California · Olympic Valley
Qualifier status per the 2026 lists
The race traces directly to Gordy Ainsleigh's 1974 decision to run the Tevis Cup horse trail on foot, covering 100 miles of Sierra Nevada trail in 23:42 without a horse. The course splits between high alpine ridgeline and three scorched California canyons — Devil's Thumb's 36-switchback wall, El Dorado Creek, and miles of fire-scarred exposure left by the 2022 Mosquito Fire. At mile 78, runners ford the American River at Rucky Chucky; daytime canyon temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Sub-24-hour finishers earn hand-cast silver buckles; the 369-runner field is lottery-capped.
The numbers
170 ft / mi
Draw ~Nov 1, 2025
of finishers
per year
The course
Course line from published GPX · source · approximate — always follow official markings
◈ From the runners
◈ Field notes from elsewhere
What other finishers have written and filmed. Off-site, unaffiliated.
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