Winter Trail Fest (WTF) Half Marathon and 5 Mile - Westside
About this race
Winter Trail Fest West – Half Marathon & 5 Mile Trail Race in Middleville, Michigan
Some call it the Winter Trail Fest. Others just think, “What the F…?!”
Join us on Saturday, February 20, 2027 at Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Middleville, MI for Winter Trail Fest West Half Marathon and 5 Mile trail race. This winter race is known for its unpredictable conditions—snow, slush, ice, or mud—and the famous river crossing that takes “winter trail challenge” to another level. If icy water isn’t your thing, you can skip it with a short .25-mile detour, but either way, you’ll earn every step of your WTF hoodie, medal, and bragging rights.
WTF West begins with a Noon start, giving you a chance to relax in the morning before testing your grit on the trails. The Half Marathon course features rolling hills and rugged singletrack, while the 5 Mile distance offers a fast, fun taste of winter racing. Both distances welcome runners and ruckers, making WTF West one of Michigan’s few winter trail races to feature a dedicated ruck division.
This race is perfect motivation to keep training through the winter months. Signing up for WTF West means having a goal to keep you moving when the weather makes most people stay inside. The gnarlier the conditions, the cooler the participants—and at WTF West, you’ll never forget the experience.
Why Run WTF West?
- Half Marathon & 5 Mile options: Choose the distance that fits your winter goals
- Run or ruck divisions: A growing ruck community side by side with runners
- Unpredictable winter trail conditions: Snow, slush, ice, mud—sometimes all in one race
- Noon start time: Sleep in and let the temps warm up before you hit the trails
- River crossing option: Test your grit or bypass with a short detour
- Swag you’ll live in: Earn the custom WTF hoodie and medal every finisher loves
- Community atmosphere: High-energy volunteers, bonfires, and post-race stories to share
- WTF + STFU Trail Series: Race Winter Trail Fest plus Summer Trail Fest Ultra (50 Mile, 50K, Half Marathon, 5 Mile) in June to claim connecting medals and save 15% with the bundle
This is more than a winter race—it’s a celebration of grit, unpredictability, and Michigan’s late-February trails. Sign up for the Winter Trail Fest West Half Marathon or 5 Mile and find out why runners and ruckers come back year after year.
Pick your distance
Running
Half Marathon
Economy Package - Half Marathon
This option is for runners who do not want a race shirt or finishers medal, but still want a great race!
Half Marathon Ruck
Ruckers are hiking with a weighted ruck sack or weight plate carrier and will be weighed prior to the race. Ruckers Under 150 lbs must have a backpack with 20 lbs Ruckers Over 150 Lbs must have a backpack with 30 lbs
Half Marathon - Early Start (No Awards)
We will be allowing 50 half marathoners running or rucking to start early, but only on the basis they need the extra time to meet the cutoffs. 1) I understand that while the course will be marked, there is a chance that aid stations will not be manned by the time I arrive at them. 2) I am signing up for this category because I believe the extra time will be necessary for me to make the cutoff, not because I want to finish early. I will not use headphones so I can hear runners behind me, and I will move the the side when runners approach to pass.
5 Mile
Economy Package - 5 Mile
This option is for runners who do not want a race shirt or finishers medal, but still want a great race!
5 Mile Ruck
Ruckers are hiking with a weighted ruck sack or weight plate carrier and will be weighed prior to the race. Ruckers Under 150 lbs must have a backpack with 20 lbs Ruckers Over 150 Lbs must have a backpack with 30 lbs
Virtual Half Marathon
Want to earn your medal and race shirt at your own time and place? Race virtually and get your packet mailed to you when you submit your results!
Virtual 5 Mile
Want to earn your medal and race shirt at your own time and place? Race virtually and get your packet mailed to you when you submit your results!
Typical race-day weather
Based on 10 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Middleville, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:31 AM and sets at 6:19 PM local time (EST) in Middleville on February 20, 2027 — 10h 48m 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.
Reviews
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Results — Winter Trail Fest (WTF) Half Marathon and 5 Mile - Westside
Other races near Middleville
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Bradford White 5K
Duncan Lake Middle School Color Run
Cal Crusher
Spooky Sprint - Grand Rapids
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Middleville
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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 Middleville events
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