BIGHORN · 100 MILE
100
MILES, ABOUT
MI 0Start · Tongue Canyon RoadCrew access: yes
Bighorn Trail Run · Dayton, Wyoming · June 2027 (estimated)
Where to stay for the Bighorn Trail Run, close to the finish
Stay in Dayton or Ranchester if you can. All four distances finish at Scott Bicentennial Park in Dayton[1], a town of 822[22]. Visit Sheridan's lodging list shows only a few places to stay in Dayton and Ranchester, and 19 hotels and motels in Sheridan[21], about 16 miles away in a straight line[22][45]. Crews do best in a house: a kitchen, a washer for muddy gear, and a dark room to sleep after the 100 runs through the night.
---DAYS
--HRS
--MIN
To the 100-mile start, our estimate: Fri June 18, 2027, 9:00 AM, following the 2026 Friday 9 AM start[6]. The race hasn't posted 2027 dates; the Western States qualifier list shows June 2027[15]. Finish window: 35 hours, to Sat 8:00 PM[2].
Which distance is your runner in?
MI 3.5Lower Sheep CreekCrew access: no · supplied by horse and mule
Why lodging is the hard part
Three things that catch first-time crews
822people in Dayton, 2020 census[22]
The finish is in a very small town
Every distance ends in Dayton[1]. Visit Sheridan's lodging list shows only a few places to stay in Dayton and Ranchester, and 19 hotels and motels in Sheridan[21], about 16 miles from Dayton in a straight line[22][45]. The race offers gym-floor and parking-lot space at the community center for participants[43].
35 hrs100-mile time limit[2]
The 100 runs through the night
The 100 starts at 9:00 AM Friday and the finish closes at 8:00 PM Saturday[2]. Sunset is about 9 PM and sunrise about 5:20 AM[23]. Even the 2026 course record, 17:58:03[14], means a finish just before 3 AM Saturday from a 9 AM start. Every 100-miler runs through the night, and so does the crew. Somebody has to sleep in the daytime.
2.5 hrsDry Fork ↔ Sally's, each way[5]
MI 13.5Dry Fork RidgeCrew access: yes · drop bags
The race
Four distances, one finish line in Dayton
Local trail runners started the race in 1993; the 100 was added in 2002[13]. It draws runners from all 50 states and eight countries[19].
269100-mile starters, 2026[18]
~20,500 ft100-mile climbing[3]
8,800 ftHigh point, Jaws[3]
3,970 ftFinish, Dayton[3]
17:58:03100 course record, Bo Shelby, 2026[14]
BIGHORN · 52 MILE
52
MILES, ABOUT
BIGHORN · 32 MILE
32
MILES, ABOUT
BIGHORN · 18 MILE
18
MILES, ABOUT
- Start
- Dry Fork, Sat 10:00 AM
- Climb
- TODO (not published)
- Cutoff
- Sat 8 PM
- Crew
- See 18-mile page[12]
Start times and places are from the 2026 race; the race hasn't posted 2027 details. Last verified Oct 8, 2026[6].
BIGHORN 2027 · EST.
---
DAYS TO START
Registration
The race site says registration opens October 15 for the 100 and 52[17]. Entries are through ItsYourRace[16]. In the last cycle, the 18, 32 and 52 opened January 5, 2026, and the 18 filled with a wait list[16]. Entries can't be transferred[16].
One email when the race posts 2027 dates or opens a distance. Free. No card, no login.
MI 30Sally's FootbridgeCrew access: yes · pacers may start
Crew access
Where crews can meet a 100-miler, and how long the drives take
Drive times are the race's own estimates in good conditions, point to point[5]. Bars show the elevation of each aid station your runner passes on that leg[2].
