The Course
2024 Course Plans
For 2024, we are heading back up to the UP! The plan right now (know that plans can change) is to do the first two days in the upper peninsula and then head back to the lower peninsula for day 3. As we did in 2014 and 2017, we are going to be using the North Country Trail (pending approval) as well as other trails and roads in the surrounding area. Over the course of the weekend runners should expect a little of everything, trail, hills, open fields, dense forest, flies, mosquitos, sand, etc. All the things that make the relay what it is. Enjoy!
Day 1
Day 1 will start at the Tahquamenon Upper Falls (pending approval), and head west toward Grand Marias. It will be similar to Day 2 of 2017, but with some changes. The NCT has been rerouted in some areas near the Lake Superior shoreline. We also had to edit some other legs and so it won't be exactly the same as 2017. This day is going to have some of the best scenery of the weekend. Expect views of Lake Superior on many of the legs throughout the day. The other legs will feature all the landscapes that the UP has to offer. While the course will be an out and back day, it won't be a complete overlapping course. Finish of Day 1 will be back near the Upper Falls, but not where we started. Pending approval, teams will be able to camp at the Whitefish Township School in Paradise at the end of Day 1.
Day 2
Day 2 will have the same starting location of Day 1 (pending approval), but then will head east back toward Paradise and then south to the finish in St. Ignace. This is another full day of the NCT. It will be a long day in terms of miles, but you won't want it to end. We found most of the trail in great shape, some parts of the trail had new footbridges, and decent footing along the way. Once we finish in St. Ignace, we will leave the UP and cross the bridge before starting a new Day 3. Plans for camping on Saturday night have not been finalized yet. We will update as soon as that info is available.
Day 3
Day 3 is going to be a new day for the relay. We are too far from Empire to do the finish there, and are instead looking to finish on the shores of Lake Huron. The start is going to be near the Indian River area. Day 3 will see some dirt roads, trail, rail to trail, and a scenic finish along Lake Huron in Rogers City (pending approval). We are excited to be heading back to the UP and offering something new with the plans for Day 3. Looking forward to another exciting year of the Michigan Outback Relay!