Western States Endurance Run
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Western States Endurance Run
The Western States Endurance Run is presented as the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and finishes at Placer High School in Auburn after 100.2 miles.
The course follows the Western States Trail across the traditional lands of the Nisenan, Washoe, and other neighboring Indigenous Peoples. Runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet. Key sections include the high country around Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, a crossing of the Middle Fork of the American River, and the historic reddish brown trails that approach Auburn.
The event publishes entrant and wait lists and operates a lottery and qualifying process. For 2026 the race date is June 27-28, 2026. The organization works with volunteers and partners to support the event; more than 1,500 volunteers are involved in race operations.
Awards tied to finishing time include a silver belt buckle for finishes under 24 hours and a bronze belt buckle for finishes under 30 hours. Trail stewardship projects connected to the Run include a Granite Chief Wilderness reroute that will add and rehabilitate over seven miles of trail, with phased openings planned for 2026 and 2028. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
