One hundred miles out and back through the Bighorn National Forest, from Tongue River Canyon up to Jaws Trailhead at 8,800 feet and down again into Dayton. The climb out of the canyon comes in the first eight miles, the long descent to Sally's Footbridge at mile 30 is followed by eighteen miles of climbing to the turnaround, and the climb back out of the canyon from mile 66 to Dry Fork at mile 82.5 is the one runners talk about. The last five miles are gravel road into town.
The race calls the course remote and technical: 76 miles of it is singletrack, and long stretches of eighteen miles of trail are the only way in or out of the back country. Expect steep climbs, long descents, deep mud, creek crossings and mountain weather that changes through the day and night. The medical page warns that altitude above 7,000 feet plus hard effort can bring on altitude sickness, and the course spends much of its middle above that. Runners share the trail with elk, deer, moose, black bear, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes at the lower elevations.
The Bighorn 100 runs out and back through the Little Bighorn and Tongue River country of the Bighorn National Forest, starting on Tongue River Canyon Road outside Dayton, Wyoming and finishing in Scott Bicentennial Park in the middle of town. Runners have 35 hours for about 20,500 feet of climbing and 20,750 feet of descent, over 76 miles of technical singletrack, 16 miles of jeep trail and 8 miles of gravel road, with the turnaround at Jaws Trailhead at 8,800 feet. Aid stations sit far apart and deep in the back country: supplies for Lower Sheep Creek and Bear Camp are packed in by horse and mule. The race's own answer to whether there will be mud is yes.
The Bighorn runs began in 1993 as a 50 mile, 50K and 30K, started by local trail runners who wanted people to see the Dry Fork and Little Bighorn River canyons while a pump storage hydroelectric scheme, the Dry Fork Project, was being considered for them. The project was shelved. The 100 mile was added in 2002, on the tenth anniversary of the shorter runs. The race is still put on by trail running volunteers from the Sheridan community, and it has moved to contingency courses in heavy snow years: in 2008 there was four to five feet of snow at Porcupine Ranger Station a week before the race and the 52 and 100 mile courses were redesigned in less than a week.
| Mile | Station | Cutoff | Crew access | Bag | Pacer | Med | To next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 |
Start - Tongue Canyon Road
4,275 ft
|
? | ● | ? | · | ? | 1.25 |
| 1.25 |
Tongue River Trailhead
4,240 ft
|
? | · | ? | · | ? | 2.25 |
| 3.50 |
Lower Sheep Creek
5,025 ft
|
? | · | ? | · | ? | 5.00 |
| 8.50 |
Upper Sheep Creek
7,450 ft
|
? | · | ? | · | ? | 3.75 |
| 12.25 | Camp Creek Ridge crew point | ? | ● | ? | · | ? | 1.25 |
| 13.50 |
Dry Fork Ridge
7,480 ft
|
3:00pm | ● | ● | · | ? | 6.00 |
| 19.50 |
Kern's Cow Camp
6,600 ft
|
? | · | ? | · | ? | 7.00 |
| 26.50 |
Bear Camp
6,800 ft
|
? | · | ? | · | ? | 3.50 |
| 30.00 |
Sally's Footbridge
4,590 ft
|
8:30pm | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3.50 |
| 33.50 |
Cathedral Rock
5,080 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 6.50 |
| 40.00 |
Spring Marsh
6,920 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 7.00 |
| 47.00 | Devil's Canyon Road crossing, outbound | ? | ● | ? | ? | ? | 1.00 |
| 48.00 |
Jaws Trailhead
8,800 ft
|
4:00am | ● | ● | ● | ● | 1.00 |
| 49.00 | Devil's Canyon Road crossing, inbound | ? | ● | ? | ? | ? | 7.00 |
| 56.00 |
Spring Marsh
6,920 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 6.50 |
| 62.50 |
Cathedral Rock
