Trillium Trek Trail Walk/Run 5K

Run Wild on Earth Day

Race along the trails in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve as part of Earth Day 2018 activities taking place at Elachee Nature Science Center.

With multiple courses, the Trillium Trek Trail Run & Walk is a great adventure for advanced racers and beginners alike, and the perfect opportunity to experience the great outdoors within Georgia's only Dedicated Old-Growth Forest.

DATE/TIME: Saturday morning, April 21, 2018. See schedule below.

LOCATION: Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr., Gainesville, GA 30504

Races and Entry Fees:
$60 = Half-Marathon
$30 = 5K Run/Walk
$20 = Kids Fun Run

Participants registered by April 2, 2018 are guaranteed a tech t-shirt. Refreshments will be available before and after the race.

Elachee's Annual Plant Sale will be taking place at the Nature Center that day from 10 AM to 3 PM. Special guest Julie Evans, a partner at The Fockele Garden Company, will be on site to answer gardening and planting questions.

Offering a selection of unique perennials, broad leaf evergreens, wildflowers and ferns, many of the plants for sale are native to Georgia or are native hybrids not available in local garden centers. Procured from regional nurseries, these plants are adapted to grow well in this area and include a number of drought-tolerant selections. All plant sale proceeds benefit Elachee’s environmental education and conservation initiatives.

Be sure to bring cash for the plant sale and for Elachee's Gift Shop.

Races start in the Elachee Visitor Center parking lot with a brief portion of the race route along Elachee Drive (required for spacing), before entering the Forest. Once in the forest, runners/walkers actually travel along the trails of Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. Race routes are well-marked with lots of cheerful volunteers guiding the way. The terrain features moderate-to-easy singletrack trails along rolling hills, with beautiful woodland scenery interspersed by several streams.

The 5K race features a 150-foot suspension bridge crossing over Walnut Creek.

The race begins at the Nature Center parking lot, allowing runner spacing along the drive and gravel parking lot. The route enter the forest on West Lake Trail, and quickly turns right onto Dunlap Trail. Dunlap Trail then merges into West Lake Trail, and runners continue along West Lake Trail until they turn left at the Suspension Bridge and onto Bridge Trail. The Bridge Trail takes runners up to East Lake Trail where another left is made. East Lake terminates at the Mathis Trail, onto which runners make a left. Runners stay left onto Lake Loop - Mathis Connector at the fork, hang a right onto West Lake Trail, then head back to the Nature Center Parking Lot for the finish line.

There will be volunteers and signage guiding your way at every turn. Water/Gatorade stations will be available approximately 1.75 miles into the race at the intersection of Bridge Trail and East Lake Trail.

A variety of wildflowers and other native plants can be seen along the trails and streams including several species of Trillium wildflowers.