RUN WILD THROUGH
YELLOWSTONE'S WONDERS
Weather/Conditions
Closest Airport
Basecamp Location
Difficulty
Course Locations
Terrain
Yellowstone
DISTANCES
A rugged, high-elevation race set in the wild terrain just outside Yellowstone National Park. The course winds through Custer Gallatin National Forest on dirt roads and rolling climbs, where the air is crisp, the forest is quiet, and the landscape feels untamed.
West Yellowstone sits on the edge of something massive—and you feel it. This isn’t the postcard version of Yellowstone; it’s the raw perimeter. Fewer crowds, more exposure, and a real sense of being out there. Long stretches of open road, dense forest, and the very real chance of encountering wildlife give this race an edge you don’t find anywhere else.
13.1mi.
JUNE 13, 2026
September 18th, 2026
Start: 7:00 am (MT)
Cutoff: 4.5hrs
Elevation: +1,267 ft / -1,263 ft
The course begins with a mix of town and trail before heading into more scenic, forested terrain with a steady climb and descent. Midway, the trail becomes more technical with rocky, uneven sections and fast downhills. The final stretch smooths out with a small late climb before a gradual downhill finish. Expect a rugged dirt trail throughout that requires solid footing and trail experience.
5K
JUNE 12, 2026
September 18th, 2026
Start: 7:00 am (MT)
Cutoff: 4.5hrs
Elevation: +1,267 ft / -1,263 ft
This is a beautiful course to give you a chance to work your legs out and enjoy a run with friends and family. The race begins from the expo location on Old Airport Rd with the first mile running through town. Runners will then jump onto the forest service roads and run through the woods before returning to the finish line.
Reasons to run
YELLOWSTONE
West Yellowstone has a way of reminding you how close you are to something immense. Quiet pine forest, crisp mountain air, and a charged stillness that hints at the wild world just beyond the gates — Yellowstone isn’t in view yet, but you can feel it.
Every mile carries that sense of anticipation, with wide-open stretches, big-sky views, and the real possibility of spotting wildlife along the way (yes, even bears). It’s an experience that feels raw, humbling, and exactly how this place is meant to be experienced.
America’s First National Park
Scenic Forest Trail
Multi Distance Challenge Options
Victory snacks
Iconic landscape
medal art
Reasons to run
YELLOWSTONE
West Yellowstone has a way of reminding you how close you are to something immense. Quiet pine forest, crisp mountain air, and a charged stillness that hints at the wild world just beyond the gates — Yellowstone isn’t in view yet, but you can feel it.
Every mile carries that sense of anticipation, with wide-open stretches, big-sky views, and the real possibility of spotting wildlife along the way (yes, even bears). It’s an experience that feels raw, humbling, and exactly how this place is meant to be experienced.
Choose your
CHALLENGE
What are the DOUBLES AND QUADS
During the month of June we host four races on back-to-back weekends:
Weekend 1
June 5-6, 2026
Grand Teton Half Marathon + Grand Teton 5K
Weekend 2
June 12-13, 2026
Yellowstone Half Marathon + Yellowstone 5K
These races showcase the incredible beauty of Wyoming and Montana AND they are driving distance to each other! To give our runners an extra challenge (and an opportunity to keep exploring the parks), we've created a series of combination events. Our intrepid Double and Quad runners commit to running either a 5K + Half Marathon, 2 Half Marathons, or all 4 races in the span of one week!
What to
EXPECT
Race Weekend Schedule
Day 1 — Friday, June 12
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM — Race Expo & Bib Pickup
5:15 PM – 5K runners must be parked
5:45 PM – 5K runners line up
6:00 PM – 5K race starts
6:45 PM – Awards Ceremony
Day 2 — Saturday, June 13
4:00 AM – Parking lot opens
4:15 AM – Bib pickup opens near start line
5:15 AM – All cars should be parked
5:45 AM – Runners line up & last call for gear check
6:00 AM - Half Marathon race starts
8:45 AM – Awards Ceremony (near finish line)
YELLOWSTONE
3.1 Miles
JUNE 12, 2026
1 AID STATION
6:00 PM MT
DIRT TRAIL
NO CUT-OFF TIME
54 FEET
This is a beautiful course to give you a chance to work your legs out and enjoy a run with friends and family. The race begins from the expo location on Old Airport Rd, then run the first mile through town. Runners will then jump onto the forest service roads and run through the woods before returning to the finish line.
While iconic features like Grand Prismatic Spring are located nearby, the Yellowstone Half Marathon course is approximately 24 miles away and does not take place within Yellowstone National Park boundaries.
YELLOWSTONE
13.1 Miles
JUNE 13, 2026
5 AID STATIONS
6:00 AM MT
DIRT TRAILS
4 HRS (18MIN/MILE)
552 FEET
This course blends town streets with scenic trails, gradually transitioning into forested terrain with a notable climb that delivers the biggest challenge of the race. Runners then navigate more technical, rocky sections with rewarding downhill stretches and expansive views, before a brief late incline tests endurance. The route finishes with a fast, flowing run that trends flat to downhill, setting up a strong push to the finish line.
While iconic features like Grand Prismatic Spring are located nearby, the Yellowstone Half Marathon course is approximately 24 miles away and does not take place within Yellowstone National Park boundaries.
Hear it from our
VACATION RACERS
Stories from runners at past Half Marathon events
"Aid volunteers were encouraging and great! I loved the reusable cups and the fruit + honey stinger energy gels available along the course."
