Key dates for 2027
The 2027 application window ran from 1 to 14 October 2026 and has closed. If your name comes out on 5 December, the next deadline is your service hours.
- Lottery draw
Held live on Colorado's Front Range and streamed online. Being there gives no extra chance.
- Hardrock Scholarship applications close
$500 to $2,000 for runners from groups underrepresented in ultrarunning.
- Last day for a 50% refund
Withdrawing does not cost you your accumulated tickets.
- Service window closes
Your 8 hours must fall between 15 June 2026 and this date.
- Service form deadline
Runners without a form are removed from the start list on 23 June.
- Race start
6:00 a.m. in Silverton, counter-clockwise.
- Final finish time
6:00 a.m. on Sunday, 48 hours after the start.
Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
How to get a place
First you need a qualifying race: a finish from the official list within the last two years, inside that race's traditional cutoff. A Hardrock finish counts for an extra year. The list has about three dozen tough mountain 100s, from Northburn Station in New Zealand and Tor des Géants in Italy to UTMB, Wasatch, Bear and Run Rabbit Run. You must also be over 18.
Applications open for two weeks in October through UltraSignup, and applying early gives no advantage. Entry costs $450 plus fees, charged only if you are selected.
Two pools and very different odds
The lottery has two pools, each split by gender. The Finished pool is for anyone who has completed Hardrock before. You get one ticket for applying, one for every finish, and one for every year you have applied without starting since your last start.
The Never Finished pool is everyone else, and it is where nine out of ten applicants sit. You get 2 to the power of N tickets, where N is the number of times you have applied without being drawn since you last started. If you start and do not finish, that count resets. Since 2022, the share of women selected must be at least the share of women who apply.
| Pool | Applicants | Tickets | Places drawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished | 270 | 1,342 | 64 |
| Never Finished | 2,476 | 47,006 | 83 |
| Total | 2,746 | 48,348 | 147 |
Service tickets
Volunteering at Hardrock earns extra tickets. Captaining an aid station, working both trail days or serving on the board each add one. Volunteering for at least 8 hours a year earns one perpetual ticket for every three years of service. In the Finished pool these count as extra finishes, and in the Never pool as extra entries.
The other ways in
- The first woman and first man from the previous year can enter without the lottery. For 2027 that means Courtney Dauwalter and Ludovic Pommeret.
- The race director picks six Special Consideration runners, split evenly between women and men, from a slate of at least 12.
- There are no places reserved for elite or sponsored runners.
Service, refunds and deferrals
- Everyone who starts must complete 8 hours of service between 15 June 2026 and 15 June 2027: organising or volunteering at an ultra, or trail work. Pacing and crewing do not count. You do not need the hours to apply.
- Withdraw on or before 1 June 2027 for a 50% refund. After that there is none.
- Deferrals are offered only for pregnancy, birth, surrogacy, adoption or active military duty. Entries cannot be transferred.
The course
Hardrock is a single loop through the San Juan Mountains on four-wheel-drive roads, trails and open cross-country ground, linking Silverton, Lake City, Ouray and Telluride. It ranges from about 7,700 feet at Ouray to over 14,000 feet, and timberline sits at around 11,800 feet, so a lot of the race happens in the open alpine.
The race calls itself a tribute to the miners who prospected these mountains for gold and silver, and the course follows many of their old routes.
Counter-clockwise, as in 2027
From the Silverton school, the counter-clockwise route heads past Kendall Mountain to the first big climb over Dives Little Giant Pass at about 13,000 feet. It crosses Green Mountain and Buffalo Boy Ridge, then follows the Continental Divide to Pole Creek and Sherman.
The high point, Handies Peak at 14,048 feet, comes at about mile 38. From Engineer the trail drops through a steep, narrow gorge to Ouray, the lowest point. Then comes the climb to Virginius Pass and Kroger's Canteen at 13,098 feet, which the race calls the most spectacular aid station in ultrarunning. The final step to the pass usually has snow, even in a dry year.
After Telluride, the last third crosses Oscar's Pass, the loose couloir of Grant Swamp Pass and the Putnam passes. The biggest water crossing, Mineral Creek, comes near the end with a fixed rope. You finish in Silverton by kissing the Hardrock.
Snow, water, lightning
The race aims for the gap between snowmelt and the summer monsoon. Expect snowfields, knee-deep icy streams, trails with drops of 300 feet or more and some easy scrambling. The race says that in a typical year your feet will be wet for at least 90% of the run.
