Western States Endurance Run 100 Mile

Olympic Valley, California · June · 100 mi

Western States Endurance Run 100 Mile: finish line at placer high school track in auburnJon Roig, CC BY 2.0
Finish line at Placer High School track in Auburn. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Distance
100.2 mi (161 km)
Point to point
Climbing
5,514 m (18,090 ft)
Hilly: 34 m per km (181 ft per mi)
Overall cutoff
30 hours
18:00 per mi (11:11 per km) average
Finish rate
87%
of starters in 2026

Why runners love it

  • Olympic Valley to Auburn over Emigrant Pass, 2,667 m (8,750 ft), with a river crossing at mile 78 (125.5 km)
  • Reflectors mark the last 38 mi (61 km); 20 staffed aid stations with ice and real food.
  • Pacers allowed from Foresthill (mile 62 / 99.8 km (62 mi)), one at a time, up to three per runner.
  • Cutoffs run about 18 min per mile (11 min per km); about 87% finished in the cool 2026 race.
  • Finish on the Placer High School track in Auburn, with a street party at Robie Point.

Watch out for

  • Lottery: 11,328 applicants for 369 spots in 2026, plus a qualifying finish required.
  • Canyon heat can reach 37 °C (99 °F) or more; much of the course is exposed.
  • No crew between Dusty Corners (mile 38 / 61 km (37.9 mi)) and Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7 / 90 km (55.9 mi)).
  • Start and finish are a long drive apart, which complicates crew and pacer plans.
  • High Country is rockier than many expect, and snow can reroute the early miles.

Race

5.0Excellent

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: Very tough

  • Runner satisfactionBucket list4.9

    The oldest 100 mi (161 km) trail race and the one others are measured against; every report read describes it as special; 2026 had a record 87% finish rate. · High confidence

  • OrganizationFlawless4.8

    Official site publishes cutoffs, crew, pacer and course rules in detail; reports call it special and well organized with helpful volunteers. · High confidence

  • Community and vibeLegendary4.8

    Reports describe a close-knit community, busy Foresthill crowds, Cal Street party and the Robie Point street party. · High confidence

Support

4.2Very good

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

  • Aid stationsGood4.4

    20 stations, mostly 4 to 6 mi (6 to 10 km (6.2 mi)) apart, with ice and real food; longest gap 10.3 mi (16.6 km). · High confidence

  • Crew accessGood3.5

    Ten crew points, several by shuttle or on foot, and none from Dusty Corners (mile 38 / 61 km (37.9 mi)) to Michigan Bluff (55.7 / 90 km (55.9 mi)). · High confidence

  • Drop bagsMany stations3.6

    Bags at about 11 of 22 points, including Robinson Flat, Foresthill and the finish; the official chart is hard to read. · Medium confidence

  • PacersMuch of the race4.0

    Pacers from Foresthill (mile 62 / 99.8 km (62 mi)) for 38 mi (61 km), three pacers per entrant, none on Bath Road. · High confidence

Course

5.0Excellent

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

  • Course markingImpossible to miss4.6

    Reflectors mark the last 38 mi (61 km) per the official page; no wrong-turn complaints found. · Medium confidence

  • ScenerySpectacular4.8

    Sierra high country, Emigrant Pass, deep canyons and the American River crossing; reports describe it as beautiful and overwhelming. · High confidence

  • Trail experienceRunners rave4.6

    A mix of High Country trail, canyon climbs and runnable Cal Street; runners rave about the trail and the Placer High track finish. · High confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • FootingModerate3.1

    High Country rockier and more technical than expected; canyon trail narrow and rocky; plenty of dirt road and rollers. · Medium confidence

  • RunnabilityMixed3.2

    Reports are surprised how little running there is early, but dirt roads and Cal Street rollers allow running. · Medium confidence

  • ClimbingHilly2.3

    Climbs 180 ft per mi (34 m per km), from the official elevation gain. · High confidence

Conditions

3.0Good

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

  • Race-day temperatureWarm or cold2.7

    Auburn averages 32 °C (90 °F); 2022 and 2025 hit 35 to 37 °C (95 to 99 °F), 2026 only 23 °C (74 °F). · Medium confidence

  • Weather reliabilityVariable2.7

    The race warns of -7 to 43 °C (20 to 110 °F) swings and snow reroutes; river flow can switch the crossing to rafts. · Medium confidence

Course traits, not part of the score

  • AltitudeElevated2.4

    High point 2,667 m (8,750 ft), start at 1,890 m (6,200 ft); first section of the race sits above 2,000 m (6,560 ft). · Medium confidence

Cutoffs

3.5Very good

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

  • Overall cutoffGenerous3.5

    30 h for 100.2 mi (161 km) and 5,514 m (18,090 ft) of gain is standard; about 87% finished in cool 2026. · Medium confidence

  • Intermediate cutoffsGenerous3.7

    Cutoffs start at mile 24.4 (39 km) and run about 18 min per mile (11 min per km); loose, though heat days squeeze mid-packers. · Medium confidence

Intermediate cutoffs (2026)

WhereDistanceCutoff
Duncan Canyon (mile 24.4)39 km (24 mi)7:30 elapsed (12:30 PM Sat/Sun)
Robinson Flat (mile 30.3)49 km (30 mi)9:10 elapsed (2:10 PM Sat/Sun)
Miller's Defeat (mile 34.4)55 km (34 mi)10:15 elapsed (3:15 PM Sat/Sun)
Dusty Corners (mile 38.0)61 km (38 mi)11:05 elapsed (4:05 PM Sat/Sun)
Last Chance (mile 43.3)70 km (43 mi)12:25 elapsed (5:25 PM Sat/Sun)
Devil's Thumb (mile 47.8)77 km (48 mi)14:10 elapsed (7:10 PM Sat/Sun)
El Dorado Creek (mile 52.9)85 km (53 mi)15:40 elapsed (8:40 PM Sat/Sun)
Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7)90 km (56 mi)16:55 elapsed (9:55 PM Sat/Sun)
Foresthill (mile 62.0)100 km (62 mi)18:45 elapsed (11:45 PM Sat/Sun)
Dardanelles (mile 65.7)106 km (66 mi)21:40 elapsed (2:40 AM Sat/Sun)
Peachstone (mile 70.7)114 km (71 mi)21:40 elapsed (2:40 AM Sat/Sun)
Ford's Bar (mile 73.0)118 km (73 mi)24:00 elapsed (5:00 AM Sat/Sun)
Rucky Chucky river crossing (mile 78.0)126 km (78 mi)24:00 elapsed (5:00 AM Sat/Sun)
Green Gate (mile 79.8)128 km (80 mi)24:50 elapsed (5:50 AM Sat/Sun)
Auburn Lake Trails (mile 85.2)137 km (85 mi)26:15 elapsed (7:15 AM Sat/Sun)
Quarry Road (mile 90.7)146 km (91 mi)27:40 elapsed (8:40 AM Sat/Sun)
Pointed Rocks (mile 94.3)152 km (94 mi)28:40 elapsed (9:40 AM Sat/Sun)
Robie Point (mile 98.9)159 km (99 mi)30:00 elapsed (11:00 AM Sat/Sun)
Finish, Placer High School (mile 100.2)161 km (100 mi)30:00 elapsed (11:00 AM Sunday)

Not part of the score

  • First timer friendlyDoable2.5

    Requires a qualifier and years of lottery waiting; reports of first 100s here (Fields, Urbanski) are strong but heat and canyons punish. · Medium confidence

  • Getting inLong-odds lottery1.1

    11,328 applicants for a 369-runner field in 2026, plus a qualifier required; the page cites 0.4% odds for a single ticket (2025 estimate). · High confidence

Stay and travel

2.7Good

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

  • Travel easeFair3.1

    Start in Olympic Valley and finish in Auburn are a long drive apart; the official pages give no airport distances. · Low confidence

  • Places to stayBook early2.9

    The race advises booking early near both Olympic Valley and Auburn; no hotel detail on the official pages. · Low confidence

  • LogisticsFiddly2.2

    Point to point with start and finish a long drive apart, pacer and crew shuttles, and unclear crew access in canyons. · High confidence

  • ValueGood value3.6

    $575 plus fees for the sport's most famous 100; lottery refunds are 75% to 0% by date; no commentary on value. · Low confidence

Key facts

Checked against the 2026 edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.

Location
Olympic Valley, California, United States
Region
West Coast
Typical month
June
Latest or next date
26 June 2027
Start time
05:00
First held
1977
Distance
100.2 mi (161 km)
Course shape
Point to point
Surface
Trail: High-country trail and dirt roads, rocky singletrack in the canyons, and the Cal Street rollers to the American River crossing; finish on the Placer High School track in Auburn.
Footing
Official page: 2,550 ft (777 m) climbed in the first 4.5 mi (7.2 km), then 15,540 ft (4,737 m) up and 22,970 ft (7,001 m) down after Emigrant Pass (total gain computed as 18,090 ft / 5,514 m (18,090 ft)). High point Emigrant Pass 8,750 ft (2,667 m); start 6,200 ft (1,890 m). Reports call the High Country rockier than expected and the canyon trail narrow and rocky.
Elevation gain
5,514 m (18,090 ft)
Climbing rate
34 m per km (181 ft per mi)
High point
2,667 m (8,750 ft)
Overall cutoff
30 hours
Pace to make the cutoff
18:00 per mi (11:11 per km)
Cutoff notes
Official aid station chart (2026 materials): finish by 11:00 AM Sunday (30 h). The chart prints a cutoff column only from Duncan Canyon (mile 24.4 / 39.3 km) on; Lyon Ridge and Red Star Ridge show only 30-hour pace times (7:40 AM and 9:10 AM). Elapsed times are computed from the 05:00 start. Dardanelles, Ford's Bar and Robie Point carry default cutoffs equal to the next station, for emergency use. Cutoffs are deadlines to leave the station.
Aid stations
20
Longest gap between aid
17 km (10 mi)
Drop bags
Some stations
Crew access
Some points
Pacers
Allowed from Foresthill (mile 62 / 99.8 km), or from Michigan Bluff after 8 PM; one at a time
Support notes
Official chart lists 22 rows (20 aid stations plus start and finish). Longest gap is the 10.3 mi (16.6 km) start to Lyon Ridge, computed from the chart. Drop bags, as the flattened chart reads: Olympic Valley, Red Star Ridge, Robinson Flat, Last Chance, Devil's Thumb, Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Rucky Chucky (far side), Auburn Lake Trails, Pointed Rocks and the finish. Crew: Duncan Canyon and Dusty Corners (one vehicle), Robinson Flat and Michigan Bluff (shuttle), Foresthill, Rucky Chucky near side (shuttle), Green Gate, Pointed Rocks and Robie Point (on foot), finish. No crew from Dusty Corners (mile 38) to Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7). Pacer changes: Michigan Bluff after 8 PM, Foresthill, Rucky Chucky, Green Gate, Pointed Rocks, Robie Point.
Water crossings
A few
Water notes
Rucky Chucky: the American River at mile 78 (125.5 km) is forded on foot with a guide rope and staff, or by raft in high-water years. Other creeks and riverbeds mentioned in reports.
Night running
Most runners run through one night
Mandatory gear
Official course page advises two LED flashlights, picked up at Foresthill (or Michigan Bluff for 28 to 30 h runners). The full mandatory gear list was not read on the pages fetched.
Entry
Lottery + qualifier
Qualifier needed
A qualifying race finish in the one-year window (Nov 3, 2025 to Nov 8, 2026 for the 2027 race), then lottery registration Nov 1 to 21, 2026; draw Dec 5, 2026. Golden Ticket races provide automatic entry.
Entry fee
About $575
Field size
About 369 runners
Sells out
months
Finish rate
87% of starters in 2026
Air temperature
-7–43 °C (19–109 °F)
Weather notes
Official page: temperatures can range from 20 to above 110 F (-7 to above 43 C). iRunFar: Auburn average high is 90 F (32 C); 2026 high was 74 F (23 C), the third coolest on record. Reports cite 35 C (95 F) in 2025 and a 37 C (99 F) forecast in 2022. Snow can reroute the High Country.
Nearest airport
RNO
Stay notes
Start (Olympic Valley) and finish (Auburn) are a long drive apart. A race info page suggests staying near Olympic Valley the night before and near Auburn after the start, and booking early. Distances not on the official pages read.
Course record (men)
13:46:15 (Vincent Bouillard, 2026)
Course record (women)
15:28:05 (Jennifer Lichter, 2026)

Official race website (wser.org)

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What runners and reviewers say

  • Daniel Jones, SubstackRaced 2025 · blog · Positive

    5th in 14:36 on a hot day, roughly 35 C (95 F) and near 40 C (104 F) in the valleys. The canyon climbs to Michigan Bluff and Volcano Canyon were hardest; some stations were uncrewed and he handled bottles and ice himself. Crew and three pacers carried him from Michigan Bluff onward.

    “The heat and effort were real.”

    Dan Jones
  • The Trail, Meagan BrownRaced 2022 · blog · Positive

    Finished in 25:59, harder than the net-downhill reputation, with about 4,000 m (13,100 ft) of climbing in the first 100 km (62.1 mi). A 37 C (99 F) forecast, wet feet and an unfamiliar rocky High Country wore her down; she never went more than about 15 km (9 mi) between stations and loved the Cal Street party. Crew first met her at Robinson Flat (49 km / 30 mi).

    “I was definitely unraveling.”

    Meagan Brown
  • GU Energy, Yatika Starr Fieldsarticle · Positive

    First-time 100 miler packed ice early, cooled in creeks and spent under a minute at each of the 20 stations. A big crew met her at Michigan Bluff (mile 55.7 / 89.6 km (55.7 mi)), with pacers from Foresthill (mile 62 / 99.8 km (62 mi)). Describes a hard night stretch and a joyful finish on the Auburn track.

    “It was something to aspire to and we did it.”

    Yatika Starr Fields
  • Bronco Billy, 2016 race reportRaced 2016 · blog · Positive

    Third place on a day over 38 C (100 F) in the American River canyon; ice bandanas and the cold river crossing at mile 78 (125.5 km) kept him going. Crew chief swapped gear at key points. He applied for years through special consideration and the lottery before a sponsor spot got him in; the finish at Robie Point was a street party.

    “the cold river felt like heaven at the Rucky Chucky crossing”

    Bronco Billy (blog byline)
  • Team Run Run, Matt UrbanskiRaced 2024 · blog · Positive

    Finished in 22:48 after applying since 2017 and getting in on the eighth try. Found the High Country rockier than he expected with baseball-sized rocks, narrow rocky canyon singletrack, and rolling Cal Street. 20 aid stations had real food and ice; his crew split in two and found driving directions unclear.

    “It just feels like a special race”

    Matt Urbanski
Show 3 more
  • iRunFar, Andy Jones-WilkinsRaced 2013 · article · Positive

    Ninth Western States finish: ran with friends, enjoyed Volcano Canyon, found the Last Chance to Deadwood descent a test, and crossed the river on foot rather than by boat. Credits volunteers, the race director and his three pacers for the day.

    “I was simply having too much fun.”

    Andy Jones-Wilkins
  • iRunFar, 2026 Western States 100 resultsRaced 2026 · article · Positive

    The 2026 race started at 51 F (11 C) with a high of only 74 F (23 C) in Auburn, 16 F (9 C) below average. About 87% of runners finished, a record. Both course records fell. Climb and descent given as about 18,000 ft (5,490 m) and 22,000 ft (6,710 m).

  • Team Run Run, race info pageRaced 2015 · article · Mixed

    Race info page based on a 2015 run. Warns that canyons (miles 38 to 55.7) are hot and steep, many runners go out too hard in the first 30 mi (48 km), and crew cannot reach the runner between Dusty Corners and Michigan Bluff. Suggests staying near Olympic Valley before the race and near Auburn after the start because the drive between them is long.

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Sources

Pages we used for facts and ratings.

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