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Built on bad decisions in Boulder, CO.

The Rut Mountain Runs 21K

Basic Listing
  1. The Rut Mountain Runs
  2. 2026 Edition

Big Sky singletrack at the subalpine-alpine border — a demanding half-marathon step up

Directions
Register

Nearby races

Other trail races within 190 miles

The Rut Mountain Runs 11K

The Rut Mountain Runs 11K

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6.84 miles
16,700 ft gain
Loop
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Ed Anacker Bridger Ridge Run

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6,410 ft gain
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Crazy Mountain 100

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100.21 miles
21,920 ft gain
Point to Point
Crew
Pacers
Dropbags
71 mi away
Copper Kings 100

Copper Kings 100

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100.1 miles
13,960 ft gain
Loop
Crew
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Beaverhead Endurance Runs 100k
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Beaverhead Endurance Runs 100k

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62.14 miles
10,730 ft gain
Point to Point
Crew
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Scout Mountain Ultras 100 Mile
Service Req

Scout Mountain Ultras 100 Mile

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100.23 miles
19,450 ft gain
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Crew
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Wyoming Range 100-Mile Endurance Run
Lottery
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Service Req

Wyoming Range 100-Mile Endurance Run

100 Mile
Big Piney, WY, US
Aug 7, 2026
105.7 miles
24,000 ft gain
Point to Point
Crew
Pacers
Dropbags
190 mi away
All trail races in Montana→
September 11, 2026
Friday 10:00am MDT start
Big Sky, MT
United States
13 miles
Loop Course
4,000 ft
Elevation Gain
Open Registration
No lottery
No Service Requirement
Does not require trail or volunteer work
No Qualifier
No qualifier race required
Challenging
Some ultra experience recommended
Links
WebsiteInstagramFacebook
2013
Established
900
Field Size

What Makes It Great

A loop course on the flanks of Lone Peak threading Big Sky Resort's best singletrack through fir and whitebark pine. The route plays along the border of subalpine and alpine terrain with significant climbing but avoids the exposed technical ridgelines of the 28K and 50K. Designed as a bridge between the 11K and 28K, it's a spectacular mountain half-marathon with about 4,000 feet of vertical gain.

Difficulty

Intermediate
6/10

Some ultra experience recommended

Steep Climbing
Technical Terrain
High Altitude
Variable Weather

Finish Awards

Finisher Medal
Unique finishers award for all 21K finishers.

The Rut Mountain Runs 21K

Big Sky, MT, United StatesSeptember 11, 2026

September 11, 2026
Course map for The Rut Mountain Runs 21K
DistDistance13 mi
GainElevation Gain4,000 ft
LimitCutoff7 h
Steep ClimbingHigh AltitudeVariable Weather

Entry Timeline

Race DaySeptember 11, 2026

Lottery

This event uses open registration - no lottery entry required.

Qualifier

This event does not require a qualifier for entry.

Service Requirement

This race does not have a service requirement for entry.
13.1 mi
Distance
Loop
Route
7h
Cutoff Time
8,399 ft
Average Elevation
4,000 ft
Total Ascent
4,000 ft
Total Descent
9,747 ft
High Point
7,283 ft
Low Point
Course map
Launch Course Explorer

Aid Stations

LocationMileElevation
Start
Start
0.07,536 ft
Challenger Aid Station
Aid Station
2.69,104 ft
Swiftcurrent Aid Station
Aid Station
5.59,173 ft
Andesite Aid Station
Aid Station
9.28,655 ft
Finish
Finish
13.17,533 ft

Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.

No on-site camping available

Crew Access Points

Pacer Rules

No Pacers Allowed

Crew Rules

No Crew Allowed
Weather
High Altitude

High point near the alpine-subalpine boundary, with sections above 9,000 ft.

Rapid Weather Changes

Mountain weather can change rapidly in September; be prepared for wind, rain, and cold.

Gear Rules

Trekking poles allowed

Required Gear

No required gear specified

Recommended Gear

No recommended gear specified

Videos from other The Rut Mountain Runs events

Experience The Rut, Episode 1 – Epic Montana
Experience The Rut, Episode 1 – Epic Montana
The Rut Mountain Runs 50K
Epic Montana•2024
Experience The Rut, Episode 2 – Epic Montana
Experience The Rut, Episode 2 – Epic Montana
The Rut Mountain Runs 50K
Epic Montana•2024
The Rut 50K In 4 Minutes
The Rut 50K In 4 Minutes
The Rut Mountain Runs 50K
Semi-Rad•2024

Race reports from other The Rut Mountain Runs events

Race Report: The Rut Mountain Runs 50KThe Rut Mountain Runs 50K
By Greg Marshall / Treeline Endurance • 2022
Race Recap: The Rut Mountain RunThe Rut Mountain Runs 50K
By KÜHL Born in the Mountains • 2024

Reviews

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Register•September 11, 2026