Half Marathon: 13.5 miles, 1,822ft vert
A cutoff of 5 hours will be implemented
GPX Link- Half Marathon Course
Race Summary
The Uinta Mountain’s only trail race will not disappoint when it comes to both challenge and views. From mountain ridges and valleys, to thick pines and mountain lakes, this course has the full mountain half marathon experience. With over 1,800 feet of climbing and a peak elevation of 9,948 feet, you’ll be sure to feel the burn both in your legs and lungs. Come join us in our inaugural year and see why the Uinta Mountain Range is world renowned.
Race Description
The Half Marathon will start and finish at the North Slope Parking Lot. From the start line runners will run through the arch and head southeast on the Wolverine ATV trail. At the half mile point they will veer right and drop down onto a wooden bridge to cross the East Fork of the Bear River. After climbing out of the river valley runners will head east on Sage Draw Road and the road will veer to the south at mile 1.3. Runners will stay on that ATV trail until mile 2.4 where they will veer to the left onto lily lake road. At mile 2.7 you will turn onto lily lake west ATV trail heading due south. At mile 2.8 runners will take a sharp left hand turn onto the lily lake singletrack trail. They will crest the ridge and at mile 3.0 will lay eyes on the wondrous lily lake.
Runners will continue on the north side of lily lake until they reach the aid station at mile 3.2. After filling up your bottles and grabbing a snack, you will head east on the wolverine ATV E trail. You will climb up to the top of the ridge where you take a right hand turn heading south onto the ridge trail. There you will enjoy the views of the two different valleys on both sides of you. You will continue on this trail for 2 miles, until you turn back to the west and start to drop off the ridge.
Once off the ridge you will continue on the wolverine trail until you drop into the wolverine aid station at mile 7.6. There you will refill your bottles, grab another snack, and continue on Wolverine Road heading north. At Mile 8.5 you will veer off the road onto the wolverine ATV B trail, still heading north. You will follow that winding trail until you hit lily lake road at mile 11.1. At mile 12.1 you will hit a paved road which you will take a sharp right-hand turn onto. You will only run about 100 yards on the pavement before you take a sharp left and turn onto the crosscountry ATV trail.
As you are headed north on this trail you will reconnect with the sage draw road at mile 12.7. From there you will turn west and drop back down to the river, cross the bridge and come back the final half mile the same way you left. From there you will run through the finish line as fast as you can, get a one of a kind finishers award handed to you and you will take a load off your feet and enjoy some finish line food.
After traveling 1.72 Miles on the paved path you will come across the first aid station. Grab some snacks and a quick drink before veering off onto the trails of the Bear River State Park. From there you will head to the west and cross the bridge over the Bear River. After that you will turn to the North and run the Beaver Trail loop and Willow Trail Loop (1 mile total between the two loops). Be sure to pay close attention to the signs and flags as there are many intersecting trails through this section.
You will loop back headed to the south on the same cottonwood trail you took north. You will now be moving into the southern part of the park. Once in the southern part of the park you will take a right hand turn onto the haystack trail. From there you will turn right to run the crane loop. Once completed with that loop you will take another right onto the moose trail which will loop back onto the cottonwood trail from which you had previously turned off.
Once back onto the cottonwood trail you will take another right crossing over the southern bridge over the river and then take a left hand turn headed back to the paved bear river greenway headed Northwest. Once back on the paved greenway (Mile 4.2) look to your right to the pens and you will be able to see the trophy sized elk that are kept in the park. You will then once again pass the aid station you had passed coming in (Mile 4.5). Grab any last minute needs for the final 1.7 miles back on the Bear river Greenway.
Keep coming back the way you came and the finish line is right where you started! Congrats on the finish and enjoy some food and take a load off your feet and relax in the grass.
