Mt. Baldhead Challenge
- Date Sat 12th September 2026
- Time 9:00AM EDT
- Location Saugatuck, Michigan
- Price $59.80 - $81.00
- Races 2 races
- Distances 10km, Half Marathon
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating experience at the Mt. Baldhead Challenge, taking place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in the beautiful town of Douglas, Coffee. This ultimate multi-terrain race is celebrating 25 years of adventure, inviting runners to tackle scenic woodland trails, climb sandy dunes, and conquer 302 steps up the iconic Mt. Baldhead. Participants can choose between a slightly over 10K course, which spans approximately 7 miles from Oval Beach to downtown Saugatuck, or a challenging half marathon of 13.1 miles that promises a unique and scenic journey through trails, dunes, and streets.
With race day excitement kicking off at Coughlin Park, you can look forward to chip-timed races, hydration stations, and a vibrant post-race celebration featuring music, awards, and delicious refreshments. Secure your spot early through priority registration starting October 18, 2025, to enjoy special pricing and avoid the waitlist. Join us for a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and a commitment to supporting local youth programs. Lace up your running shoes and be part of this unforgettable challenge that combines fitness and fun for a great cause!
With race day excitement kicking off at Coughlin Park, you can look forward to chip-timed races, hydration stations, and a vibrant post-race celebration featuring music, awards, and delicious refreshments. Secure your spot early through priority registration starting October 18, 2025, to enjoy special pricing and avoid the waitlist. Join us for a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and a commitment to supporting local youth programs. Lace up your running shoes and be part of this unforgettable challenge that combines fitness and fun for a great cause!
Organiser's Description
GET READY TO CONQUER THE MIDWESTS ULTIMATE MULTI-TERRAIN RACE!
IN 2026, HELP US EMBARK ON THE NEXT 25 YEARS OF THE MT. BALDHEAD CHALLENGE AND BE PART OF OUR STORY!
RUN THROUGH SCENIC WOODLAND TRAILS, SCALE SAND DUNES, POUND THE PAVEMENT, AND CLIMB 302 STEPS UP THE ICONIC MT. BALDHEAD.
WILL YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE?
PRE-RACE INFORMATION
PACKET PICKUP:
- LOCATION: COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- TIMES: NOON ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2026, AND RACE DAY AT 7:00 AM.
- OPTION: SELECT MAIL AWAY PACKET OPTION DURING REGISTRATION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKET VIA USPS. _RECOMMENDED!_
PARKING:
- LOCATIONS: OVAL BEACH AND COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- SHUTTLES: BUSES FROM THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS TO OVAL BEACH, DEPARTING BEGINNING AS SOON AS THE FIRST BUS IS FILLED WITH RUNNERS.
COURSE INFORMATION
10K+:
- ROUTE: FROM OVAL BEACH TO DOWNTOWN SAUGATUCK THROUGH FRESH WATER WOODED SAND DUNES, TRAILS, AND UP MT. BALDHEAD STEPS.
- DISTANCE: SLIGHTLY OVER STANDARD 10K, AROUND 7 MILES.
HALF MARATHON:
- ROUTE: SCENIC, CHALLENGING 13.1 MILES THROUGH TRAILS, DUNES, AND STREETS, WITH MT. BALDHEAD STEPS.
- CHALLENGE: THIS IS A HALF MARATHON UNLIKE ANY OTHER. BRING IT!
RACE TIMING:
- BASED ON CHIP-TIMES.
- STAGGERED START FOR SEPARATE WAVES, ENTER YOUR EXPECTED FINISHING TIME DURING REGISTRATION.
- FINISH LINE: LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF COGHLIN PARK.
- CUT-OFF TIME: PARTICIPANTS MUST RETURN TO COGHLIN PARK BY 12:30 PM.
HYDRATION:
- HYDRATION STOPS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE; GATORADE & WATER PROVIDED.
- PORTABLE RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED AT OVAL BEACH, COGHLIN PARK AND AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS THROUGH THE COURSE.
SIGNUP INFORMATION
REGISTRATION:
- PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR 2025 AND PRIOR PARTICIPANTS AND 2025 WAIT-LISTED RUNNERS OPENS OCTOBER 18, 2025.
- EARLY REGISTRANTS ENJOY SPECIAL PRICING. PRICE INCREASES GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2026
- PUBLIC REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 1, 2025
- REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID THE WAIT LIST.
REFUND POLICY:
- NO REFUNDS, BUT YOU MAY DEFER TO THE NEXT YEAR OR TRANSFER EVENTS/REGISTRATION.
- RACE INSURANCE AVAILABLE DURING REGISTRATION.
- NEW BIB NUMBER ISSUED FOR TRANSFERS.
GENDER OPTIONS:
- NON-BINARY, MALE, AND FEMALE OPTIONS AVAILABLE WHEN REGISTERING.
ULTIMATE LIFETIME CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS:
- MUST REGISTER FOR THIS YEARS EVENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
- GUARANTEED ENTRY.
- REGISTRATION DETAILS SENT VIA EMAIL.
DEFERRED 2025 REGISTRANTS:
- CREDIT APPLIED TO 2026 REGISTRATION.
- MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE 2026 EVENTS.
- EMAIL WITH REGISTRATION DETAILS WILL BE SENT.
POST-RACE INFORMATION
- CELEBRATION AT COGHLIN PARK: MUSIC, AWARDS, HYDRATION, NUTRITION, AND ADULT BEVERAGES.
- SHOP FOR MBC SWAG.
- RECOGNITION FOR FASTEST PARTICIPANTS AND AGE GROUP WINNERS.
