Every October, when the maples along Door County’s western shoreline hit peak color, a few thousand runners line up at the tip of the peninsula and run all the way to Sturgeon Bay. Some do it alone. Most do it in costume with four of their friends and a minivan full of snacks. It’s the Fall 50, and for 20 years it has been one of the best weekends of the year in Door County.
We have a front-row seat. The course comes straight down Highway 42 through Sister Bay, right past the front door of Open Hearth Lodge. For the 20th running on October 24, 2026, we followed the race from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay with a camera, and you can run the whole course in photos on our interactive map below.
If you’ve ever seen a van full of costumed runners and wondered what on earth was going on, here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Fall 50?
The Fall 50 is a point-to-point, 50-mile road race from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay, run each October during peak fall color in Door County, Wisconsin. You can run it as a solo ultramarathon, as a pair, or as a relay team of three to five runners. The route follows the peninsula’s western shoreline along the bay of Green Bay, through Ellison Bay, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek and Egg Harbor, and finishes at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay with one of the best post-race parties in the Midwest.
Founder Sean Ryan gave it a bold tagline before it had even been run: “The Most Scenic Distance Run in the Midwest.” Twenty years later, we’re not about to argue.
Fall 50 Quick Facts
| 2026 Date | Saturday, October 24 (20th annual) |
| 2027 Date | Saturday, October 23 |
| Distance | 50.7 miles, 10 legs |
| Start | Shoreline Restaurant, Gills Rock |
| Finish | Sunset Park, Sturgeon Bay |
| Divisions | Solo, pairs, teams of 3-5 |
| Start Times | Solo at 6:30 am; teams in waves at 7:30, 8:20, 9:10 and 10:00 am |
| Course Closes | 6:30 pm |
| Registration | Opens April 1 at noon; the team division usually sells out within days |
| Official Site | fall50.com |
The History of the Fall 50
An idea for the off-season
The Fall 50 started with a problem Door County businesses know well: summer is packed, and the shoulder seasons could use some company. In 2005, Ryan had just launched the Door County Triathlon. Jon Jarosh of the Door County Chamber of Commerce suggested the county would benefit even more from an event held outside the Memorial Day to Labor Day rush.
Ryan didn’t want to add another fall marathon to a crowded Midwest calendar, and he didn’t think 26.2 miles could do Door County justice anyway. He’d run Oregon’s Hood to Coast relay twice, but a 24-hour race on dark, narrow county roads was a non-starter. So he went for a one-day relay down the whole western shore.
The odometer story
How the Fall 50 Got Its Name
On a June morning in 2005, Ryan drove to the Shoreline Restaurant in Gills Rock, reset his odometer and headed south, taking every right turn that wasn’t a dead end or a driveway. When he rolled into Sturgeon Bay, the odometer read exactly 50.0 miles. He split the route into 10 legs, two per runner for a five-person team (conveniently, a minivan’s worth).
The name seemed too obvious to be available. It was. Ryan went home, searched online, found no “Fall 50” anywhere and bought the domain on the spot.
Solo runners crash the party
The Fall 50 was meant to be relay-only. Then Ryan pitched it to the Badgerland Striders, Milwaukee’s big running club, and fielded question after question about running all 50 miles alone. Not an ultrarunner himself, he was surprised, and he added a solo division right away.
A false start, then 2006
The first attempt in 2005 was marketed too late and drew only a handful of runners, so Ryan cancelled it rather than lose money. He vowed to run it in 2006 no matter what. The inaugural Fall 50 was held October 21, 2006, with 55 teams and 22 solo runners, 186 people in all.
Growing pains (the good kind)
The race roughly doubled in each of the next two years, reaching about 800 participants in 2008. The finish line originally sat on the lawn at Stone Harbor Resort, but the party outgrew its tent (and, by the official account, tested the resort’s patience). In 2009 the finish moved to Sunset Park, where it remains.
Caps came next. By 2012 the relay sold all 400 team slots in two weeks, which caused congestion in Fish Creek, Carlsville and at the party. Ryan trimmed the cap to 360 teams for 2013, and the relay sold out in under four hours. Today the team division typically sells out within days of opening on April 1.
National championship years
USA Track & Field chose the Fall 50 to host the USA 50 Mile Road Championships in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, through wind and rain, Zach Bitter set the men’s course record of about 5 hours 17 minutes, and Camille Herron ran about 5 hours 38 minutes, an unofficial women’s world record for 50 miles at the time.
