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Built on bad decisions in Boulder, CO.

The Rut Mountain Runs Lone Peak VK

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

An all-uphill charge to the summit of Lone Peak through exposed technical ridgelines

Explore the Course
Interactive map with aid stations, elevation & weather
DirectionsExplore
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Course map for The Rut Mountain Runs 50K

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All trail races in Montana→
September 11, 2026
Friday 9:00am MDT start
Big Sky, MT
United States
2.9 miles
Point to Point Course
3,630 ft
Elevation Gain
Open Registration
No lottery
No Service Requirement
Does not require trail or volunteer work
No Qualifier
No qualifier race required
Very Challenging
Experienced ultrarunners
Links
WebsiteInstagramFacebook
2013
Established
375
Field Size

What Makes It Great

An all-uphill charge from Big Sky Resort's base at 7,534 ft to the summit of Lone Peak at 11,166 ft, gaining 3,632 vertical feet in just 2.8 miles. The first half follows ski runs to the top of the Swiftcurrent lift; the second half along Bonecrusher and Alto Ridges to the summit is extremely steep and technical with exposed sections and rockfall hazard. Runners descend via the Lone Peak Tram and Explorer Gondola.

Difficulty

Advanced
7/10

Experienced ultrarunners

Technical Terrain
Steep Climbing
Exposed Ridgeline
High Altitude
Variable Weather

Race Highlights

11,166 ft summit finish
One of the highest VK finish lines in North America, atop Lone Peak with panoramic Montana views
3,632 ft in 2.8 miles
An average grade of roughly 24% — relentlessly steep from start to summit
Bonecrusher Ridge
The upper half along Bonecrusher and Alto Ridges is extremely steep, exposed, and carries active rockfall hazard
Tram descent included
Finishers ride the Lone Peak Tram and Explorer Gondola back to the base — a fitting reward after the grind

Finish Awards

Finisher Award
Unique finishers award for all VK finishers.
Cash Prizes
$1,000/$500/$250 for top 3 men and women. $100 for non-binary category winner. Jorts Division: custom denim vests for fastest man, woman, and non-binary finisher in cutoff jeans.

The Rut Mountain Runs Lone Peak VK

Big Sky, MT, United StatesSeptember 11, 2026

September 11, 2026

The Rut Mountain Runs Lone Peak VK is a point-to-point trail race in Big Sky, MT, United States, held on September 11, 2026. The course covers 2.9 miles, climbs 3,630 ft, and has a 2h30m cutoff.

Course map for The Rut Mountain Runs Lone Peak VK
DistDistance2.9 mi
GainElevation Gain3,630 ft
LimitCutoff2.5 h
Steep ClimbingExposed RidgelineHigh 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.
2.9 mi
Distance
Point to Point
Route
2h30m
Cutoff Time
9,203 ft
Average Elevation
3,630 ft
Total Ascent
11,142 ft
High Point
7,539 ft
Low Point
Explore Course
Course map for The Rut Mountain Runs Lone Peak VK
Launch Course Explorer

Aid Stations & Cutoffs

LocationMileElevationCutoffDrop bags
Start
Start
0.07,539 ft—
Top of Swiftcurrent Chair
Checkpoint
1.79,157 ft
16h1:00 AM
Finish
Finish
2.911,142 ft
17h30m2:30 AM
Drop Bags

Aid station details for this race are still being filled in. Cutoffs and access rules come from the race’s own published information and can change — check the official race details before planning around them.

Sign in for race-day weather at every station, points of interest, segment-by-segment analysis, pacing, and to save this race to your calendar.

No on-site camping available

Crew Access Points

Pacer Rules

No Pacers Allowed

Crew Rules

No Crew Allowed
Weather
High Altitude

Summit at 11,166 ft; the final mile is above 10,000 ft in thin alpine air.

Rapid Weather Changes

Mountain weather can change rapidly; in 2024 race day brought snow and below-freezing temps at the summit. Inclement weather kit (waterproof jacket + space blanket) required when conditions warrant.

Lightning/Thunderstorm Risk

Fully exposed on Bonecrusher and Alto Ridges; a mass 9 AM start aims to get runners off the ridgeline before afternoon storms build.

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

Video thumbnail: Experience The Rut, Episode 1 – Epic Montana
Experience The Rut, Episode 1 – Epic Montana
The Rut Mountain Runs 50K
Epic Montana•2024
Video thumbnail: Experience The Rut, Episode 2 – Epic Montana
Experience The Rut, Episode 2 – Epic Montana
The Rut Mountain Runs 50K
Epic Montana•2024
Video thumbnail: 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