The Lost Valley Trail Race 2026
- Date:
- Sat, Oct 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Location:
-
Entrance to Dundas Valley
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
OpenStreetMap Google Maps - Links:
- happytrailsracing.com Register at raceroster.com
- Tags:
- 10k 25k Road Run Track Trail Ultra
THIS IS FOR THE 2026 RACE!
We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario.
We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with La Sportiva for all of our events this year. Not only will La Sportiva be at our races with their demo fleet of shoes to try but they will also be giving away 2 pairs of shoes at every event!
We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below:
Lost Valley Trail Race: A point-to-point trail race that takes runners on an adventure from Burlington to Dundas along the Iroquoia Section of the iconic Bruce Trail.
There are two options to choose from: 10k and 25k. Both courses will be point-to-point events meaning that there are no loops and the starting point and ending points are in two different locations. Participants will board a bus that will take them from the finish line, where participants will park, to the starting line, or they can arrange to be dropped off at the race start.
Please park at Dundas Valley Conservation Area, which is where both races will finish.
Both events will be run along the Main Trail of the Bruce Trail, which is permanently marked with white blazes. Participants must be able to follow trail blazes.
The only sections that will have additional markings are the first 250m, the last 250m, and the 2.5km section that runs along the streets of Dundas.
PLEASE NOTE: In 2026 we will be limiting the registration to 180 participants. Our intention is keep this race as a community event with a grassroots vibe.
The 25km Race:
Participants will park at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area (parking fees are included in the race registration fee) and board a bus that will take them to Cityview Park in Burlington (or arrange your own transportation).
Click on the following link to view the GPX file of the 25km course:
25km Course GPX File
The race will start at Cityview Park in Burlington. Participants will follow the rolling single track along the Niagara Escarpment and through the very popular Smokey Hollow area. Participants will run along Grindstone Creek and will encounter some steep climbs as they make there way over to the Black Woods area.
Runners will pass through a very rocky section before running through a tunnel under Hwy 6, followed by a short but steep climb up the escarpment. Runners will continue along the edge of the escarpment for a while and will be rewarded with some magnificent views. After passing Borer's Falls, runners will eventually start to make their way down the escarpment on a steep descent next to Sydenham Hill in Dundas.
At the base of Sydenham Hill, runners will have approximately 2.5km of road. Although this section is still part of the main trail of the Bruce Trail, we will have additional marking flags here.
Runners will jump back onto some absolutely glorious single-track next to the Dundas Golf Course and will emerge on the McCormack Trail. After a couple climbs and descents, they will then cross Governors Road, where they will have a couple of short but steep climbs as they approach the end. Runners will complete one lap around the Stacey Meadow Pond before ending their journey at the Stacey Meadow Pavilion.
Although there will be lots of climbing on the route, the race is definitely on a net downhill course. There is approximately 600m of elevation gain and 720m of elevation loss.
The 10km Race:
Participants will park at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area (parking fees are included in the race registration fee) and board a bus that will take them to the Rock Chapel Conservation Area in Dundas (or arrange your own transportation)
Click on the following link to view the GPX file of the 10km course:
10km Course GPX File
The first 2km of the race are quite beautiful with some great views. This section is relatively flat and is one of the easiest section of the course (other than the road section, of course). It is a great opportunity to find your groove and chat with fellow participants before starting the descent down the escarpment.
At the base of Sydenham Hill, runners will have approximately 2.5km of road. Although this section is still part of the main trail of the Bruce Trail, we will have additional marking flags here.
Runners will jump back onto some absolutely glorious single-track next to the Dundas Golf Course and will emerge on the McCormack Trail. After a couple climbs and descents, they will then cross Governors Road, where they will have a couple of short but steep climbs as they approach the end. Runners will complete one lap around the Stacey Meadow Pond before ending their journey at the Stacey Meadow Pavilion.
This race is 75% trail and 25% road. Although there are some climbs along the way, this course is a net downhill course with approximately 185m of elevation gain and 265m of elevation loss. However, you should keep in mind that the biggest descent of the course also takes place on one of the most technical sections and it will NOT be a place to try to make up time. It will be a slow descent!
Race Swag:
Here are all of the things that are included in your race fee:
-Bus ride from the finish line at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area to the start line of each race distance.
-A pair of Happy Trails Racing Socks (perfect for after the race!)
-Neck Gator
-Sticker
-Parking at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area
-Teeny Tiny Custom Race Bib
-Aid Stations along the course
-A really cool finisher's medal
-$10 from each registration will go directly to the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club
Location:
The Dundas Valley Conservation Area is the perfect ending point for an event like this. They offer some great services and spectators will have plenty to do while they wait for friends/family to finish. Have a look around inside the Trail Centre or enjoy the trails by going on a hike. This will be a real community event and will be fun for the entire family!
The Race Registration Fee includes entrance into the Conservation Area for the participants. All crew and spectators will be asked to pay a reasonable entrance fee at the park entrance gate.
Aid Stations:
There will be 3 aid stations along the 25km course and 1 aid station on the 10km course. The aid stations will be at 7.5km, 15km, and 20km along the 25km course and around the 5km point on the 10km course. The aid stations will offer your typical ultra-running aid station goods. Sweet and salty snacks, water, electrolyte drink, PB and J, and more. If you have run a Happy Trails Racing event in the past, expect the same.
Please note all Happy Trails Racing events are cup-less so you will need to have a collapsible cup or bottle to fill at the aid stations.
Poles:
You are welcome to use poles for this race.
Post Race Food:
We understand that people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees.
There are a lot of really great places to eat in Dundas after the race.
Refund Policy:
Happy Trails Racing has a great policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out.