Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon

Overall score 3.0Good
Thin evidence2 sources#54 of 71 ultras

Polebridge, Montana · Held since 1982 · 50 mi (80.5 km) · 732 m (2,400 ft) gain

Race day Sat 9 Oct 2027

Website (opens in a new tab)

Is it right for you?

Footing
Mostly smooth4.0
Climbing
Flat4.9
Crew access
Good4.0
First timer friendly
Doable3.3

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

Watch out: Both reviews concern previous routes; the start and finish moved again in 2026. All 5

Held back by race (2.5) and stay and travel (3.0).

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

  • A long-running Montana event continues with standalone 50 mi (80.5 km) entry.
  • Latest detailed rules permit crew support and pacers.

Watch out for

  • Both reviews concern previous routes; the start and finish moved again in 2026.
  • One 2016 runner reports substantial aid failures; current service quality remains unverified.
  • Latest rules require personal crews for runners slower than 12 hours.
  • Roads remain open to non-race traffic.
  • Reconfirm 2027 course, support rules and formal cutoff.

Latest or next race

Sat 9 Oct 2027

Entry about $120

Official race site(runlegrizz.com, opens in a new tab)
Climbing
732 m (2,400 ft)

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What runners say

Overall score 3.0 out of 5

2 reviews and race reports

2 reviews

  • Eric, writing as quietwilderness

    Raced 2016 · Quiet Wilderness athlete report

    Tone: Mixed

    The first 50 mi (80.5 km) finisher valued scenic surroundings, strangers’ kindness and finishing, but described missing or late aid, limited suitable fuel, cold rain and open-road traffic. His account concerns the old Polebridge double out-and-back course, not the current Big Creek start.

    Covers Support, Course, Conditions, Stay and travel

    Read on quietwilderness.wordpress.com (Quiet Wilderness athlete report, opens in a new tab)

  • Rainy Day Runner

    Raced 2011 · Rainy Day Runner

    Tone: Positive

    The first 50 mi (80.5 km) runner enjoyed company, personal crew support and a well-run event near Hungry Horse Reservoir. Dry, cool weather followed a rainy travel day. This account predates both the 2015 ownership/venue change and the 2026 start relocation; it is historical experience only.

    Covers Support, Course, Conditions, Stay and travel

    Read on rainydayrunnerdotcom.wordpress.com (Rainy Day Runner, opens in a new tab)
Ran Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon? 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.

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: Tough

  • Runner satisfactionLoved3.7

    Historical runners valued finishing; one also described major aid shortcomings on a different route. · Low confidence

  • Community and vibeWarm3.9

    Historical accounts value runner companionship, personal crews and help from strangers. · Low confidence

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

  • Crew accessGood4.0

    Latest detailed rules permit roadside support, but slower runners must provide their own crew. · Low confidence

  • Drop bagsSome stations3.3

    Latest detailed rules offer one drop-bag location visited twice; final 2027 arrangements need confirmation. · Low confidence

  • PacersMuch of the race4.1

    Latest detailed rules welcome pacers without a stated late-start restriction; confirm 2027 details. · Low confidence

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

    Course traits, not part of the score

    • FootingMostly smooth4.0

      Latest detailed course description uses undulating gravel roads; current athlete footing reports are unavailable. · Low confidence

    • RunnabilityMostly runnable4.1

      Latest detailed route describes gentle road inclines, while historical first-distance runners used run-walk strategies. · Low confidence

    • ClimbingFlat4.9

      Climbs 48 ft per mi (9 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 cold2.9

      Historical reports range from cool dry running to prolonged cold rain. · Low confidence

    • Weather reliabilityVariable2.8

      Historical autumn accounts describe rain windows and cold exposure; current edition coverage is limited. · 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 friendlyDoable3.3

        Two historical first-distance finishers succeeded, but changing routes and slower-runner crew obligations require preparation. · Low confidence

      • Getting inUsually open4.0

        The registration listing offers open entry with an announced opening date; sellout demand is unverified. · Low confidence

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

      • LogisticsSome complexity3.1

        One current start/finish helps, but remote access and mandatory slow-runner crews add planning. · Low confidence

      Course

      Route, 50 mi (80.5 km)

      Out and back

      Surface
      Gravel
      Climbing
      732 m (2,400 ft)
      Climb rate
      Rolling, 9.1 m per km (48 ft per mi)
      Start
      07:00

      Cutoffs and aid

      Drop bags
      Some stations
      Crew access
      Many points
      Pacers
      Allowed anywhere

      Getting in

      Entry
      Open
      Fee
      About $120

      Footing, aid and entry notes in full

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      Key facts

      Checked against the 2027 date/entry; 2026 course and support edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter.

      Location
      Polebridge, Montana, United States
      Region
      Mountain West
      Typical month
      October
      First held
      1982
      Surface
      Latest detailed 2026 course uses undulating open gravel roads from Big Creek Outdoor Education Center. The 2027 course has not yet been independently reverified.
      Footing
      Detailed 2026 course page gives approximately 2400 ft (732 m) ascent; the 2027 registration page retains 2026 description with 2300 ft (701 m). Scalar follows the detailed course page; exact 2027 ascent remains unconfirmed.
      Cutoff rules
      2027 registration shows 07:00–22:00 event window, not independently confirmed as a formal finish cutoff. Latest detailed 2026 rules offer 06:00 early start and require a personal crew for runners slower than 12 hours.
      Aid and crew
      Latest 2026 page permits road-access crew and pacers; one drop-bag location visited outbound/inbound. Road remains open to traffic. Slow-runner crew requirement is mandatory; reconfirm 2027 rules.

      Sources

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

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