Pokanoka's 10K Trail Run & 1.8 Mile Trail Walk

Exciting News About 2019 Pokanoka’s Trail Run/Walk

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We have exciting news about the 2019 Pokanoka’s Trail Run/Walk at Shabbona Lake State Park. We are changing the date from July 4^th to September 28^th, for the 2019 Trail Run/Walk. The weather will be much cooler and the scenery will be more spectacular.  There are few places that can match the beautiful fall scenery of historic Shabbona Lake State Park.

We are changing the run to a 10K (6.2 Miles), instead of an 8 mile run.  This will make our event more competitive with other 10K’s. No one in Illinois will be able to match the ambiance and scenery of the historical trails of Shabbona Lake State Park. This could become the mega Fall event in Northern Illinois. While running the 10K you will be on parts of 3 trails full of history of our great nation.

Pokanoka’s Trail Run/Walk will also partner with DeKalb’s Corn Classic for new awards and opportunities for participants. Participants are encouraged to register for Pokanoka’s 10K event on Saturday, September 28^th and the Corn Classic on Sunday, September 29th. Runners who complete both races will win a DeKalb County Race Weekend medal!

Funds raised at the Pokanoka’s 10K Race support Safe Passage, DeKalb County’s only domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. In addition to safe housing, the organization offers crisis intervention and medical advocacy for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children’s services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. The organization serves survivors of all ages. All services at Safe Passage are free and confidential.

The race course has been modified to meet the 10K format.  We will still start our event at the Three Fires Shelter area, just South of Pokanoka’s Restaurant.  The area is named after the Native American Confederation of Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi tribes that inhabited Northern Illinois. Pokanoka’s Restaurant is named after Pottawatomi Chief Shabbona’s wife, Pokanoka.

Runners and walkers will start off along scenic Arrowhead Trail (trail #1).  The trail follows the shoreline of Shabbona Lake before the trail traverses thru majestic woods NNW along Indian Creek. Visible to runners will be numerous shoreline nature views of the wildlife bird sanctuary area, in the shallow end of Shabbona Lake. A large variety of birds inhabit this area in the Fall.

You will leave Arrowhead Trail and connect to the Snowmobile Trail (trail #2) near the Campgound Access Road.  A short jog to the left and you are on the Snowmobile Trail. After about ½ mile of running thru the woods, runners will find themselves running next to native prairie grass.  

As you run eastbound along the Snowmobile Trail you will approach what is known as “The Hill”.This is an invigorating challenge for runners, as they run up the trail with a 150 yard moderately steep hill.  

Shortly after conquering the hill, runners will connect with the most truly scenic trail you will ever encounter, the famous Tomahawk Trail. (Trail #3) This trail has several sharp twists and turns as it meanders along the East Bay Shoreline of Shabbona Lake.  Shabbona Lake is a manmade impoundment with several trees left standing in the lake to provide habitat for fish.  Often you will see eagles sitting in the standing trees in the water.  They are looking down to swoop up a fresh fish meal.

As you exit out of the woods you will find yourself at the Southeast end of Shabbona Lake.  This is where the dam and spillway are located.  You will now run for a ½ mile on top of the 50 foot tall earthen dam that created Shabbona Lake. Off in the distance you will see the finish line approximately one mile away.  You will get an extra burst of energy as you push yourself to the finish line.  When you get across the dam you will reconnect with Arrowhead Trail as you run along the Southwest Bay of Shabbona Lake. We will be cheering for you at the finish line by the Three Fires Shelter, which is where you started from!!!