– Emily
"We had a group participate as part of the Grand Quad Challenge. Yellowstone was my favorite! With more of a trail vibe.The scenery was beautiful and the aid stations were perfectly spaced."
— Becky
"I really appreciated the map of the race ahead of time, it helped me prepare training with hills at certain points in my running. Everything was clear and concise!"
– Sara
Hear it from our
VACATION RACERS
Stories from runners at past Half events
Event
INFO
We welcome spectators at the Yellowstone Half Marathon!
You may park at Old Airport Road along with the runners and meet your runner at the finish line. Once your runner has crossed the finish line, please exit the runner recovery area to avoid crowding. The beverages, supplies, and medical tent at the finish line are for runner use only - thank you!
We recommend using Brooksee’s innovative tracking system to track your runner's progress, send them cheers, and determine when to meet them at the finish line!
As nature lovers, we are committed to keeping our events sustainable and managing negative impacts on the environment. Here's how you can help us:
Cup-Free RacingSingle-use plastic is a huge source of waste at any public event. We have reduced that impact by making our events "cup-free".
What does that mean for you?
Coolers of water and electrolyte drink are available at all aid stations, but cups will not be provided on course or at the finish line. In order to stay hydrated, we ask you to bring one of the following:
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Reusable water bottle
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Nathan reusable cup - These light-weight cups fold into a pocket or waistband. Request one when you sign up to run!
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Hydration pack - These are refillable backpacks meant for running that allow you to access fluid via a built-in straw.
Zero Waste Containers
You can help us reduce trash by sorting disposable items into the appropriate container.
You’ll notice three containers at our events:
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Compostables: Organic goods like banana peels and most food items (without the wrapper please!)
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Recyclables: Paper, aluminum, cardboard, steel, and glass. Please dump out any liquids into the compost bin BEFORE recycling the container.
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Everything Else: Non-recyclable food wrappers like from used gel packets and styrofoam. Please dump out any food matter BEFORE throwing away the container.
Please avoid putting organic waste and compostable items in the wrong bin. It gets gross to sort through.-
Any participants hoping to compete for overall awards will need to start in the BLUE wave at the very beginning of the race. While the Overall Male, Female, Non-Binary and Masters Male and Female will be based on chip time for this event, the competitors for these awards will need to begin in the first wave, within the first 15 minutes of the starting gun time. Any athletes crossing the start line after the first wave begins will be considered for Age Group awards.
Awards
Place medals will be given to the top 5 male, female, and non-binary runners overall as well as the Masters 40+ group.Additionally, the top 5 in each of the following age groups will also receive a place medal: 11 and younger, 12-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and older.
As of yet, we do not offer non-binary age group awards.
There will be finisher medals for everyone who finishes the race.
The official Race Shirt is picked up at expo upon check-in, and the official race medal is awarded upon crossing the finish line.
Exclusive Race merchandise will be available both at the race expo and near the finish line! When possible, we'll have race merch for sale in our online store after the race is over.
Please allow time for us to add items online.Make Your Medal Even More Meaningful with iTab
Now, you can make it last forever with an iTab, a custom engraved plate with your name and finishing time that clips right onto your medal ribbon.
Pre-order before race day, and it’ll be sent to you automatically after you finish. If you missed out on pre-order, no worries. You can order yours today for just $15, including postage & packaging here.
Results
Live results will be hosted online by Laurel. Visit the results button below for final finisher times after the event is completed. Keep in mind, the results are not official until all runners have crossed the finish line, and have been reviewed by the event director. Got questions about your placement? Please email timing@brooksee.com.
Ship My Medal
Top Finisher but missed the awards ceremony? You can request to have your place medal shipped to you! Visit this link to have your place medal shipped to you.
Photos
New for 2026, FinisherPix will be at each event to capture your race memories. Within 24-48 hours post-event, your photos will be available at the link below. You can purchase your race photos ahead of race day during registration or directly through FinisherPix. The FinisherPix Photo Pack includes ALL photos we identify of you in all digital formats (Basic digital image, Digital images with Finish Time, Digital images in certificate format). A link to download all images will automatically be emailed to you when photos are available online. Click the button below to view race weekend photos once available. Search for your individual photos by last name or bib number.
Explore
YELLOWSTONE
While famous for its geysers, hot springs, and mud pots, the Yellowstone area is more than steam and sulfur. Where we run— the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Hebgen Lake Ranger District—is nestled in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Custer Gallatin National Forest is one of five national forests that comprise this ecosystem. Rivers, mountains, trails, and tall trees define the forest’s 193 million acres. Within this land, moose roam, bald eagles soar, grizzly bears wander, and trout swim the clear, fresh streams— and try to avoid bigger predators!
We hope you take the time to explore the diversity of this land while remaining smart and safe. As a reminder, you should never approach wildlife, even if they seem “friendly.” This is dangerous for you and for them.
2026
MEDAL & TEE
Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to get a sneak peak!
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Coming Soon
Race weekend isn’t just a start line — it’s a full-on adventure, and we want your trip to feel smooth from the moment you arrive. Whether you’re running, crewing, or cheering, HotelPlanner makes it easy to book the right place to stay with exclusive discounted rates for Yellowstone participants, friends, and family, plus a seamless booking experience and 24/7 customer support. Your Yellowstone HotelPlanner page is set up with official race weekend dates and lodging options near key event areas like Expo, Start Line, and Finish Line, so you’re close to the action and ready for a stress-free race morning.
Book early to snag the best rates and make the most of your time in West Yellowstone, Montana
Book Your Stay with HotelPlanner Now
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