Ute 100 Mile & 50 Mile

The Ute 100 Mile and 50 Mile ultramarathon takes place August 8 and 9, 2026 and delivers a transformative high altitude experience through Utah’s remote La Sal Mountains. The course reaches 12,272 feet at Mann’s Peak, the highest point in any race in Utah.

This small, family oriented event produced by Revenant Running features 23,356 feet of elevation gain over the 100 mile course. The race starts at dawn from La Sal Loop Road and circumnavigates the entire mountain range, passing through alpine meadows, aspen groves, and technical scree above tree line.

Registration is currently open at $450 for the 100 mile distance, $215 for 50 miles, and $175 for the 50K. Prices increase after March 31 and April 30 respectively. The race attracts a small field, typically 24 to 65 finishers in the 100 mile distance, prioritizing wilderness experience over competitive prestige.

Race logistics and start location

Runners launch from a staging area on La Sal Loop Road near the junction of Miners Basin Road, Forest Road 4821, Moab, Utah 84532. The start is approximately 30 miles and about 50 minutes from downtown Moab.

The 100 mile and 50 mile races begin simultaneously at 5:00 AM on Saturday. The 50K starts at 6:30 AM. Packet pickup opens at 4:00 AM.

The course runs as a single loop around the La Sal Mountains, beginning on the Kokopelli Trail and connecting to the Lower Porcupine singletrack with views into Castle Valley. After the Hazardous Aid Station, runners climb Mann’s Peak before descending through Burro Pass. The route continues along Dark Canyon Road, completes the South Mountain loop, and finishes via the technical Gold Knob descent.

Terrain breaks down to roughly 30 miles of alpine meadows, 30 miles of aspen groves, 30 miles of high desert, and 10 miles above tree line.

Cutoff times allow 41 hours for the 100 mile distance, finishing by 10:00 PM Sunday. The 50 mile cutoff is 25 hours, and the 50K cutoff is 18 hours. Key intermediate cutoffs include midnight Saturday at South Mountain at mile 56.8 and noon Sunday at the second Geyser Pass at mile 81.

Aid stations and crew access points

The 100 mile course includes eleven aid station stops stocked with Tailwind electrolytes, Muir Energy gels, bacon, quesadillas, potatoes, pierogis, and other warm foods.

Crew accessible aid stations include Upper Porcupine at miles 6.5 and 15.4 with four wheel drive recommended, Dark Canyon at mile 42.2, Winter Creek at mile 47.7 which is water only, South Mountain at miles 56.8 and 67.7, and Squaw Springs at mile 75.4 which is also water only.

Pacers may join 100 mile runners starting at mile 42 at Dark Canyon. For the 50 mile race, pacers are allowed beginning at mile 15 at the second Upper Porcupine crossing or at Geyser Pass. All pacers must sign waivers available at crew accessible stations.

Camping and overnight accommodations

Mason Draw Campground is located just one mile from the start and finish at an elevation of 8,300 feet. It offers five first come, first served sites for $10 per night with vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, but no running water. This campground fills quickly on race weekend.

Warner Lake Campground sits 11 miles from the start, about a 30 minute drive, at 9,400 feet elevation. It provides 19 single sites and one group site priced between $20 and $50 per night, with some reservable through Recreation.gov. A cabin sleeping four is available for $50 per night.

Oowah Lake Campground offers 11 tent only sites for $5 per night at 8,800 feet elevation, roughly two miles from the Warner Lake turnoff. Free dispersed camping is available throughout National Forest land with a 14 day stay limit.

Weather preparation for high altitude running

August in the La Sal Mountains coincides with monsoon season, the wettest time of year. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Daytime temperatures at mid elevations between 8,000 and 9,000 feet typically reach the 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit. Areas above tree line often see temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees. Nighttime lows at higher elevations can approach freezing, creating temperature swings of more than 60 degrees.

Essential gear includes moisture wicking base layers, an insulated jacket, and a fully sealed rain shell. Runners should carry a headlamp with spare batteries for overnight sections, an emergency blanket, high SPF sunscreen due to increased UV exposure at altitude, a warm hat and gloves, trekking poles for the extensive elevation gain, and electrolytes or salt tabs.

If lightning threatens Mann’s Peak, race protocol reroutes runners via the Burro Pass bypass.

