Pincushion Ski and Run Club

10/09/2026

Fun Run on Sunday to support Great Expectations School -

09/27/2026

Volunteers Needed for Gunflint Scramble MTB Race at Bearskin on Oct 3 -

09/27/2026

Pincushion Annual Volunteer Work Day - Saturday, October 24 -

08/03/2026

2026 Fisherman's Picnic Trail Run is a wrap! Thanks so much to everyone that came out, volunteers, runners, friends and families. Overheard at Pincushion: "That was hard, hard, hard!" "I don't think I've ever had to walk in a 10k before." What can we say? There aren't many flat trails at Pincushion. Congratulations to everyone that came out and did something hard on Saturday. Special thanks to volunteer photographer Carl Anderson for all the great shots.

07/28/2026

Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Run is this weekend, as in, four days away! Here’s one last reminder that we’d love to see you there if you haven’t already registered. 5k, 10k, 1/4 & 1 Mile Kids races. Beautiful trails, great community, join us. All proceeds benefit Pincushion Ski and Run Club and their work to maintain the trails at Pincushion Mountain.

https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/GrandMarais/FishermanSPicnicTrailRun

Folks, if you haven’t been here recently, I’ve got to admit that smoke a couple weeks ago got a little weird. And its not just the fire and the Aqi, but seeing the streets of Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail a little too empty in late July was downright spooky! Finally, this past weekend things seem to be getting back towards normal, but registrations slowed to a canoe’s pace during the BWCA shutdown, and we’ve got just a few more days left til race day. Pre-registration is best, same day registration also available. Sign up now.

Skies have been clear over the past week and the forecast looks to continue to bring favorable conditions for both weather and air quality. I’ve been hearing about 90’s and hundred degree temps around the area!? Living in Grand Marais, sometimes I forget that’s a thing. We have great weather for a trail run along the shore, I find myself complaining just a little if it's much over 75 degrees, if that gives you an idea of what I’m talking about.

We’ve got everything set: community members are volunteering their time, businesses have donated beverages, fruits, CANDY, give-aways and prizes. We also know there’s at least one person attending in a foam fish suit. All we need is you.

Come run in the woods with a bunch of cool people.

Hope to see ya Saturday.

Josh Dix
Volunteer Race Co-Director

07/17/2026

Fisherman's Picnic Trail Run is Two Weeks Away

No doubt the up-north news feed has gotten a bit busy lately, so if you’ve only got a moment here’s the short of it: 2026 Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Run is only two weeks away. If you’ve already signed up, THANK YOU! The proceeds from this event go directly to maintaining the beautiful trails at Pincushion Mountain. If you haven't registered yet, here’s a little reminder that we’re getting close and we’d love to have you joins us.

Got an extra minute?

Earlier this week I was on the verge sending an email hyping up our new courses, waxing poetic on the wonders of the Pincushion woods, and hoping to convince everyone to come run the Fish Pic with us on August 1st. Somehow, the message got deleted just before I clicked Send, then the next day a blanket of smoke and ash descended on Grand Marais so thick even the most dedicated trail runners went fleeing to the treadmill. Since then it’s been a nonstop barrage of wildfire updates, learning just how high an AQI number can go, and getting familiar with what I’m supposed to do for Ready, Set, GO…sadly this is not a trail race reference. I quickly found myself grateful that email didn’t send. It wasn't the right time, not the right vibe.

But this too, shall pass. This morning its raining, Google AI assures me this will help clear the air to some extent, and despite what the sky has been looking like, the fire nearest Grand Marais is far off in the wildness near the Canadian border. So it's important to acknowledge it's natural to feel some apprehension about signing up to a trail run right now, but here I am trying to convince you to do just that. Registration will remain open up to and including on race day. Signing up now is the best way to guarantee we’ll have the right shirt size for you, and helps put our minds at ease a bit in relation to covering our costs for the race. But it's up to you to decide what’s right for you. We hope to see you at Pincushion on August 1st. Come run in the woods with a bunch of cool people.

On the signup page, click Photos to see maps of the new 5k and 10k courses. I'm really excited about them, I think you'll love running them as much as I do.

Thanks for reading,

Josh Dix
Volunteer Race Co-Director

2026 Fisherman's Picnic Trail Run is on Saturday August 1, 2026. It includes the following events: 10k Trail Race, 5k Run/Walk, One Mile Kids Run, and Quarter Mile Kid's Run.

07/04/2026

07/04/2026

Early Registration Discount for 8/1 Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Runs Ends on 7/6.
SIGN UP NOW!

2026 Fisherman's Picnic Trail Run is on Saturday August 1, 2026. It includes the following events: 10k Trail Race, 5k Run/Walk, One Mile Kids Run, and Quarter Mile Kid's Run.