1.5 h
Start → Dry Fork (mi 13.5) · runner covers 13.5 mi
US-14 to Burgess Junction, then FS Rd 15 and FS Rd 168
2.5 h
Dry Fork → Sally's (mi 30) · runner covers 16.5 mi
Down the mountain, north through Montana, rough canyon road
HIGH CLEARANCE2 h 40 min
Sally's → Jaws (mi 48) · runner covers 18.0 mi
Back over to US-14A toward Lovell, FS Rd 13; 2.5 h to the Devil's Canyon crossing, then about 10 min to Jaws
HIGH CLEARANCE2.5 h
Jaws → Sally's (mi 66) · runner covers 18.0 mi
Same canyon road, often after dark
HIGH CLEARANCE2.5 h
Sally's → Dry Fork (mi 82.5) · runner covers 16.5 mi
Saturday parking at Dry Fork is restricted
HIGH CLEARANCE1.25 h
Dry Fork → Finish (mi 100) · runner covers 17.5 mi
Down US-14 to Dayton; Tongue Canyon Rd is off limits
| Mile | Station | Elev (ft) | Crew | Drop bags | Pacers | Cutoff (2026) | How crews get there | From our Dayton homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Start, Tongue Canyon Rd | 4,275 | Yes | — | — | 9:00 AM Fri start | Tongue Canyon Rd off US-14, about 3.5 mi from Scott Park; free race bus from Scott Park[44] | TODO |
| 13.5 | Dry Fork Ridge | 7,480 | Yes | Yes | In: yes (mi 82.5) | Out 3:00 PM Fri · In 3:00 PM Sat | US-14 to Burgess Jct, FS Rd 15 (Dayton Gulch), FS Rd 168 (Freeze Out); park ¼ mi away | TODO |
| 30 | Sally's Footbridge | 4,590 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Out 8:30 PM Fri · In 10:00 AM Sat | WY 343 → WY 345 past Parkman into Montana, Littlehorn Rd (paved, then gravel), primitive canyon road; high clearance; park and walk about ½–¾ mi (race pages differ) | TODO |
| 48 | Jaws Trailhead | 8,800 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4:00 AM Sat | US-14 → US-14A toward Lovell about 20.7 mi, FS Rd 13 past Porcupine Ranger Station about 2.5 mi | TODO |
| 66 | Sally's Footbridge | 4,590 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Out 8:30 PM Fri · In 10:00 AM Sat | WY 343 → WY 345 past Parkman into Montana, Littlehorn Rd (paved, then gravel), primitive canyon road; high clearance; park and walk about ½–¾ mi (race pages differ) | TODO |
| 82.5 | Dry Fork Ridge | 7,480 | Yes | Yes | In: yes (mi 82.5) | Out 3:00 PM Fri · In 3:00 PM Sat | US-14 to Burgess Jct, FS Rd 15 (Dayton Gulch), FS Rd 168 (Freeze Out); park ¼ mi away | TODO |
| 100 | Scott Park finish, Dayton | 3,970 | Yes | Returned at Scott Park until 8 PM, then Ranchester Sun 7 AM | — | 8:00 PM Sat | 2nd Ave, Dayton; race-day parking at the community center with a shuttle | TODO |
Stations, elevations, crew access and cutoffs: race 100-mile page[2]. Crew routes: general crew information[5].
Before race day: crews may help only within 100 yards of a designated crew area[9]. Pacers are allowed in the 100 only, from Sally's Footbridge (mile 30) on, and must be 18 or older[8]. Check road conditions with WYDOT 511[27], Montana 511[28] and the Bighorn National Forest alerts[26]. Drive times from our homes to each crew point: TODO from listing coordinates.
MI 33.5Cathedral RockCrew access: no
Why a house
A crew of four in motel rooms, or one house
Count the rooms first. Then count what a motel room can't do: wash mud out of a runner's kit[3], cook real food at 2 AM, and stay dark at noon for whoever drove the night shift.
Example rates only, not quotes. Put in the real numbers you're seeing. Your house rate comes from the booking page.
Motel rooms needed3
Motel total$1,350
One house total$1,140
Per person, per night (house)$76
- One kitchen for every meal, not three mini-fridges
- A washer and dryer for mud and wet socks (check the listing)
- Separate bedrooms, so the night crew can sleep while the day crew drives
- One driveway, one key, one place to sort drop bags
MI 40Spring MarshCrew access: no
Race weekend, hour by hour
What the weekend looked like in 2026
The race hasn't posted the 2027 schedule. Here is the 2026 schedule as a guide[6].
ThursdayJune 18, 2026
6–9 AMCoffee social, Bison Union, 171 N Main, Sheridan
12–6 PMPacket pickup, all distances, and 100-mile drop bags: Sheridan Inn, 856 Broadway, Sheridan
6:00 PM100-mile pre-race briefing, Sheridan Inn
7–8:30 PM100-mile welcome, Tongue River Brewing, Ranchester
FridayJune 19, 2026
6:45 AM100-mile buses leave Scott Park, Dayton, every 15 min until 8:15
9:00 AM100-mile start, Tongue River Canyon
9:30 AMCrew and pacer reception, Innominate Coffee House, Ranchester
12–6 PMPacket pickup for the 52, 32 and 18; drop bags for the 52 and 32, Sheridan Inn
SaturdayJune 20, 2026
3:15 AM52-mile buses leave; 5:00 AM start at Jaws
6:00 AM32-mile buses; 8:00 AM start at Dry Fork
8:00 AM18-mile buses; 10:00 AM start at Dry Fork
11:00 AMKids & family run, Ranchester
12–8 PMFinish-line picnic, Scott Park, Dayton
3–6 PMAwards at the Scott Park band shell
8:00 PMFinish cutoff, all distances
SundayJune 21, 2026
7–11 AMBreakfast and drop-bag pickup, Innominate, Ranchester
Sunday is yours: see the recovery day below. That's our suggestion, not a race event.