- SHUTTLES TO RETURN YOU TO YOUR PARKED VEHICLES AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS AND OVAL BEACH
WHY WE RACE
EVERY DOLLAR OF NET PROCEEDS SUPPORTS FREE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER LIFE-ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AT SAUGATUCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDED BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER HOLLAND.
LACE-UP THOSE RUNNING SHOES AND GET READY FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE CHALLENGE! MALE SIGN
IN 2026, HELP US EMBARK ON THE NEXT 25 YEARS OF THE MT. BALDHEAD CHALLENGE AND BE PART OF OUR STORY!
RUN THROUGH SCENIC WOODLAND TRAILS, SCALE SAND DUNES, POUND THE PAVEMENT, AND CLIMB 302 STEPS UP THE ICONIC MT. BALDHEAD.
WILL YOU RISE TO THE CHALLENGE?
PRE-RACE INFORMATION
PACKET PICKUP:
- LOCATION: COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- TIMES: NOON ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2026, AND RACE DAY AT 7:00 AM.
- OPTION: SELECT MAIL AWAY PACKET OPTION DURING REGISTRATION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKET VIA USPS. _RECOMMENDED!_
PARKING:
- LOCATIONS: OVAL BEACH AND COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- SHUTTLES: BUSES FROM THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS TO OVAL BEACH, DEPARTING BEGINNING AS SOON AS THE FIRST BUS IS FILLED WITH RUNNERS.
COURSE INFORMATION
10K+:
- ROUTE: FROM OVAL BEACH TO DOWNTOWN SAUGATUCK THROUGH FRESH WATER WOODED SAND DUNES, TRAILS, AND UP MT. BALDHEAD STEPS.
- DISTANCE: SLIGHTLY OVER STANDARD 10K, AROUND 7 MILES.
HALF MARATHON:
- ROUTE: SCENIC, CHALLENGING 13.1 MILES THROUGH TRAILS, DUNES, AND STREETS, WITH MT. BALDHEAD STEPS.
- CHALLENGE: THIS IS A HALF MARATHON UNLIKE ANY OTHER. BRING IT!
RACE TIMING:
- BASED ON CHIP-TIMES.
- STAGGERED START FOR SEPARATE WAVES, ENTER YOUR EXPECTED FINISHING TIME DURING REGISTRATION.
- FINISH LINE: LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF COGHLIN PARK.
- CUT-OFF TIME: PARTICIPANTS MUST RETURN TO COGHLIN PARK BY 12:30 PM.
HYDRATION:
- HYDRATION STOPS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE; GATORADE & WATER PROVIDED.
- PORTABLE RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED AT OVAL BEACH, COGHLIN PARK AND AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS THROUGH THE COURSE.
SIGNUP INFORMATION
REGISTRATION:
- PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR 2025 AND PRIOR PARTICIPANTS AND 2025 WAIT-LISTED RUNNERS OPENS OCTOBER 18, 2025.
- EARLY REGISTRANTS ENJOY SPECIAL PRICING. PRICE INCREASES GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2026
- PUBLIC REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 1, 2025
- REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID THE WAIT LIST.
REFUND POLICY:
- NO REFUNDS, BUT YOU MAY DEFER TO THE NEXT YEAR OR TRANSFER EVENTS/REGISTRATION.
- RACE INSURANCE AVAILABLE DURING REGISTRATION.
- NEW BIB NUMBER ISSUED FOR TRANSFERS.
GENDER OPTIONS:
- NON-BINARY, MALE, AND FEMALE OPTIONS AVAILABLE WHEN REGISTERING.
ULTIMATE LIFETIME CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS:
- MUST REGISTER FOR THIS YEARS EVENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
- GUARANTEED ENTRY.
- REGISTRATION DETAILS SENT VIA EMAIL.
DEFERRED 2025 REGISTRANTS:
- CREDIT APPLIED TO 2026 REGISTRATION.
- MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE 2026 EVENTS.
- EMAIL WITH REGISTRATION DETAILS WILL BE SENT.
POST-RACE INFORMATION
- CELEBRATION AT COGHLIN PARK: MUSIC, AWARDS, HYDRATION, NUTRITION, AND ADULT BEVERAGES.
- SHOP FOR MBC SWAG.
- RECOGNITION FOR FASTEST PARTICIPANTS AND AGE GROUP WINNERS.
- SHUTTLES TO RETURN YOU TO YOUR PARKED VEHICLES AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS AND OVAL BEACH
WHY WE RACE
EVERY DOLLAR OF NET PROCEEDS SUPPORTS FREE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER LIFE-ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AT SAUGATUCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDED BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER HOLLAND.
LACE-UP THOSE RUNNING SHOES AND GET READY FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE CHALLENGE! MALE SIGN
Races
-
10K+ (7 Miles)
Incl. $4.80 Fee & 2026 Mt. Baldhead Challenge Jersey
Sat 12th September 2026 (9:00AM EDT)
$59.80
Run nearly 7 miles from Oval Beach to downtown Saugatuck through Western Michigans extensive array of fresh water wooded sand dunes, trails, and up the mighty steps of Mt. Baldhead. Note: In order to provide the best experience, focus on the quality of the course, and include the most trails possible, this course mileage is slightly over a standard 10K and clocks in around 7 miles. -
Half Marathon
Incl. $6.00 Fee & 2026 Mt. Baldhead Challenge Jersey
Sat 12th September 2026 (9:00AM EDT)
$81.00
Run 13.1 miles from Oval Beach to Downtown Saugatuck through Western Michigan's trails, dunes, and streets alongside gorgeous views of Lake Michigan. Get ready to ascend the steps of the formidable Mt. Baldhead mid-race!
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Saugatuck-Douglas, Saugatuck, 49453, MI, United States
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