Western States Training Camp - Memorial Weekend

Western States Training Camp makes Foresthill, California your Memorial Day weekend basecamp for running the final 70 miles of the Western States 100 course. If you are lining up for the June race or you simply want a serious course test, you get the key advantage: logistics handled so you can focus on your pacing, fueling, and footwork. Expect long technical descents on the California Street section, then sustained climbs through the Canyons, including Michigan Bluff and Devil’s Thumb.

You run the weekend in three stages. Saturday covers 32 miles from Robinson Flat to Foresthill Elementary School. Sunday runs 19 miles through the Rucky Chucky crossing zone to Driver’s Flat. Monday starts at Green Gate and finishes at Placer High School in Auburn. You will share the trail with a large, capable field that often includes top-level athletes and first-time ultra runners, supported by well-stocked aid stations plus post-run meals and sports massage services.

Plan like you would for race week. Registration usually opens in December and sells out fast; day rates typically run $70 to $80, and a first-come on-site waitlist is offered each morning. Check-in for Saturday can start at 5:45 AM to align with shuttle departures. Weather can swing hard: the canyons can top 100°F while higher points may still see snow, so bring layers and sun protection.

Come prepared and self-sufficient. You must carry at least two bottles or a hydration pack since aid is spaced farther apart than on race day. Cutoffs follow an 18-minute-per-mile pace, and the camp runs rain or shine with route adjustments if snow blocks access roads. Pacers and friends can join if they meet registration and camp rules, and you improve your odds on the morning waitlist by arriving at least 30 minutes before check-in. For sleep, stay close with primitive camping in Foresthill, or choose hotels and rentals in Auburn or near Lake Clementine, with regional options searchable via Lake.com.