24 Hours. One Incredible Challenge: The Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra Returns to Gwinn

Returning to Gwinn, Michigan, October 10–11, the second annual Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra will bring more than 40 registered athletes to the forests surrounding Anderson Lake for one of the most unique endurance events in the Upper Peninsula.

Hosted by Forsyth Forward through its Explore Our Wild outdoor recreation initiative, the race challenges runners to complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour. The race continues until only one runner remains or until someone reaches the incredible 24-loop, 100-mile mark.

And that is what makes a backyard ultra different from a traditional marathon. It isn't necessarily about being the fastest.

It is about perseverance and grit!

One Loop at a Time

At first, 4.167 miles might not sound impossible. Once runners finish their loop they are to return to basecamp, grab some food and water, talk with the other runners, and have a little time to catch your breath.

Then the next hour begins. To then do it again… and again.

As the hours pass, those 4.167-mile loops begin to add up! Four miles becomes eight. Eight becomes 20. Twenty becomes 40. Eventually, runners are no longer simply asking themselves whether they can run another loop. They are asking how much longer they can keep going.

For those who complete all 24 loops, the total distance reaches exactly 100 miles. But, the race is not only about reaching that mind-blowing number. For some runners, success might mean finishing one singular loop. For others, it might mean making it through the night. And for the most determined, it might mean waking up Sunday morning after running through an entire day and night with 100 miles behind them.

Forsyth Forward is incredibly lucky to have Bill Hemmila returning as the Race Director for this year's Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra. Bill brings a passion for the race, the outdoors, and the people who take on this unique challenge.

“This race is about discovering what you're capable of, and that means something different for every participant.”

That idea is at the heart of the event. Everyone starts together, but every runner has different goals.

Running Through the Upper Peninsula

This challenge becomes even more memorable because of where it takes place. The Anderson Lake course winds through the Anderson Lake State Forest area near Gwinn, with wooded singletrack, gravel roads, and scenic ski trails. Each loop includes approximately 289 feet of elevation gain.

This is not a paved city marathon. It is a special Michigan trail running experience. Runners will be surrounded by the forests and amazing changing landscape of the Upper Peninsula in the fall.

As the race continues into the evening, runners experience something that is difficult to recreate at a traditional race. The Upper Peninsula is known for its outdoor recreation, and events like the Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra offer another way for people to experience that landscape in some special ways.

For Forsyth Forward, that is a big part of the reason for bringing the event back. Through Explore Our Wild, Forsyth Forward works to highlight the outdoor recreation opportunities, trails, businesses, and natural spaces that make Gwinn and Forsyth Township worth exploring.

The Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra brings athletes into that landscape and gives them a reason to experience it in a completely different way.

More Than 100 Miles

There is obviously a physical challenge involved in running 100 miles. But ask anyone involved in a backyard ultra, and the story is about much more than mileage.

It is about the people standing next to you at the starting line.

It is about runners encouraging each other when everyone is tired.

It is about volunteers keeping things moving.

It is about the person who might have expected to make it through only a few loops and ends up surprising themselves.

Bill describes the atmosphere as one of encouragement and camaraderie! Everyone has their own personal challenge, but they are all in it together!

That is part of what makes a backyard ultra in Michigan's Upper Peninsula such a special event.

The Weekend Begins in Gwinn

The race itself may take place at Anderson Lake, but the weekend starts in the community. On Friday, October 9, athletes and community members are invited to the Up North Lodge Event Center in Gwinn from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. for a pre-race gathering.

Runners can pick up their race packets, meet fellow competitors, and enjoy some live music before the challenge begins.

At 7:00 p.m., guests can also watch Still Running, a documentary about the Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra created by Northern Michigan University filmmaker Dylan Dube.

The screening offers a chance to see the determination, experiences, and personality behind an event that is easy to describe but much harder to understand until you see it for yourself.

The Friday night event is open to the public, and community members, friends, families, and outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to come out, meet the athletes, and help send them into race weekend.

Come See It for Yourself

The first runners will head out Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. on October 10 from the Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground area.

Spectators are welcome at the race basecamp to encourage runners and watch and cheer! Support runners as they return from each loop, prepare for the next one, and keep pushing forward.

Hourly shuttle service will run between the Up North Lodge Event Center parking lot and Anderson Lake basecamp. Race-day parking for participants and spectators will be located at the Up North Lodge, with no event parking available at the race site.

When Sunday morning arrives, maybe someone will have completed all 24 loops and earned the title of 100-mile finisher.

But regardless of how many miles each athlete completes, the Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra is about the same thing that makes so many outdoor adventures special in the first place.

Getting outside, challenging yourself, and seeing what you are capable of!!!

This October, that challenge is waiting at Anderson Lake in Gwinn, Michigan. Come experience the race. Cheer on the runners. Explore the trails.

Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra

October 10–11, 2026
Anderson Lake near Gwinn, Michigan
Hosted by Forsyth Forward | Explore Our Wild

Learn more about the race, registration, course information, and weekend activities at Explore Our Wild – Anderson Lake Backyard Ultra.

Explore Our Wild. Discover Gwinn.