Moonlight On Mt Ascension Trail Run
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Moonlight on Mt Ascension 12 Hour Night Trail Run
Moonlight on Mt Ascension is a 12 hour night trail run on Helena’s South Hills trails, centered at the Old Shooting Range Trailhead in Davis Gulch, Helena, Montana. The course is a modified figure 8 made entirely of singletrack through the Mount Ascension and Rodney Ridge areas. Each full figure 8 is 11.57 miles with about 2,645 feet of elevation gain.
The event is limited to 75 runners. Runners may cover as many complete loops as they can within the 12 hour window; completing one full figure 8 at any point qualifies as an official finisher. Runners do not have to run continuously.
Course details require completing the Mt Ascension loop clockwise, then the Rodney Ridge loop counterclockwise. The two component loops are:
- Figure 8 loop: 11.57 miles, 2,645 ft gain
- Mt Ascension loop: 7.5 miles, 1,630 ft gain/loss
- Rodney Ridge loop: 4.0 miles, 1,015 ft gain/loss
The course will be marked with ribbons, signs, reflective tape, and glow sticks. An aid station at the Old Shooting Range Trailhead will offer typical aid station food, HEED, Perpetuem, Hammer Gel, water, soup, coffee, and hot chocolate. Wildlife such as deer, black bear, and mountain lion have been seen on these trails.
The event is organized by the nonprofit Helena Ultra Runners League and run by volunteers. Registration has tiered fees and closes the Sunday before the race; partial refunds and rollover options apply before June 1. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
