Run the Red Desert
South Pass City, United States • 26 Sep 2026
Event Overview
The Run the Red Desert Trail Races are organized by the Lander Running Club in partnership with The Wyoming Wilderness Association. The event is held to celebrate Wyoming's Red Desert landscape. The races were redesigned in 2019.
This year's races are loop courses that start and finish at the South Pass City Historic Site. They feature the northern portion of Wyoming's Red Desert with views of Continental Peak and Oregon Buttes. The event aims to be a remote wilderness experience with historical elements along the route.
Distances
The event offers two distances:
- 50K
- 30K
Course Details
Both the 50K and 30K are point-to-point courses starting at the Whitehorse Creek Overlook, at the boundary of the Whitehorse Creek Wilderness Study Area. Runners and crew must park and walk approximately 0.4 miles on a dirt road to the start.
From the overlook, routes traverse canyon rims and valleys. Both courses include a crossing of the Sweetwater River via a small footbridge, where runners can expect to get their feet wet. After the river, a climb leads toward the Fish Creek granite domes and the Ironhorse Aid Station.
The final section involves dirt two-track running into the Willow Creek Drainage, finishing at the South Pass City Historic Site. Runners pass historic mining sites, including the large Carissa Mine, as they approach the finish.
The 50K course includes an extended loop around Pacific Butte with views of Oregon Buttes and the Wind River Mountains, and a section on the original Oregon National Historic Trail over South Pass.
Location and Venue
The event is based at South Pass City, Wyoming, a historic gold mining town. The nearest gas stations are approximately 35 miles north in Lander or 45 miles south in Farson.
Registration
Registration opens on January 1 and closes on September 22. Distance changes and bib transfers must also be completed by September 22. Rollover credits from a previous year's canceled registration can be applied if the runner re-registers before the race reaches capacity. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.