+ 93
The Rut 28k Race
Trail Running Route
Details
17.85 mi
8,639 ft
An "extremely steep & technical" 28k course with stunning views and nearly 8000' of climbing!
Considered one of the most coveted trail running events in Montana, the Rut includes the most challenging 28k you will ever run. The 17.6-mile course includes a staggering 7,800' of elevation gain and traverses "extremely steep & technical" terrain, especially as you approach the 11,166' summit of Lone Peak a little over halfway in. "This is a true mountain course," according to the race director, and it's strongly encouraged "to become familiar with the course terrain before registering for this event."
In 2020, the entire event sold out in 4 hours, so if you plan to make this your next big race, keep an eye on the upcoming year's registration day. Cash prizes are awarded to the top 10 overall men and women, so this race draws in plenty of elite runners looking to claim their price.
The 28k begins Saturday at 8am in 3 waves staggered apart by 5-minute increments. Though elite racers have clocked times well under 4 hours, the median finish time is much closer to 6 hours. If you've been trail running for a while, you're likely already doing the math in your head—even on a hilly course, 6 hours is a respectable finish time for a 50k. That thought only reinforces that this is one of **the most difficult 28k courses you'll find anywhere in North America**, maybe even across most of the world.
Per the race guide, the 28k includes three full aid stations and one water-only stop at the following intervals:
*Headwaters Bowl:* (Mile 3.9) (Cut off time of 10:15 AM)
*Swiftcurrent:* (Mile 9.0) (Cut off time of 12:15 PM)
*Summit:* Water Only Station (Mile 10.7)
*Moosetracks:* (Mile 14.5) (Cut off time of 3:15 PM)
*Finish Line:* (Mile 17.8) (Cut off time of 4:30 PM)
[Other Course Details & Source]( Written by Brendon Voelker
Considered one of the most coveted trail running events in Montana, the Rut includes the most challenging 28k you will ever run. The 17.6-mile course includes a staggering 7,800' of elevation gain and traverses "extremely steep & technical" terrain, especially as you approach the 11,166' summit of Lone Peak a little over halfway in. "This is a true mountain course," according to the race director, and it's strongly encouraged "to become familiar with the course terrain before registering for this event."
In 2020, the entire event sold out in 4 hours, so if you plan to make this your next big race, keep an eye on the upcoming year's registration day. Cash prizes are awarded to the top 10 overall men and women, so this race draws in plenty of elite runners looking to claim their price.
The 28k begins Saturday at 8am in 3 waves staggered apart by 5-minute increments. Though elite racers have clocked times well under 4 hours, the median finish time is much closer to 6 hours. If you've been trail running for a while, you're likely already doing the math in your head—even on a hilly course, 6 hours is a respectable finish time for a 50k. That thought only reinforces that this is one of **the most difficult 28k courses you'll find anywhere in North America**, maybe even across most of the world.
Per the race guide, the 28k includes three full aid stations and one water-only stop at the following intervals:
*Headwaters Bowl:* (Mile 3.9) (Cut off time of 10:15 AM)
*Swiftcurrent:* (Mile 9.0) (Cut off time of 12:15 PM)
*Summit:* Water Only Station (Mile 10.7)
*Moosetracks:* (Mile 14.5) (Cut off time of 3:15 PM)
*Finish Line:* (Mile 17.8) (Cut off time of 4:30 PM)
[Other Course Details & Source]( Written by Brendon Voelker
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rut 28k | 19.03 mi | 3,510 ft | 0.1% |
| Rut 25k (Start to Headwaters Ridge) | 6.42 mi | 2,628 ft | 7.7% |
| Hackamore Road Climb | 0.47 mi | 164 ft | 6.5% |
| Elk Horn | 0.94 mi | 354 ft | 6.7% |
| A Taste of Talus | 0.35 mi | -315 ft | -17.0% |
| Headwaters Ridge Climb | 0.59 mi | 997 ft | 29.9% |
| Down From Headwaters Ridge | 1.43 mi | -1,749 ft | -23.1% |
| Down Headwaters | 0.45 mi | -367 ft | -15.2% |
| Bonecrusher 2023 | 0.80 mi | 1,115 ft | 26.3% |
| Bone Crusher Trail to Lone Mountain Summit | 1.07 mi | 1,965 ft | 34.6% |
| The gentle climb | 0.28 mi | 794 ft | 52.6% |
| Rut 25k (Lone Peak to Andesite) | 6.42 mi | -3,389 ft | -7.5% |
| Down From Lone Peak | 1.14 mi | -2,103 ft | -34.9% |
| White Spruce Drive Climb | 0.84 mi | 482 ft | 10.8% |
| Revenge of the RD | 0.63 mi | 741 ft | 22.3% |
| Rut 25k Finish | 1.02 mi | -965 ft | -17.8% |