Why Door County works
In 2017, organizers tried a Fall 50 on Cape Cod. It drew fewer than 30 teams and never returned. One lesson, according to the race’s own history: New Englanders don’t go to the Cape for fall color. They go north. We could have told them Door County was the right place all along.
2020 and the comeback
COVID-19 cancelled the 2020 race weeks before race day. Participants still got their hoodies and medals in the mail, and a handful of dedicated solo runners ran a modified 50-mile route on the original date to keep their streaks alive. The race returned in 2021 with 357 teams and 64 solo runners, and it has been building back ever since.
20 years strong
The 20th running of the Fall 50 on October 24, 2026 got everything a race director could hope for: blue skies, a sold-out field, the usual parade of costumes and peak fall color from one end of the course to the other. We followed it all day with a camera, and you can see the whole course, stop by stop, on the map below.
The Fall 50 at a Glance, 2005-2026
| 2005 | Sean Ryan maps a 50-mile route from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay |
| 2006 | First Fall 50: 55 teams, 22 solo runners |
| 2009 | Finish line moves to Sunset Park |
| 2012 | 400 relay teams sell out in two weeks |
| 2014-2015 | Hosts the USATF 50 Mile Road Championships |
| 2020 | Cancelled for COVID-19 |
| 2021 | The comeback: 357 teams, 64 solo runners |
| 2026 | The 20th running |
Run the Course: The 2026 Fall 50 in Photos
Click a pin to see each exchange and our favorite spots along the 50.7-mile route, with a quick story about what it’s like to run or watch there and photos from race day. Open any photo and use the arrows to run the entire course from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay.
Photos from race day, October 24, 2026, by Open Hearth Lodge. Route from the official Fall 50 course file. Click any photo to enlarge it, then use the arrows to run the whole course.
Read all 20 stops as a list
The Start: Gills Rock
Every Fall 50 begins at the Shoreline Restaurant in Gills Rock, the spot locals call the "Top O' the Thumb." Solo runners head out at 6:30 am, still in the dark with headlamps on. The teams follow in four waves through the morning, slowest teams first and fastest last, so most of the field arrives in Sturgeon Bay around the same time. Between waves the parking lot turns into a costume party with a DJ, with the waters of Death's Door just offshore.
Get here early. Team vans, spectators and runners all fit into a small harbor village, and nobody wants to sprint from the car to the start line.
Climbing out of Ellison Bay
Leg 1 loops along Garrett Bay Road before dropping into Ellison Bay on Highway 42. Then the road climbs right back out. It's the first real hill of the day, and it sets the tone: the Fall 50 is paved the whole way, but it is not flat. The payoff waits at the top, where the first exchange sits at the Grand View Overlook.
Runners on this leg run with traffic on the highway shoulder, so drivers heading south: slow down and give them room.
Exchange 1: Ellison Bay Grand View Overlook
The first hand-off of the day. Runners come up a gravel chute lined with orange cones, slap the bracelet to their next teammate, and their day of driving, cheering and snacking officially begins. Like every exchange, it has water, Gatorade, Clif Bars and fruit, set up self-serve. This is a relay, not a marathon, so no one is handing you a cup.
Hand-offs only count at official exchanges. Have your next runner in the chute before your incoming runner crests the hill.
Exchange 2: Sister Bay
Leg 2 is called "Look Out For Goats!" and we're pretty sure that's a nod to the goats on the roof at Al Johnson's. Runners take Hanson, Porcupine Bay and Beach Roads, come down Highway 42 through the heart of Sister Bay, then follow the bike and pedestrian trail to the exchange at the south end of the village. It's one of the loudest stops on the course, with long lines of fans on both sides of the trail.
Sister Bay is one of the best places on the course to watch, with coffee and breakfast spots just steps from the route.
Right Past Our Front Door
Leg 3 heads south on Highway 42 out of Sister Bay, right past Open Hearth Lodge. We had a front-row seat all morning as runners rolled by in everything from race singlets to full Halloween getups. Just past us, the road tilts up into Little Sister Hill, the steepest climb on the whole course. It's the longest leg of the day too, and the one most teams hand to their strongest runner.
Staying with us? Step out the front door and you're on the course. It's a short drive north to the start line in Gills Rock, too.
