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The Rut Mountain Runs race photo

The Rut Mountain Runs

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSeptember 202750.6M · 21.1km
Eric Moreno · CC BY 2.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Big Sky · 50.6M · 21.1km
Entry fee
$125From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 11, 2026 · Entry fee $80 · Start 09:00
Official website ↗
Instagram
D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
The Rut Mountain Runs race photo
Eric Moreno · CC BY 2.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Rut Mountain Runs — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

This is a three-day mountain running festival held September 11-13, 2026 in Big Sky, Montana.

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.

The Rut Mountain Runs 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.

Race reports: 2
Paul ViscontiniRan in 2024 · Finish time 10:41:52
“My effort level would be capped for the rest of the day.”

At high altitude, the runner suffered nausea and dehydration, repeatedly alternating between walking and resting. With encouragement from their family and help from the aid stations, the runner let go of their target time and enjoyed the final stretch with their fellow runners before finishing.

Read the original on Run Fart(h)er
Gabe JoyesRan in 2014 · Finish time 7:03
“I finally ran the race I wanted to.”

The runner held their own pace from the start of The Rut 50K through rocky terrain and steep ridges. Extra water from family helped them finish 44th overall in 7 hours 3 minutes.

Read the original on Gabe Joyes

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.

2021 Rut Mountain Runs Recap Video

Rut Mountain Runs

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 The Rut Mountain Runs — 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

Half

Entry cost $125

until Jan 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Ultra

Entry cost $395

Trifecta (50K,28K,VK) · until Jan 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Trail

Entry cost $80

Lone Peak Vertical Kilometer · until Jan 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

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

RACE WEEK

The Rut Mountain Runs course map and elevation

The 50.6M I'll run

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

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, MT

Start · Google Maps

The events are Trifecta (50K, 28K, VK), 21k, and Lone Peak Vertical Kilometer.

The start is at Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, MT at 9:00 AM local time.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your The Rut Mountain Runs 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

To receive bib, you must present a photo ID and the **mandatory gear** together.
This is a mountain running festival held over three days, from 9/11 to 9/13, so pickup times vary by event and you should check the official schedule (VK and 21K in the morning, 11K, 28K, and 50K from late morning to evening).

Vista Hall, The Exchange

Big Sky Resort base area, Big Sky, MT

Google Maps
Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Big Sky Resort Mountain Village (Huntley Lodge)

Start/finish line is roughly a 30-second walk from the Big Sky Resort Huntley Lodge in Mountain Village.

Nearest airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN), ~45 minutes by car via US-191 through the Gallatin Canyon.

Ski-resort venue reachable without a car via airport shuttle + the local Skyline Bus, unusual for this rural batch.

Getting to the finish

Big Sky Resort Mountain Village (Huntley Lodge) — same as start

Finish is at the same Mountain Village location near Huntley Lodge.

More details

Airport shuttles from Bozeman (BZN) to Big Sky: Karst Stage Airport Shuttle,

Big Sky Shuttle, and Big Sky Country Transport (local rides, race discount code available).

Within Big Sky, the seasonal Skyline Bus is a free public bus connecting Meadow Village to Mountain Village.

Big Sky Resort also runs the Swift Current lift for spectators starting 8am race days and offers a discounted Lone Peak Expedition summit shuttle during the event.

Stations & transport near the venue

Big Sky's Skyline Bus system offers free, zero-fare local service connecting Town Center, Meadow Village,

and Mountain Village near the Big Sky Resort race venue, so no card or payment is needed locally.

A paid Skyline Link route (about $5 each way) connects Big Sky to Bozeman for those flying in via Bozeman airport.

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 race runs over three days,

September 11-13, around Lone Mountain at Big Sky Resort and is divided into several events including the Vertical Challenge (VK), 11K, 20K, 28K, and 50K.

Elevation gain is substantial: the 50K climbs about 3,200m, the 28K about 2,380m, and the 11K about 520m.

Participant reviews cite the steep grades and exposed ridge sections as making this an extremely difficult race to finish.

The 2026 race is already sold out and is not accepting a waitlist.

Times are local to Big Sky. 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.

Ousel & Spur Pizza Co.
Ousel & Spur Pizza Co.
Ousel Falls Park & Trailhead
Ousel Falls Park & Trailhead

Hotels near the The Rut Mountain Runs start line in Big Sky

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

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

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Where runners eat in Big Sky

Eating well is part of the trip

7 places

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

Ousel & Spur Pizza Co.

Italian Restaurant · Big Sky 196m

★4.3(529)
Map

Tres Toros Tacos & Tequila

Restaurant · Big Sky 242m

★4.5(533)
Map

Tips Up Big Sky

Bar & Grill · Big Sky 220m

★4.0(428)
Map

The Waypoint

Bistro · Big Sky 197m

★4.5(117)
Map

The Rocks Tasting Room and Liquor Store

Restaurant · Big Sky 219m

★4.7(212)
Map

Horn and Cantle

Fine Dining Restaurant · Big Sky 2.1km

★4.6(670)
Map

Alberto’s | Mexican Cuisine

Mexican Restaurant · Big Sky 270m

★4.0(524)
Map

What to see in Big Sky after the race

Seeing Big Sky with the medal on

7 places

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

Ousel Falls Park & Trailhead

Park · Big Sky 2.8km

★4.9(964)
Map

Summit All Terrain Rentals

Services · Big Sky 9.3km

★4.9(387)
Map

Big Sky Community Park

Park · Big Sky 1.7km

★4.7(176)
Map

Soldiers Chapel

Church · Big Sky 4.0km

★4.8(44)
Map

Historic Crail Ranch

Museum · Big Sky 1.3km

★4.5(17)
Map

Kircliff Observatory

Tourist Attraction · Big Sky 11.3km

★5.0(35)
Map

Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout

Scenic Spot · Big Sky 20.0km

★4.8(22)
Map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Big Sky.

Total cost and budget for The Rut Mountain Runs

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

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

Runner stories and questions about The Rut Mountain Runs

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Big Sky runners' room

Frequently asked questions about The Rut Mountain Runs

FAQ
When does The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Fri, September 11, 2026.

How much is the The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $80.

What distances does The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 offer?

Half · Ultra. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 start?

The race starts at 09:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 start?

Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, MT. (From the 2026 edition)

Where can I book a hotel near the The Rut Mountain Runs 2027 start?

You can compare live prices for hotels around the start in Big Sky in the STAY section of this page.

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