Western States 100

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

Point-to-point trail route from Olympic Valley to Auburn.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• The 2,550-ft climb to Emigrant Pass (8,750 ft) and Watson’s Monument in the first 4½ miles
• The Granite Chief Wilderness, miles 6–10
• The canyon climbs to Devil’s Thumb (mile 48) and Michigan Bluff (mile 56)
• The roped ford of the American River at Rucky Chucky, mile 78
• Robie Point and a finishing lap of the Placer High School track in Auburn

More than 95% of the route is mountain trail and fire road closed to vehicles. From Olympic Valley (6,200 ft) the trail climbs 2,550 ft in 4½ miles to Emigrant Pass (8,750 ft), then crosses the Granite Chief Wilderness around miles 6–10 and the high country, where snow lingers after big winters. The organizer calls the canyon climbs to Devil’s Thumb (mile 48) and Michigan Bluff (mile 56) the two hardest of the race. At mile 78 runners ford the American River at Rucky Chucky along a guide rope, or cross by raft in high-water years. Much of the trail is narrow and rutted, poison oak is common in the last 30 miles, and the final 1.3 miles are on Auburn streets. The course is marked with pink tape, “W.S. Trail” signs and arrows, with reflectors on the last 38 miles.

The organizer’s weather history for Auburn, at the finish, puts the average high on race weekend at about 89°F with a low near 59°F, and the race warns that temperatures on course can range from 20°F to above 110°F. Heat decides many races: Auburn reached 101°F in 2021, when 66% finished, against 73°F in 2026, when a record 87% did. Auburn’s highs were 94°F in 2024 and 95°F in 2025. The high country can be cold at the start, and nights fall into the 40s and 50s. In big snow years the first miles cross snowfields; the race used a snow route in 2010 and 2011, and in 2023 there was moderate snow and boats at the river.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

Western States grew out of the Tevis Cup horse ride: in 1974 Gordy Ainsleigh covered the trail on foot in 23:42, and 14 men started the first official run in 1977. The nonprofit Western States Endurance Run Foundation stages it, with Craig Thornley as race director, and 2027 is the 54th edition. A 1984 wilderness law froze the field at 369, so entry runs through a lottery that drew 11,328 applicants for 2026. Its handmade silver buckle became the standard award at U.S. 100-milers. Ann Trason won 14 women’s titles and Scott Jurek seven straight. In 2026 Vincent Bouillard ran the first sub-14 (13:46:15), Jennifer Lichter set the women’s record in her 100-mile debut, and a record 87% of starters finished.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• Men: Vincent Bouillard, 13:46:15, 2026
• Women: Jennifer Lichter, 15:28:05, 2026
• Masters men (40–49): Tyler Green, 15:05:39, 2024
• Masters women (40–49): Ida Nilsson, 16:56:52, 2024
• Men 50–59: Jeff Browning, 18:03:38, 2026
• Women 70 and over: Gunhild Swanson, 29:59:54, 2015
• Most wins: Ann Trason, 14 women’s titles (1989–2003); Scott Jurek, seven straight men’s titles (1999–2005)

Past results: 2024 Western States 100 results.

Preparing for a Race Like Western States 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.

Best Fit

• Runners who want the history and silver-buckle tradition of a race first run in 1974
• Fast, strong runners on runnable trail who can manage canyon heat
• Patient applicants willing to requalify every year while their lottery tickets double
• Runners who want deep support: 20 aid stations and about 1,500 volunteers

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.
• Canyon heat: Auburn averages about 89°F on race weekend and reached 101°F in 2021, when only 66% finished
• Strict leave-by cutoffs, from Duncan Canyon (12:30 p.m.) to Foresthill (11:45 p.m.); the organizer warns they are generous early and that runners near them are already in trouble
• The ford of the American River at mile 78 and dry stretches of more than 8 miles between aid
• Poison oak in the last 30 miles and the busy Highway 49 crossing at mile 93.5, which most runners reach in the dark

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Browse Western States 100 results by year
• Compare verified US 100-mile races
• 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