The big names
Famous ultramarathons, side by side
Some races are known far beyond the trail running world. Here is how 25 of them compare on timing, distance, climbing and the hardest part of all: getting a place.
Compare the races
| Time limit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Canyon 100KSpring Valley to New River, Arizona | February | 62.2 mi (100 km) | 5,219 ft (1,591 m) | Open entry, fills up | 20 hours |
| Barkley MarathonsFrozen Head State Park, Tennessee | February to April | About 130 mi (unofficial) | About 60,000 ft (unofficial) | Secret application, about 40 places | 60 hours |
| Marathon des SablesSahara Desert, southern Morocco | April | About 250 km (155 mi), six stages | 2,567 m in 2026 | Sells out, waiting list | Stage cutoffs at 3.5 km/h |
| Cocodona 250Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona | May | 253.5 mi (408 km) | 38,943 ft (11,870 m) | Lottery | 125 hours |
| Broken Arrow SkyraceOlympic Valley, California | June | 46 km and 23 km | 9,000 ft (2,743 m) in the 46K | Open entry, sells out on day one | 12 hours (46K) |
| Comrades MarathonPietermaritzburg to Durban, South Africa | June | About 89 to 91 km (56 mi) | Road. Downhill overall in 2027 | Qualifier, then entry windows and a ballot | 12 hours |
| Tahoe 200Stateline, Nevada (Lake Tahoe) | June | 200.4 mi (322.5 km) | 32,093 ft (9,782 m) | Lottery | 105 hours |
| Western States 100Olympic Valley to Auburn, California | June | 100.2 mi (161 km) | 18,090 ft (5,514 m) | Qualifier and lottery | 30 hours |
| Badwater 135Death Valley to Whitney Portal, California | July | 135 mi (217 km) | 14,600 ft (4,450 m) | Invitation by application | 45 hours |
| Hardrock 100Silverton, Colorado | July | About 102 mi (164 km) | 33,441 ft (10,193 m) | Qualifier and lottery | 48 hours |
| Speedgoat 50KSnowbird, Utah | July | 50 km (32.5 mi on the aid chart) | 3,450 m (about 11,400 ft) | Open entry | 13 hours |
| Vermont 100West Windsor, Vermont | July | 100 mi (161 km) or 100 km | 5,200 m (17,000 ft) | Lottery and qualifier | 30 hours |
| Bigfoot 200Mount St. Helens to Randle, Washington | August | 200.1 mi (322 km) | 44,082 ft (13,436 m) | Lottery | 107 hours |
| Last Soul UltraGermany (venue kept secret) | August | Open-ended. 630 km won it in 2026 | Not published | Selection and draw | None. Last runner standing |
| Leadville Trail 100Leadville, Colorado | August | 99.7 mi (160 km) | 4,722 m (15,492 ft) | Lottery or guaranteed routes | 30 hours |
| UTMB Mont-BlancChamonix, France | August | 174 km (108 mi) for the UTMB | 9,700 m (31,800 ft) | Running Stones and lottery | 45:30 (2026) |
| Bear 100Logan to Garden City, Utah | September | 100 mi (161 km) | 6,200 m (about 20,300 ft) | Lottery and qualifier | 36 hours |
| Run Rabbit Run 100Steamboat Springs, Colorado | September | About 101.5 mi (163 km) | 6,215 m (20,391 ft) | Open entry | 30 h Hares, 36 h Tortoises |
| SpartathlonAthens to Sparta, Greece | September | About 246 km (153 mi) | Not published. One pass of about 1,200 m | Qualifier and lottery | 36 hours |
| Tor des GéantsCourmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy | September | 330 km (205 mi), about 336 km measured | 24,000 m (78,700 ft) advertised | Lottery with country quotas | 150 hours |
| Wasatch 100Kaysville to Midway, Utah | September | 100 mi (161 km) | 7,300 m (about 24,000 ft) | Lottery plus trail work | 36 hours |
| Big's Backyard UltraBell Buckle, Tennessee | October | Open-ended. 475 mi won it in 2025 | About 450 ft per trail loop | Qualification only | None. Last runner standing |
| Javelina JundredMcDowell Mountain Regional Park, Arizona | October | 100 mi (161 km) or 100K | 1,919 m (6,296 ft) | Open entry, sells out | 30 hours |
| Moab 240Moab, Utah | October | 241.8 mi (389 km) | 31,696 ft (9,661 m) | Lottery | 112 hours |
| JFK 50 MileBoonsboro to Williamsport, Maryland | November | 50.2 mi (81 km) | Not published. 1,172 ft in the first 5.5 mi | Open entry, sells out | 13 hours |
Each figure comes from the organiser and is dated on the race's own guide page. Distances and climbing are for the main race.
