Black Squirrel Half Marathon

This is a trail half for runners who want a real climb without committing to an ultra. Lory State Park supplies the mountain setting, and the course's long ascent and fast return make pacing decisions unusually clear.

After roughly a mile of dirt road, the route climbs for almost four miles and gains about 1,500 feet to a 7,000-foot high point on Lory's west ridge. A quick descent leads into gentler hard-packed singletrack toward the finish.

September mornings near Fort Collins can start cool and dry, then warm quickly in exposed sections. Altitude, sun and wind on the ridge can matter as much as the temperature.