Marathon/Ultra Distance:
27miles, 3,627ft vert - highest point of elevation 9,448ft
Race Summary
The Uinta Mountain’s only trail marathon (or ultra, since it is technically more than a marathon) race will not disappoint when it comes to both challenge and beauty. From mountain ridges and valleys, to thick pines and mountain lakes, this course has the full mountain marathon experience. With 3,600 feet of climbing and a peak elevation of 9,948 feet, you’ll be sure to feel the burn both in your legs and lungs. This 13 mile looped course will be sure to be a memorable one as you will have the opportunity to run it twice in opposite directions! Come join us in our inaugural year and see why the Uinta Mountain Range is world renowned.
Race Description
The Marathon (or ultra) will start and finish at the North Slope Parking Lot. This will also be the half way point after you have completed the first loop. From the start line runners will run through the arch and head southeast on the Wolverine ATV trail. At the half mile point they will veer right and drop down onto a wooden bridge to cross the East Fork of the Bear River. After climbing out of the river valley runners will head east on Sage Draw Road and the road will veer to the south at mile 1.3. Runners will stay on that ATV trail until mile 2.4 where they will veer to the left onto lily lake road. At mile 2.7 you will turn onto lily lake west ATV trail heading due south. At mile 2.8 runners will take a sharp left hand turn onto the lily lake singletrack trail. They will crest the ridge and at mile 3.0 will lay eyes on the wondrous lily lake.
Runners will continue on the north side of lily lake until they reach the aid station at mile 3.2. After filling up your bottles and grabbing a snack, you will head east on the wolverine ATV E trail. You will climb up to the top of the ridge where you take a right hand turn heading south onto the ridge trail. There you will enjoy the views of the two different valleys on both sides of you. You will continue on this trail for 2 miles, until you turn back to the west and start to drop off the ridge.
Once off the ridge you will continue on the wolverine trail until you drop into the wolverine aid station at mile 7.6. There you will refill your bottles, grab another snack, and continue on Wolverine Road heading north. At Mile 8.5 you will veer off the road onto the wolverine ATV B trail, still heading north. You will follow that winding trail until you hit lily lake road at mile 11.1. At mile 12.1 you will hit a paved road which you will take a sharp right-hand turn onto. You will only run about 100 yards on the pavement before you take a sharp left and turn onto the crosscountry ATV trail.
As you are headed north on this trail you will reconnect with the sage draw road at mile 12.7. From there you will turn west and drop back down to the river, cross the bridge and come back the final half mile the same way you left. From there you will run to the side of the finish line banner, as you haven’t earned that right yet knowing you are only half way through the fun! Get resupplied on food and liquids and head back out to complete the loop one more time!
This time on this loop you will run the opposite direction as the first pass. So you will head to Wolverine AS (19.3) first and then over the Lily Lake (23.7) and then back to the finish (27). When you see the finish line for the 2nd time, this time turn on the jets and run straight through it for your 27 mile ultramarathon finish! Grab your finishers award, find a comfy seat (or ground) and celebrate completing the Uintas first trail marathon (or ultra, whatever you want to call it)! A cutoff time of 8 hours will be implemented.
RACE DETAILS
Start Time: 7:00 AM
Runner Check-in/Packet Pickup: August 22nd 5:45 AM-6:45 AM. This is the only Check-in time offered.
Check-in/Start/Finish Location– FR002, Evanston, WY 82930.
Google Maps might have it labeled as “Yurt Parking”. Locals sometimes call it “the north slope parking lot”.
It is very easy to find. It is right off Mirror Lake Highway 150. The turnoff is between the East Fork Bear River Campground and The Cabins at Bear River Lodge. You turn East off of the highway onto a dirt road called Elizabeth Mountain road. You will drive 50 feet and immediately see a giant dirt parking lot where a volunteer will greet you and help you find a spot to park. Signs will also be placed off the Highway so you can see where to turn. But the GPS link above will take you to the exact right spot, so as long as you have that going you shouldn’t have a problem finding it.
Aid Stations
There will be stocked aid stations throughout the course at the finish. The aid stations will have water, ice, Tailwind (Electrolyte drink), a variety of fruit, candy, chips, and Uncrustables. Aid stations will also have bug spray, sunscreen, and a first aid kit welcome for all runners and volunteers to use. We pride ourselves with well supplied Aid Stations.