Night section
Friday night on the mountain
The course notes say the climbs out of Sally's and Jaws "get COLD"[3]. The race's medical page warns of heat, cold, snow and altitude[24]. Pack for all of it.
8:58 PMSunset, Dayton, Fri June 19, 2026[23]
4:00 AMJaws turnaround cutoff, mile 48[2]
5:22 AMSunrise, Sat June 20, 2026[23]
Weather and safety: NWS forecast for Dayton[25] · the race's medical page[24]. We don't give medical advice.
MI 48Jaws Trailhead · turnaroundCrew access: yes · high point 8,800 ft
Crew planner
Build your crew and lodging plan
Four quick steps. You get a plan you can download, and we'll check which homes near the finish fit your group.
Your crew plan · live preview
—
Nights: Fri · Sat (2)
People: —
Crew points: —
- Homes that fit: Rustic Ridge Cabin, Rachael’s Place, Coffeen House
Homes nearest the finish
Sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Dayton[22], from our listing coordinates (checked 2026-10-09). Walking time to Scott Park: TODO (needs the park's exact location).
Rustic Ridge Cabin
Dayton · about ¼ mi from the center of Dayton
Sleeps up to 3 per cabin. Pet-friendly log cabin with a porch, on Main Street.
Check race-week dates
Rachael’s Place
Dayton · about 1.1 mi from the center of Dayton
Sleeps up to 11. Covered deck with a view of the Bighorn foothills.
Check race-week dates
Coffeen House
Ranchester · about 5.4 mi from the center of Dayton
Sleeps up to 6. Restored older home, pet-friendly per the listing.
Ask about race-week dates: (307) 763-5449
MI 76.5Kern's Cow CampCrew access: no · the bacon station
Food, gear, recovery
What's near the finish, by distance
Distances are straight-line from the center of Dayton. Small-town hours change, so check before you drive. Nobody here paid to be listed.
In Daytonabout 0–1 mi
Active Balance Physical Therapy[51]
512 Main St · (307) 655-2509 · the one PT clinic we found in Dayton
Ranchesterabout 5 mi
Buckhorn Travel Plaza[40]
723 US-14 · fuel, groceries
MI 82.5Dry Fork Ridge, inboundCrew access: yes · last drop bag
Stay one more night
The recovery day
The finish closes at 8 PM Saturday. Drop bags come back Sunday morning in Ranchester[7]. Nobody should drive to Denver on those legs. Stay Sunday night and see the mountain from a car seat.
Bighorn Scenic Byway, US-14
47 miles over Granite Pass (9,033 ft) to Shell Falls. The byway starts about 6.5 miles west of Dayton[29].
6.5 mi W
Fallen City overlook[29]
First big stop on the byway, west of Dayton on US-14.
Dayton
Tongue River Canyon[30]
Game & Fish public access via County Road 92, with Trail #002 into the national forest.
about 5 mi
about 16 mi
Trail End State Historic Site[48]
Kendrick Mansion, 1913, in Sheridan. Summer hours 9–6 daily.
Big Horn
The Brinton Museum[42]
Western and American Indian art. Free. Peak season daily 9:30–5.
More to do: things to do in Sheridan · Dayton, with the concierge
MI 87.5Upper Sheep CreekCrew access: no
History
The race, the river and the town at the bottom
1993
Local trail runners started the race. It grew out of opposition to the proposed Dry Fork hydroelectric project.[13]
1882
Homesteaders met at Henry Baker's store near where the Tongue and Little Tongue rivers meet and named the townsite Dayton.[46]
1910s
Susan Wissler served as mayor of Dayton, the first woman mayor in Wyoming.[33]
Tongue
The Tongue River's name comes from the Cheyenne word for "tongue river." It leaves its canyon at Dayton.[34]
We call it the Footbridge Hours: the stretch between watching your runner cross Sally's Footbridge at mile 30 and seeing them cross it again at mile 66. They go up to Jaws and back. You sit in the canyon and wait. Bring a chair, a headlamp and more patience than coffee.
Ran it, crewed it, or cheered it?
Send us a photo from an old Bighorn finish or a Dayton race weekend. We'll ask before we post it and credit you by name. Use the note box in the kit form below, or call (307) 763-5449.
