The Shades State Park 12 Hour, aka “Death by Shades”, is a short and not difficult route--when run once. However, it becomes a formidable feat to stack loops on top of each other, as the technicality of the terrain and the vertical gain and loss begin to add up. The loop totals ~0.8 miles and ~150-180 ft of gain and loss. The route is a favorite of runners familiar with the area, including college cross-country teams and local ultra/trail runners who use the loop to quickly accumulate more gain and loss than is otherwise easily available in Indiana.
Using state park maps (https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/shades_trail.pdf) as a reference, the loop begins at the four-way junction of trails 4 and 7 just north of the Hickory Parking Lot. Heading downhill (north) on the western leg of trail 4, a gravel/dirt well-maintained trail drops 150-180ft to near Sugar Creek, where the trail turns right to parallel Sugar Creek for a moment. After crossing a (sometimes-dry) creek bed, the trail trail turns right to go back north up a set of wooden stairs onto the western leg of trail 5, which climbs 150-180 ft on single track trail and a series of stairs. At the top, a right hand turn will bring you shortly back to the junction where the route began. Note: because of the stairs and in courtesy to others who may use the trail, it is advised to run the loop clockwise, as described above. Note also that the State Park trails are closed dusk to dawn, so running a full 12 hours is not strictly legal in mid winter (and also the reason a 24 hour run is not permitted). To be counted a lap must be COMPLETED within the 12 Hour window.
The route’s name is a play on the double meaning of “Shades” as both the name of the park and a synonym for small amounts.
Strava segment for one loop: https://www.strava.com/segments/25922784?filter=overall
