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Miner 49er race photo

Miner 49er

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USNov 7, 202650km
Mountain Goat Endurance Coaching · YouTube
Race date in 30 days
Nov 7, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Dubuque · 50km
Entry fee
$90Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Wed, October 28, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
Miner 49er race photo
Mountain Goat Endurance Coaching · YouTube
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Miner 49er — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This is the 9th edition of the race, held at Mines of Spain in Iowa.

Most of the course is singletrack, mixed with some doubletrack and prairie trail sections.

It passes the Julien Dubuque Monument, Horseshoe Bluff, and views of the Mississippi River.

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.

Miner 49er runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

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.

65 - Ross Ward Runs the Miner 49er!

Mountain Goat Endurance Coaching

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 Miner 49er — 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.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Miner 49er course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
EventStartTime limit
Ultra08:0017:00
Other25km08:3017:00
START

8991 Bellevue Heights Rd., Dubuque, IA

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

The 50K and 25K events are held together.

Start line is located in Dubuque, IA, and the start time is 8:00 AM local time.

Course is an out-and-back course following the same route in both directions.

The finish is at Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.

Typical race-season temperature: around 3°C (37°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Aid stations
Aid station 3 locations

Participant benefits

Aid stations

Where and when to collect your Miner 49er 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: 18:00-19:30 on Friday, November 6, 07:00-07:45 on the day of the competition, EB Lions Interpretive Center

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit; car access only.
  • Getting to the finishSame venue: 8991 Bellevue Heights Rd (Mines of Spain · E.B. Lyons Center), Dubuque, IA.
  • IC cardDubuque, Iowa has a small local bus system (The Jule) that uses cash or exact fare rather than a…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit; car access only. Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, packet pickup/start area at E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center, 8991 Bellevue Heights Rd, Dubuque, IA.

25K is an out-and-back route from this venue; 50K runners complete the same out-and-back loop twice. Official ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?

Venue is a public state recreation area, stays open to the public during the race; no formal road closures mentioned.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same venue: 8991 Bellevue Heights Rd (Mines of Spain / E.B. Lyons Center), Dubuque, IA.

Finish co-located with start at the interpretive center.

Map

Start shuttle

No shuttle bus service mentioned on official site.

IC card

Dubuque, Iowa has a small local bus system (The Jule) that uses cash or exact fare rather than a rechargeable smart card, and it does not serve the rural race venue directly. Visitors should plan to drive or rent a car for race day.

Source · checked Aug 24, 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.

The course follows singletrack, some doubletrack, and prairie trails in the Mines of Spain Recreation Area.

The 25K is an out-and-back course with approximately 2,200 feet of elevation gain, while the 50K completes the section twice for around 4,400 feet of climbing.

Runners should watch their footing on sections with stone steps, creek crossings, rocks, and exposed roots.

Hydration is supported at three aid stations, and pacers are not permitted in either distance.

BIB pickup is available on Friday, November 6, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.,

and on race morning from 7:00 to 7:45 a.m. at the EB Lyons Interpretive Center.

Times are local to Dubuque. 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.

Madison Car Rental | Wide Range of Vehicles Available

$83

View on Klook

Madison｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Dane County Regional Airport

$195

View on Klook

Hotels near the Miner 49er start line in Dubuque

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

View all →

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

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

The start and finish are 3.2km apart.

3bed 2bath nestled in cozy Grandview neighborhood

Accommodation · 3.1km

7.3/10(12)
View on Booking.com

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.

Madison Car Rental | Wide Range of Vehicles Available

$83

View on Klook

Madison｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Dane County Regional Airport

$195

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Dubuque

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

Seeing Dubuque with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

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

Total cost and budget for Miner 49er

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 Miner 49er

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Dubuque runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Miner 49er

FAQ
When does Miner 49er 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, November 7, 2026 in Dubuque, IA, United States.

How much is the Miner 49er 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $90.

What distances does Miner 49er 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Miner 49er 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does Miner 49er 2026 start?

8991 Bellevue Heights Rd., Dubuque, IA.

Where does Miner 49er 2026 finish?

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.

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