High Lonesome 100

Overall score 3.7Very good
Thin evidence2 sources#18 of 71 ultras

Buena Vista area, Colorado · Held since 2017 · 100 mi (161 km) · 7,163 m (23,500 ft) gain

Race day Fri 16 Jul 2027

Website (opens in a new tab)

Is it right for you?

Footing
Technical2.0
Climbing
Mountainous1.4
Crew access
Some points2.7
First timer friendly
Demanding2.1

Footing and climbing are course traits: 5 is the smoother, flatter end, not a better race.

Watch out: Qualification and lottery selection limit entry. All 5

Best for

Provisional: based on 2 sources. Why

Ran it? Your rating helps.

Score breakdown

Every score is out of 5, and 5 is always the better end.

Each bar is a range of 0.25 points; the light bar holds this race. The average race scores 3.4.

What does this score mean?

Why runners love it

  • Two recent distance-matched runners praise the community and alpine setting.
  • A recent coach describes thorough preparation, well-marked trails and substantive aid food.

Watch out for

  • Qualification and lottery selection limit entry.
  • The current high point is 4008 m (13,150 ft).
  • Plan for technical high-country terrain, overnight exposure and storms.
  • Detailed crew rules describe 2026; reconfirm final 2027 access arrangements.
  • Read the complete mandatory gear and intermediate cutoff instructions.

Latest or next race

Fri 16 Jul 2027

Official race site(highlonesome100.com, opens in a new tab)
Climbing
7,163 m (23,500 ft)
Cutoff
37 hours
Pace needed
22:12 per mi (13:48 per km)

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What runners say

Overall score 3.7 out of 5

2 reviews and race reports

2 reviews

  • Rachel Entrekin

    Raced 2025 · Rachel’s Substack

    Tone: Positive

    The 100 mi (160.9 km) women’s winner valued mountain views, food, community and inclusion while describing sustained climbing, technical descents and long solitary stretches. She raced without a dedicated crew and valued brief companionship. Her discretionary elite entry and personal connection to a repeat finisher are disclosed; her speed does not establish an easy cutoff.

    Covers Support, Course, Cutoffs

    Read on rachelentrekin.substack.com (Rachel’s Substack, opens in a new tab)

  • Jason Pohl

    Raced 2024 · Team Run Run coach race report

    Tone: Positive

    The 100 mi (160.9 km) finisher strongly recommended the race and awarded five stars. He valued detailed organization, welcoming volunteers, food and scenery, but found high rocky sections extremely difficult and crew travel complex. His coaching affiliation is disclosed; 2026 crew-access changes postdate the report.

    Covers Support, Course, Conditions, Cutoffs, Stay and travel

    Read on teamrunrun.com (Team Run Run coach race report, opens in a new tab)
Ran High Lonesome 100? Rate it

Pick a score, then tell the next runner about the footing, cutoffs and aid stations.

Scores

Open a category for its ratings and the evidence behind them.

Very good. How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.

Toughness for its distance: Extreme

  • Runner satisfactionBucket list4.6

    Both recent full-distance runners strongly value the race; one explicitly awarded five stars. · Low confidence

  • OrganizationFlawless4.5

    The recent coach praises thorough preparation and execution; both accounts value the race team. · Low confidence

  • Community and vibeLegendary4.6

    Both runners praise welcoming volunteers, inclusion and personal connection. · Low confidence

Very good. Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.

  • Aid stationsGood4.4

    Both accounts praise substantive food and helpful aid, with individual dietary tolerance remaining personal. · Low confidence

  • Crew accessSome points2.7

    Passes, metering, shuttles and restricted stations make crew movement demanding. · Low confidence

  • Drop bagsMany stations3.8

    Current rules permit bags at several named aid stations. · Low confidence

  • PacersLate race3.0

    Standard pacers join around halfway; older runners may start with support. · Low confidence

Very good. Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

  • Course markingClear4.2

    The 2024 runner explicitly found the course very well marked; wider edition coverage remains limited. · Low confidence

  • ScenerySpectacular4.7

    Both recent runners enthusiastically praise alpine views and mountain terrain. · Low confidence

  • Trail experienceGreat4.1

    Both value the mountain experience despite punishing climbs and rocky descents. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • FootingTechnical2.0

    Both runners describe rocky and talus sections with difficult descents. · Low confidence

  • RunnabilityMixed2.7

    Steep technical mountain sections give way to more runnable later terrain. · Low confidence

  • ClimbingMountainous1.4

    Climbs 235 ft per mi (45 m per km), from the recorded elevation gain. · High confidence

Good. Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.

