Galena River Fall Half Marathon & 8k 2026

The Galena River Fall Half Marathon & 8K begins and ends at Depot Park in Galena, Illinois, adjacent to the river. This is a fall trail race offering two distances: a half marathon and an 8K. The course is noted as fast and flat, with some hilly sections, making it suitable for runners with varying experience. The out-and-back course utilizes the Galena River Trail, running alongside the Galena River and Mississippi River through a wooded area. The event anticipates a modest field of 100 to 500 runners. Galena provides more than just a race setting; the town developed around galena mining, retains much of its 19th-century architecture, and the Ulysses S. Grant home is located near the start. Horseshoe Mound, on the outskirts of town, provides views into three states.