Big Sky, MT, United States · Sunday, September 13, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

The Rut Mountain Runs

Race completed

50 km Distance

3,040 m Climbing

7.1 Grit · Hardcore

45.2846° N, 111.3683° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 61 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Time limit 13 hours 15:36 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 81% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~522 Large. Rarely out of sight of another runner.

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

Typical conditions, September

Daytime high 19°C

Night low 3°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 12 h 43 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1997 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

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 50 km of trail with 3,040 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes61 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles3,040 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 13 h limit puts you out there after dark.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Adidas

Terrex Speed Ultra

★★★★★ 4.5

Spring Energy

Awesome Sauce

Real food gel with 180 calories. Rice-based with natural flavors.

$4 ★★★★★ 4.6

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Komperdell

Carbon Ultralight Vario 4

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

$160 ★★★★★ 4.5

Petzl

NAO RL

1500-lumen reactive lighting headlamp with 15-hour runtime. Automatic brightness adjustment.

$150 ★★★★★ 4.7

All gear guides →

Course Notes

The Rut 50K is an extremely challenging mountain run held on Big Sky Resort property. All types of terrain including jeep roads, forested single track trails, alpine ridge lines and the iconic summit of Lone Peak.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.