Afternoon thunderstorms are normal, and runners have been struck by lightning in past years. The course page explains how to position yourself in lightning, including spreading out at least 50 feet when in a group. The 48-hour limit allows time to shelter in a valley for two to four hours and still finish. Captains can hold runners in dangerous weather or stop those without the right kit.
Aid stations and cutoffs
Hardrock has 14 or 15 aid stations depending on direction. Four of them, Sherman, Grouse Gulch, Ouray and Telluride, are the big stations with standard crew access and drop bags. Pole Creek, Engineer, Kroger's Canteen and Putnam are hike-in stations with no crew access.
The 2027 counter-clockwise table is not yet published. The table below is from 2025, the last counter-clockwise year, with Animas Forks in the place where Grouse Gulch will return. The race is also cupless, with reusable cups at every station, so you do not need to carry your own.
| Aid station | Mile | Km | Cutoff | 48-hour pace | Crew | Drop bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cunningham | 9.3 | 15.0 | Fri 10:45 | Fri 08:50 | Yes | Yes |
| Maggie | 15.4 | 24.8 | None | Fri 11:40 | No | No |
| Pole Creek | 20.4 | 32.8 | None | Fri 13:00 | No | No |
| Sherman | 29.8 | 48.0 | Fri 20:15 | Fri 15:45 | Yes | Yes |
| Burrows | 34 | 54.7 | None | Fri 17:00 | No | No |
| Animas Forks (Grouse Gulch from 2026) | 44.6 | 71.8 | Sat 02:30 | Fri 21:55 | Yes | Yes |
| Engineer | 50.6 | 81.4 | None | Sat 01:50 | No | No |
| Ouray | 58.6 | 94.3 | Sat 09:00 | Sat 05:10 | Yes | Yes |
| Governor | 66.2 | 106.5 | Sat 12:30 | Sat 08:50 | No | No |
| Kroger's Canteen | 69.8 | 112.3 | None | Sat 11:00 | No | No |
| Telluride | 74.7 | 120.2 | Sat 16:00 | Sat 12:50 | Yes | Yes |
| Chapman | 84.4 | 135.8 | Sat 20:45 | Sat 18:40 | Hike in only | Yes |
| KT | 91 | 146.5 | Sun 00:45 | Sat 23:15 | Pacer exchange only | No |
| Putnam | 96.6 | 155.5 | None | Sun 03:20 | No | No |
| Silverton (finish) | 102.5 | 165.0 | Sun 06:00 | Sun 06:00 | Yes | Yes |
This is the 2025 counter-clockwise table, the most recent for the 2027 direction. In 2026 the Animas Forks station moved back to Grouse Gulch, shortening the course by 0.64 miles, so 2027 miles and cutoffs will change. Times are Mountain Daylight Time from a Friday 6:00 a.m. start. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Rules that shape your plan
Pacers and crew in 2027
- Pacers are allowed from Grouse Gulch onwards, meeting their runner only at crew stations (Ouray, Telluride and Chapman) or by hiking in to KT for a pacer exchange.
- Runners over 60 may have a pacer for the whole race.
- One pacer at a time. Pacers must cover at least a whole leg and cannot carry anything for their runner.
- Each runner gets one crew pass, which allows one vehicle at Cunningham and Grouse Gulch. Crewing is limited to about 400 yards around an aid station.
- Chapman crews park in Ophir and hike in about 2 miles. Nobody may park or wait along Ophir Pass Road or at the Highway 550 crossing.
On the course
- You must carry the race's GPS tracker. Your pacer cannot carry it for you, and pressing its SOS button counts as dropping out.
- There is no published mandatory kit list. The recommended gear includes a waterproof jacket and trousers, an emergency blanket, gloves, a hat, two lights, enough capacity for 80 ounces of fluid and 500 calories.
- No stashing supplies and no aid outside 400 yards of an aid station.
- Resting in a parked car at a station is allowed. Getting back in a car after checking out disqualifies you.
- Runners must check in by 11 a.m. on the Thursday before the race, and confirm on race morning, or lose their place.
How many people finish?
In 2026, 116 of 147 starters finished, 78.9%. In the 1990s it was common for fewer than half to finish, with a low of 39.4% in 1997. Since 2015 the rate has stayed between about 74% and 87%. Four races have been cancelled: 1995 and 2019 for snow, 2002 for fire danger and 2020 for COVID-19.
