Bishop, CA, United States · Saturday, May 16, 2026

Fixed Distance 50 mi

Bishop High Sierra Ultramarathons 50 Miles

Race completed

80 km Distance

3,100 m Climbing

8.7 Grit · Elite / extreme

37.3635° N, 118.3951° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 39 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 19 hours 14:15 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 83% of 50 mi races. Measured against 455 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~43 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, May

Daytime high 21°C

Night low 5°C

Rainfall Dry — rain unlikely

Daylight 14 h 11 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1975 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail with 3,100 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes39 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles3,100 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 19 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Salomon

Aero Glide 4 Grvl

$159.95 ★★★★★ 4.5

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Tailwind

Endurance Fuel

All-in-one calorie and electrolyte drink mix. 200 calories per serving.

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

4-section folding carbon poles with compact pack size for mandatory gear.

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Nitecore

UT32

Dual-beam trail running headlamp (1100 lumens) with spot and flood beams.

$100 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Course Notes

These are high altitude races, with lots of climbing, in the scenic foothills of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. The course is mainly run on 4 wheel drive dirt roads, with a couple of short sections of trail.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.