Haunted Jaunt 5K & 10K Trail Races
Date and time
Friday, October 23, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
N 8th Street and Oak Street, Lawrence, KS
Date and time
Friday, October 23, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
N 8th Street and Oak Street, Lawrence, KS
Date and time
Friday, October 23, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
N 8th Street and Oak Street, Lawrence, KS
The inaugural Haunted Jaunt 5K & 10K Trail Races will take place on the Lawrence River Trails. This is a nighttime race that may feature a few spooky surprises along the route! Feel free to wear a costume but keep in mind the challenging nature of nighttime trail running when making costume choices.
Start Time Sunset is scheduled for 6:29 PM. Races will begin at 6:30 PM. *Please note, depending on field size start times between the 5K and 10K may be staggered by up to 15 minutes. Race directors will make an announcement if start time adjustments are made closer to the race.
Light Source Required of all Runners All runners must carry a light source such as a headlamp, waistlight, or handheld flashlight. It will be dark on the course.
Course The Lawrence River Trails are relatively flat singletrack with a few short hills sprinkled in for fun. They are flowy and not too technical, with only a few roots or rocks, perfect for trail running experts and beginners alike.
Races begin near the Levee gate, go down through the parking lot, and enter the River Trails on the south (right-hand) side.
The 5K is one loop following the 5K Loop route. 10K Runners will complete two loops of the 5K Loop route. This is a non-certified course on trail; your watch will likely read a little more or less than 5K or 10K.
If the trails are unsafe for runners or vulnerable to damage due to muddy conditions, an alternative course will be provided by the Lawrence Trail Hawks Race Directors. The alternate course will most likely be on the packed-gravel Lawrence Levee Trail.
Aid Stations Water, electrolytes, energy snacks, fruit, and other items will be available on the course.
A small aid station will be available near the 5K Loop turnaround, about halfway through the race for 5K runners.
10K runners will pass the turnaround aid station during each of your loops and will also have access to an aid station at the trailhead at the start of your second loop.
We encourage runners to bring your own reusable hydration bottles or cups, in keeping with the Trail Hawks motto "Kindness to Life and Land". We will provide a few cups by the water coolers at the aid stations if you are in need.
Awards All finishers will receive a wooden finishers medal.
Awards will be given for 1st place overall and 1st place masters in each gender for the 5K and 10K races.
Swag Participants registered by October 10 will receive a Haunted Jaunt t-shirt. Extra shirts may be available on raceday for anyone who registers after October 10 on a first come, first served basis but are not guaranteed.
Participants will receive a custom race bib.
Cutoff The Haunted Jaunt 5K and 10K races will have an end time of 9:30 PM. Runners and walkers are welcome to take advantage for up to 3 hours to complete either distance. To ensure you make the cutoff time, 10K runners/walkers must leave the trailhead aid station to begin their final loop of the course by 8:00 PM. Participants who choose to continue on the public trails past 9:30 pm do so at their own risk, without support from the race.
Lawrence Trail Hawk Discount Dues paying members of the Lawrence Trail Hawks (http://trailhawks.com/) are eligible for the Trail Hawk discount of $10 off either race. The discount will be automatically applied when using your Runsignup account associated to their Trail Hawks Membership. To sign up as a member before registering so you may get the discount, visit https://runsignup.com/lawrencetrailhawks
Packet Pickup Packet Pickup details will be announced soon.
Parking Parking is limited near the start/finish. We recommend parking on the street while following all Lawrence parking rules and regulations and respecting our North Lawrence neighbors. You may consider parking in the public lot near the Kansas River bridge at the corner of N. 2nd Street and Locust St and take advantage of an approximately 1 mile warm-up and cool-down on on the river levee.
Deferral Policy Seeing you cross the finish line is the reason we host this race. If you’ve signed up for one of the events, but are unable to safely participate in the race, we offer the following options.
CHANGING DISTANCE PRIOR TO THE RACE Runners may contact the Race Director and transfer to a lower or a higher distance on or before October 10. If moving to a higher distance, a pro-rata charge will apply. No credit or refund can be given for transfers to a lower-distance race. You can also manage your registration on RunSignup and change the distance yourself.
NO BIB TRANSFERS The Haunted Jaunt does not allow refunds or for the runners to transfer entries to other participants. Race numbers and official participant bibs are assigned by the Race Director to each specific participant and may not be sold, transferred, reproduced, replicated, or modified.
DEFERRAL Runners may defer their race entries to the following year by notifying the Race Director on or before October 10.
DID NOT START If you can’t attend, and haven’t deferred, please let the Race Director know at least seven days before the race, so your name can be removed from the starters list. If you don’t show up, and don’t let us know in advance that you can’t make it, you’ll be recorded as DNS in the race results.
Rules and Safety Runner safety has always been, and will continue to be, a top priority for our event. Respect all participants and volunteers to ensure a safe and enjoyable race for everyone.
Be courteous to others when passing or being passed. Single track trails are tight, so stay alert. Announce when you plan to pass someone, and go around them on the left when it is safe to do so.
Kids and families are welcome! Participants must be at least 12 years old and any child under 14 must be accompanied by an adult on the course for the entirety of the race. Any child 14 or older but younger than 16 must have an adult present at the event. The River Trails are not suitable terrain for strollers.
All runners must carry a light source such as a headlamp, waistlight, or handheld flashlight. It will be dark on the course.
Follow the Trail Hawks motto "Kindness to Life and Land" and pick up any wrappers, tissues, bottles, or food waste that you use on the trail.
We love dogs and normally welcome them. However, due to the narrow nature of the trails, the race being ran at night and presence of "haunt cast" on the trails we ask that you please keep the pups at home for this race.
Personal music devices are strongly discouraged. No speakers allowed. If you wear headphones, use a low volume, one earbud, or bone conduction models that allow you to stay alert.
In order to participate or volunteer in Lawrence Trail Hawks activities, you must be able to respect the identity of runners in regards to race, sexuality, gender identity, physical ability, age and body type. Any discriminatory language and behavior should be brought to the attention of the race director/event leader as soon as it is safe to do so. Anyone found speaking or behaving in a manner that diminishes the ability for fellow athletes and volunteers to participate in a safe, comfortable, and inclusive environment will be disqualified from the race or asked to leave the event and risks being barred from future Lawrence Trail Hawks races and events.
Race Cancellation or Postponement In the event the race should be postponed or canceled for reasons beyond the control of the Lawrence Trail Hawks (inclement or unsafe weather conditions; local, state or national emergency), refunds will not be made. Race packets will be available at a location to be determined or possibly, though but not guaranteed, by mail.
ALTERNATE COURSE If local authorities or Lawrence River Trail stewards deem the trails unsafe for runners or vulnerable to damage due to muddy conditions, an alternative course will be provided by the Lawrence Trail Hawks Race Directors.
Volunteers We can't do this race without our wonderful volunteers! Help is needed for packet pickup and race day. You can sign up for a specific task, or sign up for "As Needed" to be assigned where we need you most. You may also sign up to be part of the "cast"; the runners do the jaunting while you do the haunting! You'll be asked to describe the type role you'd like to play for haunting. We are also asking for donations and loans of halloween decorations to make the course extra special. THANK YOU for making this event possible with your time and talents!
Questions? Contact us at hauntedjaunttrailrace@gmail.com
5K
10K