EDEN — The GOAL Foundation and Trails Foundation of Northern Utah will once again team up with Weber County Parks & Recreation in October to present one of the region’s rising outdoor events.

Northern Utah Trailfest, or The NUT, will emanate for the third-straight year from Eden’s North Fork Park from Oct. 4-6. The free-entry event features a number of trail races and a veritable bonanza of other activities.

“Northern Utah Trailfest is just a fall celebration for all trail users … It’s really a festival for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy adventure and recreation and, on our side, it’s also a fundraising event,” said Cecily Kiss, GOAL Foundation’s community engagement manager.

The event will feature several trail runs and mountain bike races, including — for the first time ever — relay-style duo races.

“We heard everyone’s feedback last year — and in our first year — that they want to run with their friends or their family or their partners,” Kiss said. “So we’ve listened and this year we made it possible to do the duo for the six-hour trail run or bike race.”

Three-, six- and nine-hour trail runs will be contested on a 3.5-mile loop, while there will be bike races of three and six hours on a seven-mile loop.

Racers will be subject to entry fees; Kiss says there’s no hard deadline for race registration prior to the events.

In addition to the races, Northern Utah Trailfest will feature an outdoors festival with events appealing to adults and children alike.

Festival activities include food trucks and vendors, s’mores, a variety of hikes, yoga, axe throwing and live music with the likes of Mel Soul, Giants in the Oak Tree and others.

There also will be fireside storytelling with the Weber State Storytellers, a Kids Zone hosted by Ogden’s Treehouse Museum and a “musical petting zoo” presented by Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music, during which people can try out a variety of instruments.

Kiss says some 2,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event. Organizers also expect an increase over the approximately 350 athletes that participated in races in 2023.

Paid camping spots for the event are available, with Kiss noting that a handful of VIP spots remain as of Friday afternoon.

For more information, including a complete list of activities and their times, or to register as a racer or event volunteer, go to https://www.northernutahtrailfest.com.

“We do still have some volunteer shifts available for the weekend,” Kiss added. “Our volunteers do receive a free beanie as well as a free meal and awesome snacks and time.”

The GOAL Foundation’s mission is to inspire residents of the Greater Ogden area to get out and live by participating, volunteering and spectating at recreational/cultural events, programs and activities.

Meanwhile, the Trails Foundation of Northern Utah is committed to planning, promoting and maintaining a network of trails and open spaces throughout Northern Utah for non-motorized users.