5,080 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 3.50 |
| 66.00 |
Sally's Footbridge
4,590 ft
|
10:00am | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3.50 |
| 69.50 |
Bear Camp
6,800 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 7.00 |
| 76.50 |
Kern's Cow Camp
6,600 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 6.00 |
| 82.50 |
Dry Fork Ridge
7,480 ft
|
3:00pm | ● | ● | ● | ● | 5.00 |
| 87.50 |
Upper Sheep Creek
7,450 ft
|
4:30pm | · | ? | ? | ? | 5.00 |
| 92.50 |
Lower Sheep Creek
5,025 ft
|
? | · | ? | ? | ? | 2.30 |
| 94.80 |
Tongue River Trailhead
4,240 ft
|
6:45pm | ● | ? | ? | ? | 3.20 |
| 98.00 |
Home Stretch
4,040 ft
|
? | ● | ? | ? | ? | 2.00 |
| 100.00 |
Scott Park Finish
3,970 ft
|
8:00pm | ● | ? | ? | ? | ? |
To the 100 mile start: The entrance to the Tongue River Canyon Road is on the northeast side of the Tongue River Bridge on Hwy 14 as a driver enters Dayton coming west from Ranchester. Take the Tongue River Canyon Road proceeding upstream on the northeast side of the Tongue River. Go left at a junction approximately 2.5 miles from Dayton and proceed on the Tongue River Canyon Road approximately 1 mile further to the Amsden Fishing Access area in the Tongue River Canyon. The start will occur on the Tongue River Canyon Road by the big cottonwood tree where the road turns toward the north wall of Tongue River Canyon at the west end of the fishing access area.
bighorntrailrun.comTo the Head of the Dry Fork (Dry Fork Ridge): Take Hwy 14 from Dayton and proceed up the mountain to Burgess Junction. At Burgess Junction, take a right on Forest Service Road #15 (Dayton Gulch Road) proceeding past Burgess Ranger Station and eventually crossing Fools Creek at approximately 5 miles. Shortly after crossing Fools Creek, take a right on Forest Service Road #168 (Freeze Out Road) and proceed approximately 5 miles to the head of the Dry Fork Aid Station which is located at the intersection of Forest Service Road #149 and Forest Service Road #168 (Freeze Out Road).
Parking. Crew parking is about a quarter of a mile from the aid station. Parking is restricted for the inbound visit on the Saturday.
bighorntrailrun.comTo Sally's Footbridge Aid Station in the Little Bighorn River Canyon: From Dayton, cross the Tongue River Bridge at the eastern aspect of town and turn north on Wyoming Hwy 343 proceeding 5.2 miles to the intersection of Wyoming Hwy 345 (old US Hwy 87). Turn left on Wyoming Hwy 345 and proceed past Parkman, WY, going into Montana at 5.9 miles where you enter the Crow Indian Reservation and continue on this highway until you reach the Littlehorn Road just south of Wyola, MT, at 15 miles. Turn left on the Littlehorn Road, cross the railroad tracks and proceed west on the Littlehorn Road toward the Bighorn Mountains crossing the Little Bighorn River at 9.7 miles, having the pavement change to gravel at 10.5 miles, crossing the Little Bighorn River at 12 miles, and encountering a cattle guard at a 4-way junction at 15.85 miles. Proceed through the cattle guard, taking this primitive road into the mouth of the Little Bighorn River Canyon. You will ford a creek at 0.45 miles, ford a second creek at 0.6 miles, reenter Wyoming at a primitive sign noting that you are at 45 degrees Latitude, and cross the Little Bighorn River on a bridge at 1.5 miles. Continue on the northern side of the Little Bighorn River where you will encounter an area where we wish crews to park at approximately 2.5 miles. After parking, proceed by foot approximately 3/4 mile distance from the designated parking area up the canyon on the primitive road to reach the Footbridge Aid Station.
