Madison Marathon - Ennis
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Big Sky Marathon
The Big Sky Marathon takes place in Ennis, Montana, with start and finish near the Varney Bridge Fishing Access on the Madison River. It offers both a full marathon and a half marathon on a routed course that largely descends from the Gravelly Range.
Distances
- 26.2 miles full marathon; about 22 miles out then roughly 4 miles back.
- 13.1 miles half marathon; a straight 13.1 mile run to Varney Bridge.
The course has a net drop of about 3,600 feet. Organizers describe it as among the longest downhill road marathons worldwide. Start elevations are roughly 8,500 to 8,700 feet above sea level, with the route dropping to about 5,000 feet at the Madison River.
The route is described in three sections. Section One stays on top of the Gravelly Range and trends gradually downhill across bowls and meadows for the first five to eight miles. Section Two is a steeper series of switchbacks that drop runners from about 8,500 feet to 6,000 feet over roughly seven miles. Section Three is a gravel and then partly paved approach to the Madison River, running through open ranch land before reaching Varney Bridge. Full marathoners continue to US Highway 287 as a turn-around point and return to Varney Bridge to finish; half marathoners finish at the Varney Bridge Fishing Access.
The course mostly uses gravel roads, includes some pavement near the Ennis Fish Hatchery turn-off, and is routed to minimize traffic. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