Little Sister Hill
The race calls it "Little Sister Hell," and the name is earned. This is the steepest hill on the course, and the official course notes say runners can run it or walk it. Plenty of very good runners choose the second option. The reward at the top is a roll down into Ephraim and the turn into Peninsula State Park.
Walking Little Sister Hill is a strategy, not a defeat. Save your legs for the park.
Into Peninsula State Park
After Ephraim, the course turns into Peninsula State Park at the golf course and follows Shore Road through the woods to Nicolet Bay. The highway noise drops away, the trees close in overhead, and for a few miles it's just runners, leaves and the bay glinting through the trunks.
Crews drive the park roads to reach Exchange 3, so give yourself a little extra time and watch for runners on every curve.
Exchange 3: Nicolet Bay Beach
Leg 3 runners finish their 7.2-mile day on the big lawn at Nicolet Bay Beach, inside Peninsula State Park, and they earned every cheer. The exchange runs through a long chute of orange cones on the grass, and the field around it fills with picnic tables, tents and a few hundred people waiting for their runner. On race day the sky over the bay was as dramatic as the trees.
This is a great spot for a picnic while you wait. Bring a blanket.
Shore Road, Peninsula State Park
Leg 4 is well named. Runners follow Sunset Trail and Shore Road along the edge of Green Bay, with cedars on one side and open water on the other, then climb out of the park toward Fish Creek and Gibraltar High School. With the leaves crunching underfoot and the bay shining, this might be the prettiest stretch on the course.
There's no exchange here, but the park's shoreline pullouts make great quiet places to cheer.
Exchange 4: Gibraltar High School
Just outside Fish Creek, the course arrives at Gibraltar High School. The big parking lot makes this one of the easier exchanges for team vans, and it's a good place to regroup before the second half of the race. The medical tent is here too, a nice thing to see at almost mile 24.
Leg 5 starts with a run through downtown Fish Creek, so grab your coffee while you can.
Through Fish Creek
Leg 5 follows Main Street right through downtown Fish Creek, past the shops and cottages, before turning onto Cottage Row. For runners it's a short burst of village energy. For spectators it's an easy spot to cheer, then wander for a snack.
Fish Creek is busy on race weekend. Watch for runners at every crosswalk, and park once and walk.
Cottage Row and the Hairpin
Out of Fish Creek, the course turns onto Cottage Row and climbs Hairpin Hill, a tight switchback up the bluff under a canopy of maples. From there it's Gibraltar Bluff Road and the road past Peninsula Players before rejoining Highway 42 for the run to Juddville. Fun fact: somewhere around here, Leg 5 runners pass the marathon mark of 26.2 miles.
The climb is short but steep. The official course notes say to run it or walk it, just like Little Sister.
Exchange 5: Juddville and the Half Way Buffet
Welcome to the halfway point, and the most popular snack stop on the course. On top of the usual exchange spread, Exchange 5 hosts the Half Way Buffet: hot chicken noodle soup, sandwiches, salty snacks, cookies and candy. For solo runners it's also an official checkpoint with a cutoff time, so it means a little more than soup.
Teams: this is the place to refuel the whole van, not just the runner.
Exchange 6: Egg Harbor Boat Dock
Leg 6, "Dock of the Bay," is a short, gentle run down Juddville Road and White Cliff Road to the Egg Harbor waterfront. The exchange sits right on the harbor, with the bay opening up behind it. It's one of the best views of any hand-off, and one of the trickiest for crews.
This is famously the hardest exchange to reach in time. The leg is short and the roads are busy, so plenty of teams drop their next runner off on the way and park later.
Exchange 7: Murphy Park
From the Egg Harbor dock, runners climb back up and follow Horseshoe Bay Road south to Murphy Park, a big county park right on the bay. It's roomy, sunny and relaxed, a good place for a team to stretch, snack and count how many legs they have left.
Murphy Park has plenty of space to spread out, which makes it a good stop for spectators with kids.
Bay Shore Drive
Leg 8 is a long, steady run south on Bay Shore Drive (County B), with the trees arching over the road and the bluff rising on one side. This is the stretch where the day starts to feel long, the light gets low and golden, and the cowbells get louder.
County B stays open to traffic. Crews leapfrog their runner here, so pull fully off the road when you stop.
Exchange 8: Chateau Hutter
Exchange 8, at 5609 Bay Shore Drive, is where things get festive. By mid-afternoon the field is packed with costumed runners waiting to take their team to the finish. Only two legs to go, the end is in sight, and everyone knows it. It's also the second solo checkpoint, with its own cutoff time.
