[Lake Michigan Half Marathon course overview map]

The Lake Michigan Half Marathon is a scenic fall race built around one of Wisconsins most beautiful running backdrops: the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The event starts and finishes at Cupertino Park and follows the paved Oak Leaf Trail south along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

From Cupertino Park [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Cupertino.pdf], participants will head south through Milwaukee Countys lakefront trail system, passing through or alongside South Shore Park [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/southshore.pdf], Bay View Park [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/BayView1.pdf], Sheridan Park [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Sheridan1.pdf], Warnimont Park [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/Warnimont11.pdf], and the Grant Park area [https://county.milwaukee.gov/files/county/parks-department/Park-Maps/grant.pdf] before turning around and returning north to the finish.

The event is designed for runners, walkers, and ruckers who want more than another ordinary road race. With crisp fall air, lake views, changing leaves, and miles of paved trail through Milwaukee Countys south shore park system, the Lake Michigan Half Marathon delivers a memorable race experience from start to finish.

Participants will travel through a series of lakefront parks, enjoy wide-open water views, wooded trail sections, and the natural beauty that makes Milwaukees shoreline such a special place to run.

Whether you are chasing a goal time, completing your first half marathon, rucking the distance, walking with friends, or coming back for the return of a classic event, this race is built to be scenic, organized, and worth every mile.

The route is simple, runner-friendly, and built around the best parts of Milwaukees south shore: parks, trail, fall color, and Lake Michigan doing most of the heavy lifting.

Final course details are subject to municipal and park approvals, because apparently we still need permission before sending hundreds of runners down the shoreline in matching bibs.