  • Race-day temperatureWarm or cold3.2

    The 2024 runner encountered mostly favorable conditions but substantial high-country exposure. · Low confidence

  • Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.4

    The 2024 account describes serious storm threats and localized heavy rain; mountain conditions remain variable. · Low confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • AltitudeHigh altitude1.3

    The current high point is 4008 m (13,150 ft). · Low confidence

How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

    Not part of the score

    • First timer friendlyDemanding2.1

      Qualification, high elevation, technical terrain and extensive climbing demand significant prior experience. · Low confidence

    • Getting inHard1.9

      Entry requires an approved qualifier plus a lottery or discretionary selection. · Low confidence

    Good. Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.

    • LogisticsSome complexity2.7

      Mandatory gear, controlled crew movement and remote mountain access add substantial planning. · Low confidence

    Course

    Route, 100 mi (161 km)

    One big loop

    Surface
    Trail
    Climbing
    7,163 m (23,500 ft)
    Climb rate
    Mountain, 45 m per km (235 ft per mi)
    High point
    4,008 m (13,150 ft)
    Night
    Most runners run through one night

    Cutoffs and aid

    Overall cutoff
    37 hours
    Pace needed
    22:12 per mi (13:48 per km)
    Drop bags
    Some stations
    Crew access
    Some points
    Pacers
    Allowed after Hancock

    Getting in

    Entry
    Lottery + qualifier
    Qualifier
    One approved trail qualifier within the stated eligibility period; see current official qualification page.

    Checkpoint cutoffs

    Overall 37 hours is current. Intermediate values are from the July 9,2026 guide; final 2027 checks may change. These are departure deadlines. Guide aid table starts 06:00 and its start departure cutoff is 06:15; those are distinct times. Finish deadline is 19:00 Saturday in 2026.

    CheckpointCutoff
    Raspberry Gulch 1: 7.3 mi (11.7 km), 2026 guide, local time12 km (7.3 mi)08:30 Friday
    Antero: 16.9 mi (27.2 km), 2026 guide, local time27 km (17 mi)13:00 Friday
    St Elmo 1: 25.1 mi (40.4 km), 2026 guide, local time40 km (25 mi)15:30 Friday
    Cottonwood: 31.5 mi (50.7 km), 2026 guide, local time51 km (31 mi)18:00 Friday
    St Elmo 2: 37.9 mi (61.0 km), 2026 guide, local time61 km (38 mi)20:30 Friday
    Hancock: 49.6 mi (79.8 km), 2026 guide, local time80 km (50 mi)01:30 Saturday
    Lost Wonder Hut: 56 mi (90.1 km), 2026 guide, local time90 km (56 mi)04:00 Saturday
    Monarch Pass: 68.2 mi (109.8 km), 2026 guide, local time110 km (68 mi)09:00 Saturday
    Fooses Creek: 75.1 mi (120.9 km), 2026 guide, local time121 km (75 mi)11:00 Saturday
    Blanks Cabin: 83.4 mi (134.2 km), 2026 guide, local time134 km (83 mi)14:00 Saturday
    Raspberry Gulch 2: 92.7 mi (149.2 km), 2026 guide, local time149 km (93 mi)16:45 Saturday

    Footing, aid and entry notes in full

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    Key facts

    Checked against the 2027 date/qualification; 2026 crew rules pending update edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter.

    Location
    Buena Vista area, Colorado, United States
    Region
    Mountain West
    Typical month
    July
    First held
    2017
    Aid and crew
    Current pacing policy starts at 49.6 mi (79.8 km), with over 65 exception from the start. Crew parking uses passes and metering; latest detailed crew rules are labeled 2026.
    Mandatory gear
    Whistle, bivvy, waterproof jacket, light, reusable cup and 1.5 L (51 US fl oz) carrying capacity; additional Divide layers and light. CORSAR proof and gear checks required; see the full current list.

    Sources

    Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate ultras.

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