The porta-potty lines at the later exchanges can be long. If you're running the next leg, don't leave it until the last minute.
Exchange 9: George Pinney Park
Leg 9, "Get Shorty!", is the shortest leg on the course, three quick miles down Bay Shore Drive to George Pinney County Park, better known as Old Stone Quarry Park. The limestone cliffs of the old quarry tower over the exchange, and the sun is starting to drop. One leg to go.
Runners who pass this final exchange after 5 pm are given a green glow necklace for safety, since the race wraps up as the sun goes down.
The Home Stretch
The last leg runs south on Bay Shore Drive into Sturgeon Bay, under some of the brightest maples on the entire route, then turns onto Alabama Street and the trail into Sunset Park. You'll know you're close when you can hear the screams and cheers from the finish.
Teams can meet up just before the finish and run through the chute together. Don't miss it.
The Finish: Sunset Park, Sturgeon Bay
50.7 miles after Gills Rock, every runner crosses the line at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay, and the Fall 50's famous party takes over. Participants get into the big tent free for pizza, beer, wine and soda. Friends and family can buy a ticket at the gate. A dance party runs from 4 to 8 pm, and the awards ceremony crowns the day's fastest solos, pairs and teams. The race was built from day one to be the last hurrah of the Midwest running season, and this is where you see why.
The finish chute is open to the public, so you don't need a party ticket to watch your runner come home.
The Fall 50 Course, Leg by Leg
The course hugs the western shoreline, mostly on quiet back roads, and hops onto Highway 42 to run through the heart of each village. It's all pavement, but it's not flat: the northern half has some real climbs. Here are all 10 legs:
| Leg | Name & Exchange | Miles | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gills Rock to Grand View Ends at Ellison Bay Grand View Overlook | 5.4 | Medium |
| 2 | Look Out For Goats! Ends in Sister Bay | 6.2 | Medium |
| 3 | Little Sister Hell Ends at Nicolet Bay Beach, Peninsula State Park | 7.2 | High |
| 4 | Shoreline Runner Ends at Gibraltar High School | 5.1 | Medium |
| 5 | The Hairpin Ends in Juddville | 5.0 | Medium |
| 6 | Dock of the Bay Ends at Egg Harbor Boat Dock | 3.8 | Low |
| 7 | Horseshoe Bay Road Ends at Murphy Park | 4.1 | Low |
| 8 | Tunnel of Trees Ends at Chateau Hutter, Bay Shore Drive | 6.2 | Medium |
| 9 | Get Shorty! Ends at George Pinney Park | 3.0 | Low |
| 10 | Home Stretch Ends at the Sunset Park finish line | 4.7 | Low |
Leg 1 starts in the dark for solo runners (headlamps required for the first half hour) and loops through Garrett Bay before dropping into Ellison Bay.
Leg 2 brings runners down Highway 42 into Sister Bay. We're guessing the name is a nod to the goats on the roof at Al Johnson's.
Leg 3 is the big one: the longest leg on the course, including Little Sister Hill, the steepest climb of the day. It heads south on Highway 42 out of Sister Bay, right past Open Hearth Lodge, through Ephraim and into Peninsula State Park.
Legs 4 and 5 stay in and around the park and Fish Creek, including a climb up Hairpin Hill on Cottage Row. Exchange 5 in Juddville hosts the famous Half Way Buffet with hot chicken noodle soup.
Legs 6 through 10 get friendlier, with shorter distances, gentler terrain and the gorgeous tree canopy of Bay Shore Drive on the run into Sturgeon Bay.
You can download the official GPX and KML files for your watch from the Fall 50 course page.
How the Fall 50 Relay Works
The rules are refreshingly simple. Teams have two to five runners, one runs at a time, and the team must cover all 50 miles. Each runner can take as many or as few legs as they like. Hand-offs happen only at the nine official exchange points, which all have parking, restrooms, volunteers, water, Gatorade, Clif Bars and fruit.
Start times are assigned by pace, with the slowest teams going first and the fastest last, so most teams finish between 3:30 and 5:30 pm. (Don't sandbag your pace. The race FAQ is very clear on this, and the party tent doesn't open until 3 pm anyway.)
A Few Tips from the Local Crowd
- Costumes are encouraged. Even the race founder dresses up.
