Welcome!

Eugene CurnowThe Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon is run over rough woodland trails on a point-to-point course from the Spirit Mt. Ski Area near Duluth, MN to Carlton. The course encompasses one leg of the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultramarathon, plus a bit extra to equal 26.2 miles. Initially, it was developed as support for the Voyageur 50 Mile; offered as a thank you to Voyageur volunteers and an introduction to the course for those not ready for a full fifty miles. It has become a wildly popular race in its own right.

Formerly known as the Half-Voyageur Trail Marathon, the race was renamed in 2013 in honor of its irrepressible founder – area trail and ultramarathon running legend, Eugene Curnow. Gene’s energy, enthusiasm and volunteer spirit played a significant role in the success and growth of the Minnesota Voyageur, the sport of trail and ultra-running, and the northland running community.

The Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon is proudly managed by the Northern Minnesota Track Club (NMTC). For more information, see our web site at: nmtc.run

Race Date / Registration

Race Date

  • Date: Saturday, July 15th, 2023
  • Time: 6:00 AM
  • Location: Lake Superior Zoo – Duluth, MN

Entry Fee

Registration

  • Registration opens Tuesday, March 1st, 2023!
  • Registration closes Wednesday, July 12th, 2023! There will be NO race day registration!
  • Available online at:
  • There will be a field limit of 350 entrants.
  • Current Entrants
  • Please review our Refund Policy before registering.

Cut-Off

Volunteering – It’s good for the soul…

Be part of the adventure!

It’s never too early to start thinking about the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon, even if you are not lacing up the trail shoes in mid-July. The Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon and the Minnesota Voyageur Trail Ultra are always in need of dedicated people who are willing to give up a few hours of their time.

Stop on in to our Volunteering area for more details and to sign up! There are many ways to help out – we’d love to have you on the team!

Volunteering at the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon gets you a discounted entry to the Minnesota Voyageur, and vice versa. Come on out and see the races from both sides of the aid station table!

Ride the bus! Make new friends!!

The Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon is a point-to-point race that begins at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, MN and ends at the Munger Trail trailhead in Carlton, MN. Yup. That could be a long walk home. Fortunately, we have a solution for you! Park your car at the finish before the race, and take a bus to the starting line.*

We will be providing bus service from Carlton to the Lake Superior Zoo prior to the race start on Saturday morning. We strongly encourage using this option, 1) to avoid dealing with the rather limited parking available at the start, and 2) to have your car within easy walking / waddling distance once you finish. Bus leaves at 4:45 AM, and costs you nothing but a smile!

See our Directions page for where to catch the bus (including an address and GPS coordinates).

She ain't sexy, but she'll get you there.

* Note: There is no bus from the finish line back to the start after the race.