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Sundance to Spearfish Marathon race photo

Sundance to Spearfish Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSeptember 202742.195km
Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Spearfish · 42.195km
Entry fee
$141.77From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 13, 2026 · Entry fee $141.77 · Start 12:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 12, 2026
Sundance to Spearfish Marathon race photo
Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Sundance to Spearfish Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

Runners cross the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota.

Aside from one climb (169 feet) between miles 2.00 and 2.56, the course is essentially downhill throughout.

The first 12 miles are a well-maintained gravel road from Cement Ridge to Savoy, descending 1,606 feet through mountain meadows and valleys.

At mile 9.35, the course passes the winter filming location of the movie "Dances with Wolves."

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.

Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 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.

Race reports: 2
DavidRan in 2024 · Finish time 3:39:49
“I was glad I brought warm-up layers.”

After the cold and wind at the high starting point and the gravel roads early on, the runner descended into Spearfish. In the heat and fatigue of the latter stages, they matched their pace with their fellow runner and finished in 3:39:49.

Read the original on Goal-Oriented Runner
Chris BoundyFinish time 3:45
“Nice small marathon in the northwestern Black Hills of South Dakota and a little of eastern Wyoming.”

Chris Boundy enjoyed the scenery from the national forest start down through the canyon at the Sundance to Spearfish Marathon. Despite the altitude, a downhill course and good weather helped him finish in 3 hours 45 minutes, meeting his sub-4-hour South Dakota goal.

Read the original on Chris Boundy Marathons

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

Sundance to Spearfish Marathon

Race the Nation

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 Sundance to Spearfish Marathon — 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 2026 edition

Marathon

Entry cost $141.77

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform Race Roster

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Sundance to Spearfish Marathon course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 12:00
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Spearfish, SD

FINISH

Spearfish City Park

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

The start is in Cement Ridge, Wyoming.

The first 12 miles run on a maintained gravel road from Cement Ridge to Savoy,

passing through mountain meadows, valleys and canyons while descending 1,606 feet.

However, there is a climb of 169 feet between miles 2.00 and 2.56, so you should conserve energy from the start.

At mile 9.35, the course passes the winter filming location for the film Dances with Wolves.

The remaining 14 miles are on paved roads, descending to Spearfish along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, Highway 14A.

This section descends another 1,364 feet, making the course a very fast course overall.

The course is a USATF-certified course for Boston Marathon qualifying times, and you may choose to have the result recorded for either Wyoming or South Dakota.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 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 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Pickup was available at a running store in Rapid City on the day before the race.
This is a small point-to-point race limited to 100 participants, so be aware that it may sell out early.

Based on previous editions

Rapid City specialty running store (day before the race)

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit - start is at Cement Ridge, near Sundance, WY, a remote high-elevation (~6,600 ft)…
  • Getting to the finishNo public transit - finish is in Spearfish, SD.
  • Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system; this Sundance-to-Spearfish course runs through rural Black Hills country…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit - start is at Cement Ridge, near Sundance, WY, a remote high-elevation (~6,600 ft) trailhead.

Organizer-provided shuttle from Spearfish, SD is the standard way to reach the start; private drop-off vehicles cannot park at the start and must leave the area immediately after dropping runners. Very remote point-to-point mountain start with no public transit; nearly all runners rely on the organizer's shuttle from Spearfish.

Map

Getting to the finish

No public transit - finish is in Spearfish, SD.

Point-to-point downhill course from Wyoming into South Dakota, ending in town.

Map

Start shuttle

Organizer shuttle bus from Spearfish, SD to the Cement Ridge start line near Sundance, WY.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system; this Sundance-to-Spearfish course runs through rural Black Hills country requiring car access, with race-organized shuttles (not public transit) typically handling point-to-point logistics.

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 first 12 miles are on a maintained gravel road, followed by paved roads, so it is best to prepare shoes that perform reliably on both surfaces.

On the climb between miles 2.00 and 2.56, reduce your early pace, and control your stride on the long descent that follows rather than overstriding.

Because this course involves a substantial elevation loss over mountainous terrain,

consider the load on your legs and practise downhill running before race day.

The start is in Sundance and the finish is in Spearfish, so the start and finish points are in different locations.

When choosing accommodation, plan where you will stay the night before the race, how you will travel to Sundance, and your schedule in Spearfish after finish.

Decide in advance when to take fluids and energy during the long descent, and prepare portable supplies that match your plan.

Times are local to Spearfish. 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.

Spearfish 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

Hotels near the Sundance to Spearfish Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

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

Holiday Inn Spearfish - Convention Center, An Ihg Hotel

Hotel · 3.6km

7.0/10(65)
View on Booking.com

Central Creekfront Spearfish Apt by City Park

Accommodation · 230m

9.3/10(10)
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.

Spearfish 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

What to see in Spearfish after the race

Seeing Spearfish 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 Spearfish.

Total cost and budget for Sundance to Spearfish Marathon

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 Sundance to Spearfish Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Spearfish runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Sundance to Spearfish Marathon

FAQ
When does Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sun, September 13, 2026.

How much is the Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $141.77.

What distances does Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 12:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 start?

Spearfish, SD. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Sundance to Spearfish Marathon 2027 finish?

Spearfish City Park. (From the 2026 edition)

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