Bighorn Trail Run 2026 — The Complete Guide

The Race That Defines the Bighorns

The Bighorn Trail Run isn't a destination ultra wrapped in festival packaging. It's a mountain race that happens to be world-class — 100 miles through the Bighorn Mountains with 20,500 feet of elevation gain, multiple passes above 9,000 feet, river crossings, snow fields in June, and the kind of terrain that breaks experienced ultrarunners. It's consistently ranked among the 10 hardest ultramarathons in America, and it starts 20 minutes from downtown Sheridan.

The 2026 edition is scheduled for June 19–20. The 100-mile race begins Friday at 11am; the 50-mile starts Saturday at 4am; the 30-mile and 18-mile races launch Saturday at 6am. All distances finish in Dayton, Wyoming — a small town at the base of the Bighorns where crews, spectators, and the growing trail running community converge for one of the most authentic ultra experiences in the sport.

Distance	Start Time	Cutoff	Elevation Gain	UTMB Qualifier
100 miles	Friday 11am	34 hours	20,500 ft	Yes
50 miles	Saturday 4am	17 hours	10,200 ft	Check UTMB Index
30 miles	Saturday 6am	12 hours	5,800 ft	No
18 miles	Saturday 6am	8 hours	3,200 ft	No

Start and cutoff times are approximate. Check bighorn100.com for official 2026 race details.

The Course

The 100-mile course traverses the Bighorn Mountains from south to north, climbing out of Tongue River Canyon into the high country before descending through a series of aid stations to the finish in Dayton. The terrain includes singletrack, jeep roads, alpine meadows, creek crossings, and sections above treeline where weather can change in minutes.

The signature challenge is the total elevation gain — 20,500 feet spread across multiple climbs that never let your legs fully recover. The highest point on the course exceeds 9,000 feet, where thin air compounds the physical demand. Snow patches on north-facing slopes are common in June. River crossings may be knee-deep with snowmelt.

The Bighorn 100 doesn't have the marketing budget of Western States or UTMB. It doesn't need one. The mountain is the marketing. Twenty thousand feet of climbing through one of the most beautiful ranges in America is all the pitch anyone needs.

Runner Logistics

Registration: Opens several months before race day and fills quickly — especially the 100-mile distance. Check bighorn100.com for registration dates and lottery information.

Crew access: Several aid stations are accessible by vehicle, making crew support feasible for the 100 and 50-mile distances. The race provides detailed crew guide information including which aid stations allow vehicles and what roads to use.

Drop bags: Available at designated aid stations. Pack warm layers — temperatures at high-altitude aid stations can drop into the 30s at night, even in June.

Spectating & Crew Guide

The finish line in Dayton is the emotional heart of the race — runners coming in after 20–34 hours on the mountain, crews who've been waiting through the night, and the kind of quiet triumph that makes ultrarunning different from other sports. Set up at the finish by Saturday afternoon for the 100-milers and Saturday morning for the shorter distances.

For on-course spectating, the Dry Fork aid station and the Tongue River Canyon section are accessible. The canyon section is dramatically beautiful and runners pass through during daylight — ideal for photography and cheering.

Training for the Bighorn

Factor	What to Train	Why
Elevation gain	Long climbs (2,000+ ft)	20,500 ft total requires hill-specific training
Altitude	High-altitude runs if possible	Course exceeds 9,000 ft — thin air is real
Technical terrain	Rocky singletrack, creek crossings	Footing is uneven; ankle stability matters
Night running	Practice with headlamp	100-milers run through one full night minimum
Weather prep	Train in variable conditions	30°F to 80°F possible on race day
Fueling	Test nutrition at race effort	24–34 hours of sustained effort requires serious planning

Where to Stay

Runners: Sheridan is 20 minutes from the start — ideal for pre-race prep. Downtown properties with full kitchens let you control your pre-race meals. After the race, you'll want a hot shower and a real bed, not a hotel.

Crew: Dayton is at the finish line — perfect for crews who want to be there when their runner comes in. Dayton vacation rentals are a short walk from the finish area.

Book early — race weekend fills up fast. book.wyostays.com for direct booking and 16–20% savings versus Airbnb.

The Bighorn finishes in Dayton, Wyoming — a town small enough that the whole community comes out to cheer. There's no stadium. No jumbotron. Just a banner across the road, a timing mat, and 100 miles of mountain behind you.