- Plan your driving. Roads stay open, and the drive to the Egg Harbor Boat Dock exchange is known to be the tightest squeeze, especially with a short leg like Leg 6.
- Assign legs strategically. Many teams give the hilly northern legs (especially Leg 3) to their strongest runners.
- Bring layers. Late October mornings at the tip of the peninsula can be chilly, and afternoons can be downright warm.
Running the Fall 50 Solo
Running all 50 miles yourself is a serious undertaking, and it's also one of the most scenic ultras in the country. Solo runners start at 6:30 am and must finish by the strictly enforced 6:30 pm course closure, which works out to about a 14:24-per-mile pace. There are mid-race cutoffs at Exchange 5 and Exchange 8, and solo runners can send gear bags ahead to the exchange points. The top five men and women win awards in both the Open (39 and under) and Masters (40 and over) divisions.
Solo registration runs through UltraSignup.
The Finish Line Party
The Fall 50 was designed from day one to be the "last hurrah" of the Midwest running season, and the party at Sunset Park shows it. Participants get free admission to the tent, with unlimited pizza, beer, wine and soda, plus a DJ, dancing and a costume contest. Family and friends can buy tickets at the gate ($20 adults, $10 ages 7-17, free for kids 6 and under). The finish chute itself is open to the public, so anyone can watch runners come home.
How to Register for the Fall 50
- Registration opens April 1 at noon each year.
- Teams and pairs register through RaceEntry. The 2026 team division sold out on April 6, so be ready on day one.
- Missed it? The race allows teams to sell or transfer their spots, so keep an eye out over the summer.
- Solo runners register through UltraSignup and usually have more time.
Planning for 2027?
The next Fall 50 is Saturday, October 23, 2027. Mark April 1 on your calendar and book your lodging early, because Fall 50 weekend fills up fast.
Watching the Fall 50: A Spectator's Guide
You don't need to run to enjoy the Fall 50. Some of our favorite spots to cheer:
- Sister Bay on Highway 42, where runners pass through downtown and head south toward Little Sister Hill. Step outside Open Hearth Lodge and you're there.
- Fish Creek's Main Street and Cottage Row, where runners tackle Hairpin Hill.
- The Egg Harbor Boat Dock for lots of exchange-point energy on the water.
- Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay for the finish line and the costumes.
If you're just driving through on race day, remember that the roads aren't closed. Expect runners on the shoulder of Highway 42 and the back roads from dawn into the evening, and give them plenty of room.
Where to Stay for the Fall 50
Open Hearth Lodge sits right on the Fall 50 course in Sister Bay, on Highway 42 just outside our front door, and it's a short drive to the Gills Rock start line. That means an easier early morning for runners and crews, and a front-row cheering section for everyone else.
After the race, soak tired legs in our hot tub, loosen up in the sauna and put your feet up by the fireplace in our lobby. Our dog-friendly wing (with a fenced dog area, a dog wash and a dog bed in the room) means your four-legged cheerleader can come along, too, and our fast WiFi makes it easy to post your finish-line photos.
Fall 50 FAQ
What is the Fall 50?
The Fall 50 is a 50-mile point-to-point road race in Door County, Wisconsin, held each October during peak fall color. Participants run solo, in pairs or in relay teams of three to five from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay.
How long is the Fall 50?
The official course is 50.7 miles, divided into 10 legs ranging from 3.0 to 7.2 miles.
When is the Fall 50 in 2027?
The 2027 Fall 50 is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2027.
Can you run the Fall 50 solo?
Yes. The solo division starts at 6:30 am, and runners must finish within 12 hours.
How many people are on a Fall 50 relay team?
Teams can have two to five runners. Only one runner is on the course at a time, and the team must cover the full distance.
Where does the Fall 50 start and finish?
It starts at the Shoreline Restaurant in Gills Rock and finishes at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay.
Are the roads closed during the Fall 50?
No. The course stays open to traffic, so runners follow course signs and run along the shoulder.
When does Fall 50 registration open?
Registration opens April 1 at noon each year. The team division usually sells out within days.
Who started the Fall 50?
The Fall 50 was founded by Sean Ryan, a northeast Wisconsin event organizer who also launched the Door County Triathlon. The first race was held in 2006.
Where should I stay for the Fall 50?
Sister Bay is a great base, close to the Gills Rock start and right on the course. Open Hearth Lodge is on Highway 42 in Sister Bay, directly along the route.