5th Annual Beaver Dash Bash: Lapeer’s favorite fall trail party

5th Annual Beaver Dash Bash: Lapeer’s favorite fall trail party

If you love singletrack, crisp September air, and cheering on your neighbors, the 5th Annual Beaver Dash Bash is your kind of Saturday. This homegrown fundraiser takes over Oakdale Trails with timed runs and mountain bike races, youth events, tasty food trucks, and a lively beer tent powered by Tilted Axis—everything we love about Lapeer wrapped into one community day. The 2025 edition is set for Saturday, September 20 at Oakdale Trails, right here in the City of Lapeer.

What’s happening on race day

Racers can choose from four timed events: a 5K or 10K cross-country run and an 11-mile or 22-mile MTB singletrack race. There’s even a Class 1 e-MTB category, plus a dual option if you want to run and ride for the full Beaver experience. Youth riders get their own 1-mile and 2-mile non-timed races, so bring the whole crew to the trailhead. All timed events are professionally clocked, with awards for first through third in MTB categories and overall male and female in the 5K and 10K.

Key times to know

• Run start: 8:45 a.m. east of the registration pavilion
• MTB wave starts: 10:45 a.m. with exact waves posted on site
• Youth MTB races follow the adult MTB events

These schedule anchors keep the day moving smoothly—especially if you’re attempting the dual event and need to plan your transitions. Families will find it easy to spectate thanks to Oakdale’s tight trail layout and multiple cheer spots near the start and finish.

Why we race: trails today and tomorrow

Beaver Dash Bash is more than a great race—it’s a fundraiser that keeps our trail system growing. Proceeds support Friends of Oakdale Trails, the all-volunteer crew that stewards our mileage. Construction leadership has come from local trail builders and partner groups, and the dollars raised at this event go right back into maintenance, new features, signage, and future expansions for everyone who runs, rides, and hikes Oakdale.

A course you’ll talk about

Oakdale’s stacked loops offer smooth machine-built sections, punchy climbs, and playful rollers that welcome newer riders while still challenging seasoned racers. Runners get a mix of forest shade and fast flow. If you haven’t been out lately, expect added refinement on the north side and a few fresh lines that keep the course lively without losing that signature Oakdale feel.

Make a day of it

• Outdoor food: local vendors serving up favorites all day
• Beer tent: celebrate your finish and swap trail stories
• Games and family fun: cornhole and a disc golf hole-in-one challenge
• Cheer zones: easy to bounce between spots and ring those cowbells

It’s as much a community festival as it is a race, which is exactly why folks come back every fall with friends in tow.

Runner and rider quick hits

• Distances: 5K and 10K run; 11-mile and 22-mile MTB
• Timing: professional electronic timing
• Awards: MTB first through third per timed category; overall male and female in 5K and 10K
• E-MTB: Class 1 category offered
• Dual event: do both the run and MTB for extra bragging rights
• Kids: 1-mile and 2-mile youth MTB rides, non-timed and all smiles

Local pride, local impact

Crank 4 A Cause, a Lapeer-based 501c3, organizes Beaver Dash Bash to fund outdoor recreation here at home. It’s a perfect Lapeer equation: spend a day on the trails with friends, then see that energy turn into new miles, better signage, and long-term care for our community’s favorite singletrack.

See you on the start line

Whether you’re shooting for a PR on the 5K, lining up for 22 miles of singletrack, or just coming to cheer, September 20 will be a great day to show up for our trails—and for each other. From first-timers to fast folks, the Beaver Dash Bash is Lapeer at its best: friendly, supportive, and full of trail stoke.

Sources: Crank 4 A Cause Beaver Dash Bash event page; League of Michigan Bicyclists event calendar; RunGuides listing; The County Press local coverage; CRAMBA information on Oakdale Trails.