Show every year as a table
| Year | Starters | Finishers | Finish rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 147 | 116 | 78.9% |
| 2025 | 145 | 114 | 78.6% |
| 2024 | 146 | 119 | 81.5% |
| 2023 | 146 | 111 | 76.0% |
| 2022 | 145 | 115 | 79.3% |
| 2021 | 146 | 112 | 76.7% |
| 2020 | Cancelled because of COVID-19 | ||
| 2019 | Cancelled because of snow and avalanche damage | ||
| 2018 | 146 | 114 | 78.1% |
| 2017 | 145 | 126 | 86.9% |
| 2016 | 152 | 112 | 73.7% |
| 2015 | 152 | 123 | 80.9% |
| 2014 | 140 | 100 | 71.4% |
| 2013 | 140 | 104 | 74.3% |
| 2012 | 140 | 98 | 70.0% |
| 2011 | 140 | 80 | 57.1% |
| 2010 | 140 | 100 | 71.4% |
| 2009 | 134 | 105 | 78.4% |
| 2008 | 141 | 98 | 69.5% |
| 2007 | 134 | 97 | 72.4% |
| 2006 | 131 | 81 | 61.8% |
| 2005 | 124 | 71 | 57.3% |
| 2004 | 124 | 80 | 64.5% |
| 2003 | 112 | 69 | 61.6% |
| 2002 | Cancelled because of fire danger | ||
| 2001 | 118 | 64 | 54.2% |
| 2000 | 115 | 60 | 52.2% |
| 1999 | 109 | 59 | 54.1% |
| 1998 | 82 | 38 | 46.3% |
| 1997 | 99 | 39 | 39.4% |
| 1996 | 91 | 42 | 46.2% |
| 1995 | Cancelled because of snow | ||
| 1994 | 74 | 37 | 50.0% |
| 1993 | 35 | 26 | 74.3% |
| 1992 | 42 | 18 | 42.9% |
Rates calculated by Running for Good Ultra from the published starters and finishers. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Records
Because the direction alternates, records are best compared direction by direction. The race itself lists the fastest times as Ludovic Pommeret's 21:11 in 2026 and Katie Schide's 25:50 in 2025.
| Direction | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-clockwise (2027 direction) | Katie Schide, 25:50:23 (2025) | François D'Haene, 21:45:50 (2021) |
| Clockwise | Courtney Dauwalter, 26:03:10 (2026) | Ludovic Pommeret, 21:11:36 (2026) |
Most finishes and wins
- Kirk Apt has finished 26 times, more than anyone. Betsy Kalmeyer holds the women's record with 21.
- Kilian Jornet and Karl Meltzer have five wins each.
- Courtney Dauwalter and Diana Finkel have four women's wins each.
- Ludovic Pommeret won three in a row from 2024 to 2026, and set the clockwise record at 50.
The 2026 race
The 2026 race ran clockwise from 10 to 12 July. Ludovic Pommeret won his third straight Hardrock in 21:11:36, and Courtney Dauwalter won in 26:03:10, fifth overall. Both broke their own clockwise records. Four of the six Special Consideration picks reached the podium: Dauwalter, Jimmy Elam, Careth Arnold and Tara Dower.
| Place | Women | Time | Men | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Courtney Dauwalter | 26:03:10 | Ludovic Pommeret | 21:11:36 |
| 2 | Careth Arnold | 30:32:31 | Jimmy Elam | 23:48:56 |
| 3 | Tara Dower | 33:02:04 | David Ayala | 24:28:17 |
| 4 | Bailey Eppard | 35:41:59 | Ryan Smith | 25:45:37 |
| 5 | Kaci Lickteig | 36:12:17 | Arlen Glick | 26:41:17 |
History
Hardrock was founded in 1992 by Gordon Hardman, John Cappis, Charlie Thorn, Dale Garland and Rick Trujillo. Of the 42 who started the first race, 18 finished, led by David Horton. Dale Garland has directed it for more than 30 years.
The race's highest honour, the Mother Lode award, has gone to "Mother Nature" three times, in the years she cancelled the race.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1992 | First race. 42 start and 18 finish. |
| 1995 | Cancelled because of heavy snow. |
| 1998 | Joel Zucker dies after his third finish. A scholarship in his name begins the next year. |
| 2002 | Cancelled because of fire danger. The first entry lottery. |
| 2019 | Cancelled after massive late snow and avalanche damage. |
| 2020 | Cancelled because of COVID-19. |
| 2022 | A rule that women are selected at least in proportion to applicants. |
| 2026 | Applications move to October. A new scholarship and an inclusion policy are announced. |
Training for Hardrock
Hardrock is less about running speed than about moving well, for a very long time, at altitude. The average elevation is over 11,000 feet, and the climbs and descents are long, steep and often rough. Plenty of steep hiking, long days on technical mountain ground and time at altitude before the race all help. So does practice with wet feet and snow.