MI 92.5Lower Sheep Creek, inboundCrew access: no
Free downloads
Pack the drop bags
Tap the tags you want. One email gets them all, and the downloads open on this page.
Free. No card, no login.
No email needed for these:
MI 94.8Tongue River TrailheadCrew access: on foot or bike only
Questions
Bighorn Trail Run lodging questions
Where should I stay for the Bighorn Trail Run?
As close to Dayton as you can. All four distances finish at Scott Bicentennial Park in Dayton [1], and the 100 starts about 3.5 miles from Scott Park, off Tongue Canyon Road [44]. Visit Sheridan's lodging list shows only a few places to stay in Dayton and Ranchester and 19 hotels and motels in Sheridan [21], about 16 miles from Dayton in a straight line [22][45]. Crews often want a house with a kitchen and a washer.
When is the 2027 Bighorn Trail Run?
When does registration open?
Where is the finish line?
Can crews drive to every aid station?
Do I need a high-clearance vehicle to crew?
How long does the 100 take?
Where do I pick up my packet and drop bags?
In 2026 it was the Sheridan Inn, 856 Broadway in Sheridan: Thursday noon to 6 PM for all packets and 100-mile bags, Friday noon to 6 PM for 52 and 32 bags [6]. Check the 2027 schedule when it posts.
How do runners get to the start?
What's the closest airport?
What's the weather in mid-June?
Is it good for kids?
In 2026 there was a kids and family run in Ranchester Saturday morning and a finish-line picnic at Scott Park from noon to 8 PM [6].
MI 98Home StretchCrew access: on foot
Sources
- Bighorn Trail Run, home page · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, 100 mile (aid stations, cutoffs, crew access) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn 100 course description (PDF) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn 100 aid station chart (PDF) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, general crew information · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, 2026 schedule (PDF) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, drop bags · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, pacer information · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, course rules · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, 52 mile · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, 32 mile · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, 18 mile · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, race history · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, results and course records · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Western States 100, qualifying races · checked Oct 8, 2026
- ItsYourRace, Bighorn Trail Run event 384 · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, sign up · checked Oct 8, 2026
- UltraRunning, ultra weekend recap, June 21, 2026 · checked Oct 8, 2026
- The Sheridan Press, Forest Service and race organizers to assess post-fire routes · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Visit Sheridan, Bighorn Trail Run event page · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Visit Sheridan, where to stay · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wikipedia, Dayton, Wyoming (2020 census, coordinates) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sunrise-Sunset.org, Dayton, WY, June 2026 · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, medical · checked Oct 8, 2026
- National Weather Service, point forecast for Dayton, WY · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn National Forest, alerts · checked Oct 8, 2026
- WYDOT 511 road conditions · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Montana 511 · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Travel Wyoming, Bighorn Scenic Byway (PDF) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wyoming Game & Fish, Tongue River Canyon public access area · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wyoming State Parks, Connor Battlefield · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wyoming Game & Fish, fishing access and trespassing · checked Oct 8, 2026
- WyoHistory.org, Wyoming's first woman mayor · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wikipedia, Tongue River (Montana) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sheridan Memorial Hospital, urgent care · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sheridan County Airport · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Rome2Rio, Billings airport to Dayton, WY · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Rome2Rio, Casper airport to Dayton, WY · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Visit Sheridan, restaurants and nightlife · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Town of Ranchester, business directory · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sheridan County Chamber, business directory · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Visit Sheridan, The Brinton Museum · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, travel and lodging · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Bighorn Trail Run, bus information · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wikipedia, Sheridan, Wyoming (NOAA 1991–2020 normals) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Cowboy State Daily, Dayton and Ranchester, twin towns (Aug 24, 2022) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- UltraRunning, what's up in ultra, June 21, 2025 (52 and 32 climbing) · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Wyoming State Parks, Trail End State Historic Site · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Dayton Mercantile · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Visit Sheridan, Hans Kleiber Studio · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sheridan County Chamber, physical therapists · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Tongue River Brewing · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Sackett's Market · checked Oct 8, 2026
- Walmart Supercenter #1508, Sheridan · checked Oct 8, 2026
Race photos: see Mile 90 Photography, the race's photographer. We don't reuse race photos. Photos on this page are of Wyo Stays homes.
MI 100Scott Bicentennial Park, DaytonFinish · 3,970 ft
Sleep close to the finish.
Dayton has only a few places to stay[21]. The 100 opens registration months before race day. Sort out the house when you sort out the entry.