Glacier Hills Ultra Trail Races: 20k, 30k, 50k
Join us for thrilling trail run through Newton Hills State Park, SD!
Join us for thrilling trail run through Newton Hills State Park, SD!

As the first Ultra established in SE South Dakota in 2015, we aim to carry on the grass roots feel that founded this event while bringing our own flair of fun to the mix. Our goal is that every runner finds a welcoming community, has a fun time, and leaves our race feeling empowered no matter the distance they covered.
In 2015 Jay started this event, then named the Newton Hills Ultra, and filled an ultra-running void in the area. He passed the event on to the ‘Tres Hermanas’ of Karen, Natalie, and Nancy who poured so much blood, sweat, tears, and endless nights and energy into growing this wonderful event and helping our trail and ultra-running community flourish. These wonderful women needed to step back after 2023 and entrusted this event to a rag-tag group of friends who just like to spend all day playing in the woods. We hope to continue to do the previous race directors, our runners, and the event justice by continuing to serve up a fun-filled grassroots race that celebrates this amazing community!
Newton Hills State Park lies just south of Canton, SD and sits nestled along the Big Sioux River bluffs formed by glacier activity a couple (thousands? millions?) of years ago. Hence the name of our race: Glacier Hills. And yes, there are hills.
The park has many trails and connections, some dedicated to foot traffic only, and others that are open to foot, horse, and bicycle traffic. Our race runs on a 10K loop that utilizes about a half mile of gravel driveway through the horse campground, 3.5 miles of the horse/people trails, and 2 miles of foot traffic only trails.
You will arrive back at the start/finish after every 10k loop where we will have a fully stocked aid station with all the necessities to fuel your running dreams. We will also have a drop bag area at this point if you desire to utilize that method. You may also park your car in the horse campground parking lot and utilize it as your own personal aid station when you run by each loop (about a ½ mile into each loop).
Each 10K loop consists of about 1,000ft of climbing, because Hillz. Those Hillz come mostly in the form of 3 big climbs for each loop with a few “speed bumps” thrown in for kicks and giggles and some great runnable terrain in between.
Just remember, this is a trail race. It’s 100% dirt/gravel with a rock or two on the trail, but lots of tree roots and horse poo, usually conveniently covered by leaves.
**Because we make use of the horse trails, we must enforce our race cutoff time of 2PM, as horses will be allowed back on the trails beginning at 1:30PM and we will have to pick up course markers by that time.**
***Also this is a state park. You will need to purchase a state park pass either at the entrance or ahead of time through the SD State parks website to avoid a ticket. (Park rangers will be out surveying!)***

2026 swag is yet to be determined, but we plan on living up to the hype of previous years swag and delivering something that you will use until it falls apart!
Newton Hills State Park offers tent sites, RV sites, and limited cabins. Make the time to stay for the weekend and enjoy the beauty of Eastern South Dakota! Camping/Cabin reservations can be made here:
If you’re looking for a close stay, but want more amenities, Gate City Events and Lodging in nearby Canton (a less than 10 mile drive) offers clean motel rooms with queen size beds for $120 a night. Check them out at the link below or call 605-214-4604
There are plentiful more options available to stay at in the Sioux Falls area, but a farther drive (45 minutes) that isn’t so fun to make at 4:00 in the morning.

When “The Tres Hermanas” first took over this race they devised a fun award that runners could earn by consistently running this event. Betty the Yeti is a fun award that runners are lucky to have in their possession. In order to earn a Betty a runner must complete all of the distances (20K, 30K and 50K) within the time cut off and will earn a Betty The Yeti designed by Aravaipa_Artworx.
This challenge takes three years to complete but the energy this event brings is well worth the wait!
MULTIPLE BETTY: If you complete the trifecta multiple times, instead of another Betty, you will receive a Mini Betty medal to adorn your original Betty.
Estuary Park
Estuary Park
Newton Hills State Park
Bring a headlamp for the first 2 hours of your race!
It will be repeated time and time again (because someone is always flustered and late ...
Newton Hills State Park
Newton Hills State Park
Bring a headlamp for the first hour of your race!
It will be repeated time and time again (because someone is always flustered and late – d...
Newton Hills State Park
Newton Hills State Park
It will be repeated time and time again (because someone is always flustered and late – don’t let it be you) plan on at least an additional ...
Newton Hills State Park
Please reach us at jessica.walhof@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
No. There will be no switching up your race distance on race day or during the race. Trying to do so will give you a DNF result.
If you do not possess night vision, then yes.
50k- YES
30k- YES
20k - optional (recommended for pre race)
Yes- FOR A FREE-WILL DONATION!
All food is free for runners (that's part of your race fee). Non runners will be able to eat pancakes and bacon and have some coffee and hot chocolate if they make a free will donation to A CAUSE YET TBD THIS YEAR. We will have a cash jar for this at the aid station, OR WILL HAVE A LINK TO DONATE BEFOREHAND
Yes!!! You will be ticketed if you don't have one! Get one ahead of time online:
Or use the kiosk if you enter at the main entrance (not available at the horse camp)
50k- suggestion is to use the horse camp
30k and 20k, horse camp or in the tiny parking lot and along the road by race headquarters.
Horse camp coordinates: 43.234903052625945, -96.57297453397318
Race Headquarters coordinates: 43.22720866566845, -96.57605004206711
Yes
1 vault toilet at the race start/finish/aid station
2 double vault (men's and women's) toilets in the horse camp
Yes, we will have a designated drop bag area at the start/finish/aid station. You are also welcome to use your parked vehicle in the horse camp parking lot as your own personal aid station.
The aid station is at the same location as the start/finish. You will pass through the aid station once every loop (so every 6 miles). There will be water available on the course at mile 4.
Saturday TBD 2026
50k - 6am
30k - 7am
20k - 8am
AT LEAST 30 minutes before your race starts.
Yes, all races conclude at 2pm.
However, these are open and public trails so you could stay out on them as long as your heart desires. But we will be wrapping things up and taking down the finish line at 2pm and not sticking around if you're still out on the course - that's on you.
The horse trails are closed to the horses during the race until 1pm. After that time you may incur (and have to stop/slow down for) horse encounters, but with our cutoff time of 2pm you should be pretty much done with this section (the first 4 miles of the 6 mile loop) by that time.
*If you do happen upon a horse on the trails before 1pm, let us know. We’re still working with the horses on their reading and comprehension skills when it comes to the trails closed signs.
No.
*Our last chance for any timely communication is Thursday evening (36 hours before the race) as we head to the park early Friday morning to start staging for the party, and therefore won't have cell service (unless we run into town real quick for something, but even then its pretty iffy). That said, if you got questions, ask now or hold your peace!
No, there is no cell service at the park, and therefore no live race tracking.
TBD
Yes - we roll with the honor system.
You may register up until TBD. However, to be guaranteed swag, you must be registered by TBD
You may notify us to switch distance up until TBD.
Newton Hills State Park, 482nd Avenue, Canton, SD, USA
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