Western States Endurance Run
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Event overview
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is a trail ultramarathon that covers 100.2 miles between Olympic Valley and Auburn, California. The race is held in late June; the 2026 edition is scheduled for June 27-28, 2026. The event uses a lottery entry system with registration and a drawing window published by the organizer.
Course and race features
The course traverses high country and foothills, including Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, and finishes near Placer High School in Auburn. Runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet. The route includes a crossing of the Middle Fork of the American River and sections of historic trails through California gold country. The event awards a silver belt buckle for finishes under 24 hours and a bronze belt buckle for finishes under 30 hours.
Entry process and trail work
Lottery registration is scheduled for November 1-21, 2025, with a drawing on December 6, 2025. A Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute project will add over seven miles of new and rehabilitated trail; construction began in 2023, with a substantial portion expected to open in 2026 and the remainder by 2028. The event involves more than 1,500 volunteers in race operations. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