How hard is it to get in?
- Open entry
- Sign up while places last.
- Sells out
- Open to anyone, but places go quickly.
- Qualifier or lottery
- You need a previous result, a draw, or both.
- Long odds
- A heavily oversubscribed lottery or an invitation-only start.
The full guides
Spring Valley to New River, Arizona
Black Canyon 100K
A fast desert 100K and the first big Golden Ticket race of the year.
Read the guide2027, date not announcedFrozen Head State Park, Tennessee
Barkley Marathons
Five unmarked loops in 60 hours. Only 20 people have ever finished.
Read the guide2 to 12 April 2027 (stages 4 to 10 April)Sahara Desert, southern Morocco
Marathon des Sables
Six stages across the Sahara, carrying your own food and kit.
Read the guide2 to 7 May 2027Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona
Cocodona 250
Five days across Arizona, from the desert to Flagstaff, streamed live.
Read the guide26 to 27 June 2027Olympic Valley to Auburn, California
Western States 100
The original 100-mile trail race, from the Sierra high country to Auburn.
Read the guideJune 2027, dates to be announcedOlympic Valley, California
Broken Arrow Skyrace
Ladders, ridges and snow at Palisades Tahoe, with a huge elite field.
Read the guide21 to 25 June 2027Stateline, Nevada (Lake Tahoe)
Tahoe 200
One loop around Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe Rim Trail, with 105 hours to finish.
Read the guideSunday 13 June 2027Pietermaritzburg to Durban, South Africa
Comrades Marathon
The world's biggest ultra, between Pietermaritzburg and Durban since 1921.
Read the guide9 to 11 July 2027Silverton, Colorado
Hardrock 100
Thirteen high passes in the San Juans, and a kiss on the rock to finish.
Read the guide19 to 21 July 2027Death Valley to Whitney Portal, California
Badwater 135
From the lowest point in North America to Mount Whitney, in July heat.
Read the guideSaturday 24 July 2027Snowbird, Utah
Speedgoat 50K
A brutal mountain 50K at Snowbird, over Hidden Peak twice.
Read the guide17 to 18 July 2027West Windsor, Vermont
Vermont 100
Green Mountain dirt roads and trails, shared with horses, for adaptive sport.
Read the guideWorld Series final in Germany, August 2027Germany (venue kept secret)
Last Soul Ultra
A secret-venue backyard ultra in Germany, streamed to millions.
Read the guideLate summer 2027, dates to be announcedChamonix, France
UTMB Mont-Blanc
A week of races around Mont Blanc and the finals of the UTMB World Series.
Read the guide21 to 22 August 2027Leadville, Colorado
Leadville Trail 100
The Race Across the Sky, over Hope Pass twice from 10,000 feet.
Read the guide13 to 17 August 2027Mount St. Helens to Randle, Washington
Bigfoot 200
Point to point from Mount St. Helens across the Cascades, with 107 hours.
Read the guide17 to 18 September 2027Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Run Rabbit Run 100
Steamboat's mountain 100, with a $100,000 prize for each Hare winner.
Read the guide24 to 25 September 2027Logan to Garden City, Utah
Bear 100
Point to point from Logan to Bear Lake in the autumn colours.
Read the guide10 to 11 September 2027Kaysville to Midway, Utah
Wasatch 100
A historic point-to-point 100 along the Wasatch crest, ending the Grand Slam.
Read the guideSeptember 2027, dates to be announcedCourmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy
Tor des Géants
A non-stop 330 km loop of the Aosta Valley's high routes, with 150 hours.
Read the guideSeptember 2027, date to be announcedAthens to Sparta, Greece
Spartathlon
Athens to Sparta on Pheidippides' route, with every checkpoint on the clock.
Read the guideIndividual World Championship from 16 October 2027Bell Buckle, Tennessee
Big's Backyard Ultra
The original backyard ultra: a loop every hour until one runner is left.
Read the guide8 to 12 October 2027Moab, Utah
Moab 240
One 241.8-mile loop through the canyons and mountains around Moab.
Read the guide31 October to 1 November 2026McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Arizona
Javelina Jundred
The Halloween desert loop party near Phoenix, with Golden Tickets up front.
Read the guideSaturday 21 November 2026Boonsboro to Williamsport, Maryland
JFK 50 Mile
America's oldest ultra: Appalachian Trail, canal towpath and country roads.
Read the guide