Western States Endurance Run
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Western States Endurance Run
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the longest continuously held 100 mile trail race, first run in 1974. The course begins in Olympic Valley, California, and finishes 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California, at Placer High School. The trail traverses the traditional lands of the Nisenan, Washoe, and other neighboring Indigenous peoples.
The route includes high mountain terrain and low elevation canyons. Runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet along sections that include Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, a crossing of the Middle Fork of the American River, and historic reddish brown trails used by earlier travelers in the California gold country.
The event is supported by a large volunteer network, with more than 1,500 volunteers contributing to operations. Time based awards include a sub 24 hour silver belt buckle and a sub 30 hour bronze belt buckle.
Entry for specific years follows a qualifying and lottery system. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and complete a qualifying race within the stated qualifying period. For the 2027 running the one year qualifying period runs from November 3, 2025 through November 8, 2026, lottery registration is scheduled for early November 2026, and entrants are selected by lottery in December 2026. The race maintains an ordered general wait list and publishes refund rules tied to withdrawal dates. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
