall winds through towering hardwood forests, twisting singletrack, glacial ridges, quiet lakes, and rugged Michigan terrain.
Every distance has been designed to showcase the park's best trails while keeping the experience flowing, challenging, and fun from start to finish. Expect winding singletrack, punchy climbs, flowing descents, root-covered corners, and enough elevation to make you earn every mile.
October is when Brighton Recreation Area is at its absolute best, with crisp morning air, vibrant fall colors, and a forest floor covered in fallen leaves. It is trail running the way it was meant to be.
Like every Blackwood Trail Racing event, Deadfall is built by runners, for runners, with well-stocked aid stations, clearly marked courses, unique finisher medals, and volunteers who are genuinely excited to see you succeed. We take the race seriously, but not ourselves.
Shirts and finisher medals
- All registrations will include a Deadfall shirt.
- Runners who finish the race within cutoff will receive finisher medals.
What your entry includes
The course
Deadfall 25K
Deadfall 18K
Deadfall 10K
The race runs through Brighton Recreation Area on singletrack trails through hardwood forests, past glacial ridges and lakes. The route includes iconic trails such as Murray Lake, Penosha, Torn Shirt, Kachin, and Bishop Lake. Expect punchy climbs, flowing descents and root-covered corners.
Cutoffs and pace
All three race distances, the 10K, 18K, and 25K, will have the same 6-hour cutoff.
A five-hour time limit allows participants plenty of opportunity to hike the climbs, enjoy the trails, and spend time at aid stations, while ensuring our volunteers and park staff aren't out there until sunset.
If you can maintain an minimum average pace of just over 23 minutes per mile for the 25K, you'll finish within the cutoff. We encourage runners to know their pace, plan accordingly, and remember that trail miles are earned, not given.
Location
Brighton Recreation Area, Brighton, MI, USA Open in Google Maps
City insight: Brighton
Brighton is the name of several communities in the United States, and the events listed under Brighton are held in Massachusetts and Michigan. Check each event's page for its exact location, the local climate and the best time of year to race there.
Know from the athletes
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