Race history and notable finishers

Founded in 2018, the Ute 100 skipped the 2020 and 2021 editions due to COVID and introduced a new single loop course in 2025.

Race director Jordan Ricks ran the inaugural event as his first 100 mile race, naming his company Revenant Running after the transformative experience of metaphorically dying during race lows and being reborn to finish.

The men’s course record is 20:59:28, set by Trevor Fuchs in 2019. Legendary ultrarunner Karl Meltzer holds the masters record at 24:12:57 from the same year. The women’s course record of 27:27:13 was set by Elle Jones in 2022.

Registration includes a gender specific race shirt, a BOCO hat, professional photos, a post race hot meal, and finisher awards, including belt buckles for 100 mile finishers.

Moab dining scene for post-race recovery

Sunset Grill, founded in 1993 at 900 North Main Street, occupies the former mansion of uranium magnate Charlie Steen and offers panoramic hilltop views with upscale steakhouse fare. Owners John and Laurie Clayton relocated from Pennsylvania to Moab in 1993. Dinner service runs Monday through Saturday from 4:00 to 9:00 PM.

Moab Garage Co., founded in June 2017 at 78 North Main Street, operates out of a restored 1928 auto shop. It serves specialty coffee, hearty breakfast burritos including the well known Garage Burrito, and made to order liquid nitrogen ice cream. Owners Erin and Ryan Bird also operate Doughbird at 125 North Main Street for doughnuts and fried chicken.

Antica Forma, opened in Moab around 2018 with its original Vernal location dating to 2014, is located at 267 North Main Street. It serves authentic Neapolitan wood fired pizza using imported Caputo double zero flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and house made fresh mozzarella. Chef Israel Hernandez placed third in the 2015 World Caputo Cup and is certified by the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani.

For iconic recovery meals, Milt’s Stop and Eat, founded in September 1954 at 356 Millcreek Drive, serves grass fed local beef burgers and hand spun milkshakes at its original 1950s Formica counter. Moab Brewery, founded in 1996 at 686 South Main Street, offers award winning craft beer, 325 seats, and eclectic pub fare. Jailhouse Café, established in the early 1990s at 101 North Main Street, serves Southwestern Eggs Benedict inside an 1885 adobe building that once functioned as Moab’s courthouse and jail.

La Sal Mountains lodging alternatives

Whispering Oaks Ranch at 8105 South La Sal Mountain Loop Road sits at 7,950 feet elevation and offers seven cabins on a 50 acre private property with full kitchens, fireplaces, and hot tubs.

Mount Peale Country Inn and Cabins provides bed and breakfast accommodations with mountain views and an on site animal sanctuary.

Wolf Springs Ranch Retreat offers off grid, solar powered cabins located 45 minutes southeast of Moab, with optional horseback riding experiences.

For lake oriented stays, the Lake.com platform specializes in vacation rentals within 15 minutes of water, including Moab area properties near Ken’s Lake with amenities such as private docks, kayaks, and hot tubs.

Who should run the Ute 100

This race is best suited for experienced ultramarathon runners comfortable with sustained high altitude exposure and technical mountain terrain. The 100 mile course spends significant time above 10,000 feet, with an average elevation over 8,700 feet, requiring altitude acclimatization.

Technical scree above tree line, multiple river crossings, and remote sections with limited bailout options demand strong mountain running skills and self sufficiency.

The 50 mile distance provides a challenging entry point for runners with ultra experience who can manage more than 12,000 feet of elevation gain at altitude. The 50K, while shorter, still includes approximately 11,000 feet of climbing.

The race does not qualify runners for Hardrock 100 or Western States. Instead, it emphasizes what race director Jordan Ricks describes as a breath of fresh air compared to more commercialized events.

The Finish Line

The Ute 100 delivers a demanding yet intimate ultramarathon experience in one of America’s most remote mountain ranges. It combines true wilderness challenge with small field camaraderie and dramatic transitions from alpine terrain to high desert.

Runners who embrace the altitude, weather variability, and technical demands are rewarded with a course that spans dawn desert vistas, moonlit meadow crossings, and some of the most rugged terrain in Utah.

The surrounding Moab region enhances the experience with everything from historic restaurants and Colorado River paddling to alpine lakes in the La Sal Mountains, extending the adventure well beyond the finish line.