pacertrip.Races
PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE
CITY TO SKY race photo

CITY TO SKY

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USOct 18, 202633M
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Race date in 4 days
Oct 18, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Missoula · 33M
Entry fee
$155From the 2025 edition
Status
ClosedWed, March 4, 2026 ~ Tue, October 13, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 14, 2026
CITY TO SKY race photo
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About CITY TO SKY — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Starts near the university district in Missoula and returns to the same point.

The course crosses several mountain summits with over 8,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain, and makes a loop around the Pattee Creek drainage.

Less than 2 miles of the course is on paved road.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

CITY TO SKY runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Course preview

Run Wild Missoula · Course preview

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter CITY TO SKY — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition
Registration history

The 2026 race opened entry on Wed, March 4, 2026

Ultra

Entry cost $155

City to Sky 50K · until Oct 14, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Trail

Entry cost $145

City to Sky 25K · until Oct 14, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

CITY TO SKY course map and elevation

Your 33M

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
EventStart
Ultra50km07:00
City to Sky 25K25km08:15
START · FINISH

Dornblaser-Lewis and Clark Stadium

University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The 50K climbs over several peaks with a cumulative elevation gain of 8,000 feet (33 miles), while the 25K runs the late 50K House of Sky ridge section.

The categories are City to Sky 50K and City to Sky 25K.

The start time is 7:00 AM local time.

Organizer
Run Wild Missoula
Typical race-season temperature: around 4°C (39°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your CITY TO SKY race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packet pickup information for Missoula's City to Sky is not publicly available.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit; nearest hub is University of Montana campus, Missoula.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit; nearest hub is University of Montana campus, Missoula. 50K starts/finishes at Dornblaser-Lewis and Clark Stadium (start 7:00am).

25K starts at Pattee Canyon Picnic Area but runners are REQUIRED to take the provided shuttle to reach the actual start — self-driving/drop-off is prohibited (bib confiscation). Parking near south/east of the track and on Higgins Ave; avoid UM housing lots.

No date conflict — confirmed Sun Oct 18 2026.

Getting to the finish

Dornblaser-Lewis and Clark Stadium (University of Montana) — finish-line festival with food and beer.

Start shuttle

Mandatory shuttle for 25K participants only, from Lewis & Clark Parking Lot to Pattee Canyon start (7:15am loading). 50K has no shuttle need since start=finish=stadium.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

October in Missoula is when autumn peaks, with average daytime highs around 13°C and several nights dropping below freezing.

Monthly rainfall averages a modest 24mm, but cloudy days gradually increase.

The 2026 event's field filled up early, and registration is currently open only for the waitlist.

Course, being mostly mountain trail with over 8,000 feet (about 2,440m) of cumulative elevation gain, requires a different pace strategy than a road marathon.

Times are local to Missoula. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Missoula Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Missoula car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Hotels near the CITY TO SKY start line in Missoula

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Missoula Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Missoula car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

What to see in Missoula after the race

Seeing Missoula with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Missoula.

Total cost and budget for CITY TO SKY

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about CITY TO SKY

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Missoula runners' room

Frequently asked questions about CITY TO SKY

FAQ
When does CITY TO SKY 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, October 18, 2026 in Missoula, MT, United States.

What distances does CITY TO SKY 2026 offer?

Ultra. (From the 2025 edition)

What time does CITY TO SKY 2026 start?

The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does CITY TO SKY 2026 start?

Dornblaser-Lewis and Clark Stadium. (From the 2025 edition)

When does registration for CITY TO SKY 2026 open?

Registration runs from Wed, March 4, 2026 to Tue, October 13, 2026.

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.