Mount Rushmore Half Marathon
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Mount Rushmore Half Marathon
The Mount Rushmore Half Marathon takes place on September 12, 2026 in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The event is a 13.1 miles course that begins near Ghost Canyon Getaway in Hermosa and finishes at the Borglum Story Museum in Keystone. The route starts on a well-packed dirt road for about three miles before turning to pavement.
The course is an uphill paved route with approximately 1,850 ft of elevation gain, five aid stations, and a four hour course time limit. Runners experience sustained climbs followed by a final downhill stretch into Keystone. Parking is available at both the start and the finish, and shuttles transport runners who parked at the start back to their cars. Organizers recommend parking in Keystone and walking to the finish area for spectator access; spectators are not allowed in the runner recovery area.
Expo and bib pickup take place in Keystone at the Baymont by Wyndham on the Friday of race weekend. Expo pickup is recommended; race morning pickup is typically available, and shipped bibs are offered for an additional fee. The official race shirt is distributed at the expo and finisher medals are awarded at the finish. Event services include event merchandise sales near the expo and finish, official race photography delivered after the event, and live online results.
The event uses a cup-free, zero waste hydration system. Runners may bring a lightweight reusable cup or a personal hydration system for use at self-serve aid stations. Awards include place medals for top finishers overall and by age groups, plus finisher medals for all finishers. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