Parking. Crew park in the designated area about two and a half miles up the canyon and finish on foot: the crew page gives that walk as three quarters of a mile and the 100 mile page as half a mile. A high clearance vehicle is recommended for the last two miles and carpooling is suggested. Do not block the road or the private bridge to the cabins.
bighorntrailrun.comTo Devil's Canyon Road Crossing: Take Hwy 14 from Dayton and proceed up the mountain to Burgess Junction. Take Hwy 14A from Burgess Junction towards Lovell approximately 18.7 miles and turn right on Devil's Canyon Road (previously known as Sheep Mountain Road). Go north approximately 2 to 2.5 miles to where the 100 mile course crosses Devil's Canyon Road.
bighorntrailrun.comTo Jaws Trailhead: Take Hwy 14 from Dayton and proceed up the mountain to Burgess Junction. Take Hwy 14A from Burgess Junction towards Lovell for approximately 20.7 miles to turn right on Forest Service Road #13 which is just prior to the road going to the Medicine Wheel and is just prior to Hwy 14A starting to descend off the mountain. Go on Forest Service Road #13 in a northerly direction proceeding past Porcupine Campground on your left at approximately 1.9 miles. Cross over Porcupine Creek and continue driving past the entrance to the Porcupine Ranger Station. Proceed left up the hill past the entrance to Porcupine Ranger Station for about 1/4 mile where you will turn left into the parking lot for Jaws Trailhead at approximately 2.5 miles.
Parking. Park in the designated areas for crew at Jaws Trailhead or as otherwise directed, keeping the entrance clear for traffic and runners.
bighorntrailrun.comTo Devil's Canyon Road Crossing: Take Hwy 14 from Dayton and proceed up the mountain to Burgess Junction. Take Hwy 14A from Burgess Junction towards Lovell approximately 18.7 miles and turn right on Devil's Canyon Road (previously known as Sheep Mountain Road). Go north approximately 2 to 2.5 miles to where the 100 mile course crosses Devil's Canyon Road.
bighorntrailrun.comTo Sally's Footbridge Aid Station in the Little Bighorn River Canyon: From Dayton, cross the Tongue River Bridge at the eastern aspect of town and turn north on Wyoming Hwy 343 proceeding 5.2 miles to the intersection of Wyoming Hwy 345 (old US Hwy 87). Turn left on Wyoming Hwy 345 and proceed past Parkman, WY, going into Montana at 5.9 miles where you enter the Crow Indian Reservation and continue on this highway until you reach the Littlehorn Road just south of Wyola, MT, at 15 miles. Turn left on the Littlehorn Road, cross the railroad tracks and proceed west on the Littlehorn Road toward the Bighorn Mountains crossing the Little Bighorn River at 9.7 miles, having the pavement change to gravel at 10.5 miles, crossing the Little Bighorn River at 12 miles, and encountering a cattle guard at a 4-way junction at 15.85 miles. Proceed through the cattle guard, taking this primitive road into the mouth of the Little Bighorn River Canyon. You will ford a creek at 0.45 miles, ford a second creek at 0.6 miles, reenter Wyoming at a primitive sign noting that you are at 45 degrees Latitude, and cross the Little Bighorn River on a bridge at 1.5 miles. Continue on the northern side of the Little Bighorn River where you will encounter an area where we wish crews to park at approximately 2.5 miles. After parking, proceed by foot approximately 3/4 mile distance from the designated parking area up the canyon on the primitive road to reach the Footbridge Aid Station.
Parking. The same canyon parking area and walk in as on the way out.
bighorntrailrun.comTo the Head of the Dry Fork (Dry Fork Ridge): Take Hwy 14 from Dayton and proceed up the mountain to Burgess Junction. At Burgess Junction, take a right on Forest Service Road #15 (Dayton Gulch Road) proceeding past Burgess Ranger Station and eventually crossing Fools Creek at approximately 5 miles. Shortly after crossing Fools Creek, take a right on Forest Service Road #168 (Freeze Out Road) and proceed approximately 5 miles to the head of the Dry Fork Aid Station which is located at the intersection of Forest Service Road #149 and Forest Service Road #168 (Freeze Out Road).
Parking. Crew access to Dry Fork Ridge on the Saturday has parking restrictions.
bighorntrailrun.comDry Fork Ridge to Scott Park Finish Area is 1.25 hours by car. Park outside Scott Park; a shuttle runs between Scott Park and the Dayton Community Center from noon to 8 PM.
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