Palos Park Spooky Shuffle

Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up

Due to some staffing and volunteer issues, we had to reschedule our packet pick up. Packet pick-up will take place three times.

1. Friday, October 20^th from Noon-5:30pm at the Palos Park Recreation Center (8901 W. 123^rd Street, Palos Park, IL)
2. Saturday, October 21^st from 11am-1pm at the Palos Park Recreation Center (8901 W. 123rd Street, Palos Park, IL)
3. Sunday, October 22^nd starting at 8am at Swallow Cliff South Grove 1 (S La Grange Rd, south of 119th St, Cook County, IL 60464)

If none of those times work for you, please reach out to me and we’ll try and figure something out. Packets will include your race shirt, bib, and goodies from our sponsors.

Race Day Registration & Packet Pick Up starts at 8:00am

10K Run Starts

9 AM

5K Run/Walk Starts

9:15 AM

You must be registered by 10/5/2023 to be guaranteed your race shirt/size.

5K & 10K Awards

Top Overall Male/Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd in the following age groups:

19 & under

20 - 29

30 - 39

40 - 49

50 - 59

60 & over

Cut Off Times

Although this event is a run/walk, there will be general cut off times to ensure the event stays on schedule with permits and staffing/volunteers/police assistance. 5k run/walkers will begin at 9:15am and have until 10:45am to finish (29 minute pace). 10k run/walkers will begin at 9am and have until 11:30am to finish (24 minute pace).

A "sweeper" will walk each race course beginning 15 minutes after each event has started to ensure we don't have any lost runners.

Inclement Weather
This race will happen rain or shine! The Village of Palos Park monitors the weather and follows the proper protocol in place regarding inclement weather. Staff holds the right to cancel the event due to inclement weather. Registration is non-refundable.

The Palos Park Spooky Shuffle highlights the sprawling woodlands of the majestic Sag Valley Trail System, part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Starting at Swallow Cliff South Forest Preserves (the sister preserve to the famous Swallow Cliff Stairs located at Swallow Cliff North), both courses take you on wide, unpaved, mostly gravel trails through the unique topography of the Palos Region with its ravines and hills resulting in elevation not common in the Chicagoland area.

5K Course Map: The 5k course is an out-and-back with a loop at the turnaround (Horsetail Lake). The course starts on the Brown Trail heading east towards the parking lot. You'll then head south on the Yellow Trail making your way to Horsetail Lake. Once at the lake, you'll run along the southern shore before running along Willow Spring Road to McCarthy Road and follow the Black Trail back. Confused, see an animated version of the course HERE.

10K Course Map: Similar to the 5k route, this course starts on the Brown Trail, through the parking lot, and onto the Yellow Trail to Horsetail Lake. Instead of going around the Horsetail Lake parking lot, you will turn around and follow the course back. Once on the Yellow Trail, you will take it under LaGrange Road to 40 Acer Woods. Once there, there will be a road crossing at 119th and you will complete the NE loop in a counter-clockwise direction returning to 40 Acer Woods and continuing to the finish. Confused, see an animated version of the route HERE.