Gila 100

Results: 2026

14 of 22 starters finished.

The 100-mile table lists 14 finishers, 8 DNFs and 3 DNS; the 3 DNS are excluded from starters. Results for the separate 50-mile race are excluded.

Source: UltraSignup — 2026 Gila 100 Miler results. Checked October 20, 2026.

Event Overview

A 100-mile race in the Gila National Forest that covers the 50-mile out-and-back from Santa Clara to Sapillo Campground twice, following the Continental Divide Trail to nearly 9,000 ft, with roughly 14,774 ft of climbing and a 36-hour limit.

Course & Terrain

Double out-and-back from Open Space Brewing in Santa Clara: through Bataan Park and historic Fort Bayard, up the Fort Bayard trail network to the Continental Divide Trail, and along the CDT to the Sapillo Campground turnaround, then back. The 100-mile race repeats the whole route. Singletrack, rocky jeep trails and dirt roads.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Historic Fort Bayard in the opening miles
• The steepest, most technical climb, toward Twin Sisters, to reach the Continental Divide Trail
• CDT ridgeline past Black Peak and Signal Peak toward the Mimbres Valley
• Sapillo Campground turnaround at miles 27.5 and 81.5

The organizer warns that October days can reach the 80s °F and nights can drop below freezing, with rain, wind, hail or snow possible.

Format & Support (as run)

Why This Race Matters

Gila Adventure Runs stages this race in the Gila National Forest; 2026 was the third edition. The forest contains the Gila Wilderness, designated in 1924 as the world’s first wilderness area. That designation refers to the wilderness area, not the entire national forest. The organizer names weather, with days in the 80s °F and nights near freezing, as the main cause of the race's high DNF rate.

Preparing for a Race Like Gila 100

The 100-mile race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
• Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
• Gut training for ultrarunners: A six-week practice sequence for race-day fueling.
• Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.

Planning Notes

• Treat intermediate cutoff gates as part of the course. Build enough margin for aid stops and late-race slowdown, and verify every current gate in the official rules.
• Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
• The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.

Related Preparation

• Compare verified US 100-mile races
• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Open the 100-Mile format guide
• Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
• Print a pace band for your goal time
• Estimate race calories and plan fueling
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist