Elkhorn Endurance Runs
SATURDAY AUGUST 3, 2024 – 50M 5am – 50k 7am – 13.1M 8am
Montana’s oldest trail ultra (established 1989). Held annually on the first Saturday in August in the remote, rugged, and wild Elkhorn Mountains near Helena, Montana.
All three distances (50M, 50k, 13.1M) feature spectacular Montana scenery, breathtaking climbs, technical descents, challenging single track trail, primitive roads, and cold, clear creeks to splash through. Not one step on pavement.
All portions of the course are remote. You may encounter horseback riders, bike riders, or hikers (and deer, elk, moose, and bear), and all trails are for non-motorized use only. The primitive road portions of the 50 mile and 50k courses may be used by ATV and 4WD vehicles, but access is still very difficult.
Our race has the low-key, friendly, laid-back atmosphere that is typical of Montana. We don’t have and aren’t interested in the hype of some of today’s large ultramarathon events. Our goal is to provide participants with memories of Montana backcountry mountain running.
The Elkhorn Endurance Runs are a 100% volunteer event brought to you by the nonprofit, HURL. We put on this event bring together our community and show off our incredible backyard trails. Volunteers (from race directors, to horse packers and ATVers, to course markers and sweepers, to aid station and after party crew) make our event successful. We are especially grateful for our medical volunteers. It’s true: we host an appreciation picnic the Tuesday after the race for our volunteers.
Elkhorn Endurance Runs works in cooperation with the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest and makes annual donations to local non-profit organizations that help our Helena running community and this event happen: Prickly Pear Land Trust, Capital City Amateur Radio Club, Elkhorn Search and Rescue, Capital Trail Vehicle Association, Backcountry Horsemen, and the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department.
