Mt. Baldhead Challenge
- Date Sat 21st June 2025 - Sat 6th September 2025
- Time 9:00AM EDT
- Location Saugatuck, Michigan
- Price Free - $91.60
- Races 3 races
- Distances 10km, Half Marathon
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure at the 25th annual Mt. Baldhead Challenge, taking place from June 21 to September 6, 2025, in the picturesque town of Saugatuck, Allegan. This ultimate multi-terrain race invites participants to conquer scenic woodland trails, challenging sand dunes, and the iconic 302 steps up Mt. Baldhead. Runners can choose between two thrilling distances: a slightly over 10K route, which stretches approximately 7 miles, and a breathtaking half marathon covering 13.1 miles. Both courses promise an unforgettable experience filled with natural beauty and physical challenges.
Whether you're a seasoned runner or a first-time participant, the Mt. Baldhead Challenge offers a festive atmosphere, complete with a post-race celebration at Coghlan Park featuring music, awards, and refreshments. Plus, every dollar of net proceeds supports vital after-school and summer programs for local youth. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this incredible event—secure your spot when registration opens on February 24, 2025, and prepare to rise to the challenge!
Whether you're a seasoned runner or a first-time participant, the Mt. Baldhead Challenge offers a festive atmosphere, complete with a post-race celebration at Coghlan Park featuring music, awards, and refreshments. Plus, every dollar of net proceeds supports vital after-school and summer programs for local youth. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this incredible event—secure your spot when registration opens on February 24, 2025, and prepare to rise to the challenge!
Organiser's Description
GET READY TO CONQUER THE MIDWESTS ULTIMATE MULTI-TERRAIN RACE!
CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF THE MT. BALDHEAD CHALLENGE IN 2025
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 5, 2025, AND RACE DAY AT 7:00 AM.
- OPTION: SELECT MAIL AWAY PACKET OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKET VIA USPS.
PARKING:
- LOCATIONS: OVAL BEACH AND COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- SHUTTLES: BUSES FROM THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS TO OVAL BEACH, DEPARTING AT 8:00 AM.
COURSE INFORMATION
REPAIRS:
- FERRY ST. PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY MEMORIAL DAY 2025.
- COURSE ROUTING MAY CHANGE TO REFLECT STREET REOPENING.
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.
- 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 FOR PAST PARTICIPANTS AND 2024 WAIT LISTED RUNNERS OPENS JANUARY 5, 2025.
- FIRST 25 REGISTRANTS ENJOY SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRICING.
- PUBLIC REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 24, 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 2024 REGISTRANTS:
- CREDIT APPLIED TO 2025 REGISTRATION.
- MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE 2025 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
CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF THE MT. BALDHEAD CHALLENGE IN 2025
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 5, 2025, AND RACE DAY AT 7:00 AM.
- OPTION: SELECT MAIL AWAY PACKET OPTION TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKET VIA USPS.
PARKING:
- LOCATIONS: OVAL BEACH AND COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS
- SHUTTLES: BUSES FROM THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF DOUGLAS TO OVAL BEACH, DEPARTING AT 8:00 AM.
COURSE INFORMATION
REPAIRS:
- FERRY ST. PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY MEMORIAL DAY 2025.
- COURSE ROUTING MAY CHANGE TO REFLECT STREET REOPENING.
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.
- 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 FOR PAST PARTICIPANTS AND 2024 WAIT LISTED RUNNERS OPENS JANUARY 5, 2025.
- FIRST 25 REGISTRANTS ENJOY SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRICING.
- PUBLIC REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 24, 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 2024 REGISTRANTS:
- CREDIT APPLIED TO 2025 REGISTRATION.
- MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE 2025 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. $5.40 Fee & 2025 MBC Custom Designed Runner's Jersey
Sat 6th September 2025 (9:00AM EDT)
$70.40
Run 6.2 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 amount of trails possible, this course mileage is slightly over a standard 10K and clocks in around 7 miles. -
Half Marathon
Incl. $6.60 Fee & 2025 MBC Custom Designed Runner's Jersey
Sat 6th September 2025 (9:00AM EDT)
$91.60
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! -
Volunteer
Sat 21st June 2025 (9:00AM EDT)
Free
We cannot host the Mt Baldhead Challenge without the help of our volunteers. Each year, our runners say you are the greatest! Join us and help make the 25th MBC the best yet.
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