Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon

Event overview

The Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon is a 26 mile trail running event planned for June 20-21, 2026, with registration opening January 1, 2026. Entry is limited to the first 100 registrants. All entry proceeds benefit the Foy’s to Blacktail Trails Organization to support trail maintenance, outreach, maps, and signage. Bib pickup is available in Kalispell at Flathead Running Company, and race shirts are provided at the finish.

Course and logistics

The course is mostly single-track trail with more than 5,000 feet of total climbing. The first ~5 miles contain about 2,800 feet of ascent to the top of Blacktail Mountain; the remaining roughly 21 miles include more than 2,000 feet of additional climbing as the route descends toward Herron Park. There are five aid stations located at about mile 5 (summit lodge, restroom), mile 13 (Emmons Saddle, outhouse), mile 17.5 (near Stoltze Corner), mile 21 (north of Chase Overlook), and mile 24 (near Foy’s Overlook). The route has no vehicle access for the last 14 miles except emergency vehicles, and there is no parking at the Lakeside to Blacktail trailhead.

Safety and policies

Wildlife is present along the corridor; participants are required to carry bear spray and know how to use it. Headphones are discouraged. Cell coverage is mostly present but not guaranteed; aid volunteers will carry cell phones and radios. There is a strict cutoff at Emmons Saddle that corresponds to roughly a 25 minutes-per-mile pace; transportation back to Herron is available for those who do not continue past that point. In the event of wildfire or poor air quality, organizers may cancel or offer options to defer registration at 50% value or donate the entry. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.