The race runs course orientation days in the weeks before, and arriving in the mountains early gives your body time to adjust to the altitude. Read the 100-mile plan for structure, and adapt the long runs to mountain terrain.
Silverton and race week
Silverton is a small mountain town, and lodging fills fast. The race runs free Camping Hardrock at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area, with room for 180 vehicles and tents, and registration opens in May. Nearby campgrounds, Purgatory Resort and Ouray are the alternatives.
In 2026 race week included runner check-in on Wednesday and Thursday, a compulsory briefing at noon on Thursday, and a 3 p.m. Thursday deadline for drop bags. After the start on Friday morning, the town holds a street party on Saturday, the final hour before the 48-hour cutoff on Sunday is known as the Golden Hour, and awards follow at 9 a.m. in Memorial Park.
Following the race
Every runner carries a SPOT tracker on the MAProgress system, and splits are relayed from aid stations by ham radio volunteers, which have been part of Hardrock since 1992. Follow along on MAProgress, OpenSplitTime and the race's website and social channels. The lottery is livestreamed.
Running for good at Hardrock
The service requirement means every starter gives at least 8 hours back to the sport or the trails. The race also holds two trail work days to "earn our dirt", usually the weekend before the run.
The Joel Zucker Memorial Scholarship awarded $64,000 to 16 students in 2026, and has given 181 scholarships worth $435,000 in 27 years. A community grant fund set up after the 2020 cancellation supports schools, trail groups and the search and rescue teams of Ouray, San Miguel and Hinsdale counties.
Hardrock is cupless, sorts its waste for recycling and compost, and composts food waste. A new scholarship of $500 to $2,000 helps runners from groups underrepresented in ultrarunning take part.
Questions people ask
When is the 2027 Hardrock 100?
9 to 11 July 2027, starting at 6:00 a.m. on 9 July in Silverton. It runs counter-clockwise.
When is the 2027 Hardrock lottery?
Saturday 5 December 2026. Applications ran from 1 to 14 October 2026.
How long is Hardrock?
101.8 miles clockwise in 2026, with 33,441 feet of climbing. The 2027 counter-clockwise distance will be published nearer the race.
How do Hardrock lottery tickets work?
Applicants who have never finished get 2 to the power of N tickets, where N counts previous unsuccessful applications since their last start. Past finishers get one ticket plus one per finish and per unsuccessful year.
How do you qualify for Hardrock?
Finish a race from the official list, usually within the last two years and inside that race's traditional cutoff.
How much does Hardrock cost?
$450 plus UltraSignup fees, charged only if you are selected.
What is the Hardrock trail work requirement?
Eight hours of service, such as trail work or volunteering at an ultra, between 15 June 2026 and 15 June 2027 for the 2027 race.
What is the Hardrock cutoff?
48 hours, with intermediate cutoffs at the main aid stations.
What is the Hardrock course record?
Clockwise, Ludovic Pommeret ran 21:11:36 and Courtney Dauwalter 26:03:10 in 2026. Counter-clockwise, François D'Haene ran 21:45:50 in 2021 and Katie Schide 25:50:23 in 2025.
Can you have a pacer at Hardrock?
Yes, from Grouse Gulch onwards in 2027. Runners over 60 can have a pacer for the whole race.
Sources
Race details come from hardrock100.com and the documents it links, checked on 19 October 2026. Starters, finishers and records are from OpenSplitTime, which the race uses for its official timing, and finish rates are our own calculation. The 2027 aid stations, distance and cutoffs are not yet published, so the table is from 2025. Running for Good Ultra is independent and has no connection with the Hardrock Hundred.
- Hardrock 100: home page checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: about the run checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: the course checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: lottery checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: 2027 lottery FAQ checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: historical statistics checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: entry checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: qualifying checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: 2027 service form checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: runner rules checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: pacers and crew checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: aid stations checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: 2025 aid station table checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: 2025 counter-clockwise course description checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: 2026 runners manual checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: past results checked 19 October 2026
- OpenSplitTime: 2026 results checked 19 October 2026
- OpenSplitTime: clockwise best efforts checked 19 October 2026
- OpenSplitTime: counter-clockwise best efforts checked 19 October 2026
- OpenSplitTime: most finishes checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: snow conditions checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: lodging checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: runner tracking checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: trail work checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: volunteers checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: philanthropy checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: values checked 19 October 2026
- Hardrock 100: Mother Lode and Hall of Fame checked 19 October 2026
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