Dirty Squirrel Gravel Grind
About this race
Race Overview
Join us on September 26th, 2026 for a fun filled bike race featuring a scenic mix of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest gravel roads and select ski trails within Minocqua Winter Park’s vast trail system. It will be a truly unique race experience! Check out the on-site bike demos and more offered by the Chequamegon Adventure Company and Lost Wave.
Race Day Schedule
Friday, September 25th, 2026
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Bib Pick Up at MWP Chalet
Saturday, September 26th, 2026
7:00 am - Park Opens & Registration/Bib Pick Up Opens
7:45 am - Registration Closes For CENTURY Black Squirrel
8:00 am – Century Black Squirrel Race Start
8:15 am - Registration Closes For 50K Fox Squirrel
8:30 am – 50K Fox Squirrel Race start
8:45 am - Registration Closes For 15K Red Squirrel
9:00 am – 15K Red Squirrel Race start
9:00 am - Registration Closes For Acorn 5K "Fun Ride"
9:15 am – Acorn "Fun Ride" 5K start
Games and Bike Expo while waiting for racers to return
11:00 am - Food Available
5:00 pm - Park Closes
Post Race Food/Beverage
Brats, burgers, chips and more – details to come
Racers will receive a meal ticket and free drink ticket for a beer or non-alcoholic beverage of choice. A variety of other beverages will be available for sale as well.
Race Route Details & Cut Off Times
Detailed race routes will be released closer to race day. Stay tuned!
ACORN 5K "Fun Ride" This shorter untimed race is perfect for kids and families!
This race does not pass an aid station. Be prepared to carry all water, food, and emergency supplies you may need.
Total Distance: 3.1 miles / Elevation Gain: (TBD) / Surfaces: Ski Trails 3.1 miles (mix of gravel and grass logging road type)
17K Red Squirrel
This race does not pass an aid station. Be prepared to carry all water, food, and emergency supplies you may need.
Total Distance: 17K / 10.5miles / Elevation Gain: 866 ft / Surfaces: Gravel 6 miles, Ski trails 4.5 miles / Percentage Gravel/Ski Trail: 60%
50K Fox Squirrel
This race passes 1 aid station.
Total Distance: 30.1 miles / Elevation Gain: 1,299 ft / Surfaces: Gravel 25.5 miles, Ski trails 4.5 miles / Percentage Gravel/Ski Trail: 83%
50K Race Cut Off Times:
10:30 am: 50K racers must reach the Aid Station by this time
3:00 pm: 50K racers must cross the Finish Line by this time
Racers who don't hit these cut off times will disqualified and be asked to return to the Minocqua Winter Park Chalet
100K Century Black Squirrel
This race passes 1 aid station twice
Total Distance: 62 miles / Elevation Gain: 1,907 / Surfaces: Gravel 58 miles, Ski trails 4.5 miles / Percentage Gravel/Ski Trail: 92%
100K Race Cut Off Times:
10:30 am: 100K racers must reach the Aid Station by this time
3:00 pm: 100K racers must cross the Finish Line by this time
Racers who don't hit these cut off times will disqualified and be asked to return to the Minocqua Winter Park Chalet
Race Policy
All participants must wear helmets.
17K, 50K, 100K Awards - ~ NOON-1pm
Awards will be given to the overall top 3 male and female finishers. Age group awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each 10 year age group.
5K Fun Ride participants will be recognized for their completion order overall
Pick your distance
Gravel biking
Century Black Squirrel (62 miles)
50K Fox Squirrel (31 mile)
17K Grey Squirrel (10.5 mile)
Trail running
5K Acorn "Fun Ride" (3 miles)
Typical race-day weather
Based on 6 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Minocqua, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:51 AM and sets at 6:48 PM local time (CDT) in Minocqua on September 26, 2026 — 11h 57m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Other races near Minocqua
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 7 Minocqua events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.