Withdrawals/Refunds - Entry fees are non-refundable
- Entry fees are non-refundable.
- You can defer the race to the following year if something happens. Just email the race director at trailto100@gmail.com before August 19th and we can work something out.
- Race transfers are not permitted.
Race Swag
T-shirts will be given to every runner and finisher awards to every finisher.
As those get finalized pictures will be posted here. We make sure to buy nice shirts.
Cut-Off Times
Cutoff times will be strictly enforced. If you miss a cutoff, you will be asked to obtain a ride back to the start line with a volunteer. We do not want runners to be out on the mountain alone and it is for everyone’s safety. Please train properly so you are ready to take this course on.
Lodging
Evanston, Wyoming is the nearest town to the start/finish line. It is approximately 30 miles north. They have many hotels there to choose from. If you are staying in Evanston, I would plan a 30 minute drive to the start line in the morning.
There are also many camping opportunities in the Uintas. You can either do dispersed camping in the area or get a forest service maintained campsite.
If you are dispersed camping you must purchase a permit to camp along the mirror lake highway area even in unmaintained sites. You can buy a 3 day permit for $10 at the forest service website here. There are many dispersed camping spots along Elizabeth Mountain Road which is right next to the start/finish line. Christmas Meadows road also has a lot of dispersed camping.
For those who might want to stay in maintained campsites, there are three campgrounds within 10 minutes of the start/finish line.
Some of them are first come, first serve. Others are available to book online beforehand. There are many other established campsites within 20 minutes further up the road if these are full.
Race Rules
- All vehicles are required to buy a day pass from the National Forest. They cost $10 dollars and need to be displayed in the vehicle window. You can purchase one beforehand at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74405. To be clear this is not included in your race entry and must be purchased separately.
- All runners will be required to carry at least a 16 ounce water bottle.
- No dogs allowed on course.
- Keep animals leashed at the finish line.
- No littering of course. Trash will be at every aid station.
- Follow Leave No Trace guidelines.
This event is permitted and takes place on National Forest Service land. A big thank you to the National Forest and their help in making this event possible.
Volunteers
- Volunteers will be needed for marking the course, sweeping the course, helping at the aid stations, helping at the finish line, checking runners in, setting up, taking down, and parking. This would NOT be possible without volunteers.
- What Volunteers will receive in return for helping
- Free race shirt
- Volunteers who help for more than 4 hours will receive a free race entry to any Trail to 100 race.
- Volunteers who help out for less than 4 hours will receive half off to any Trail to 100 Race.
- Fill out the following form if interested in helping out.
- Name, phone, email, availability, what you would like to help with.
- Please contact Jacob Bateman for any questions you might have about the race at trailto100@gmail.com
Meet Your Race Directors
Melody and Jacob Bateman have been married for 7 years and are parents to a sweet 2-year-old boy. They have both been running seriously and volunteering for races since 2018 and have dreamed of putting on their own trail races. Last year they made their dream a reality by putting on the FIRST Bear River Trail Race. If you were there, you know it was a blast. We know it will be a blast this year too!
Jacob and Melody also host and co-host the podcast, Trail to 100. It started when they decided to document their first 100 mile journey in 2020. It has since become a podcast to inspire and teach others how to run their first 100mile race. It is also a helpful tool for anyone wanting to run any trail race, no matter the distance.
Jacob has run a handful of trail races himself, including four 100mile races: Trail to 100, the Scout 100, the Ute 100, and the Wyoming Range 100. Jacob has also paced and crewed (including being crew chief himself) for multiple trail races and 100-mile races.
Melody has also run and crewed a handful of trail races and has coached road and trail runners since 2019. Her certifications include: Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapist, NASM Personal Trainer, UESCA Running Coach, UESCA Ultrarunning Coach, UESCA Sports Nutrition, ISSA Kickboxing Instructor, 1-degree black belt and self-defense instructor.
Nutrition Sponsor
- We would like to thank Tailwind for being our official Nutrition Sponsor for the race. It has been a product we have used for years and would recommend training with it. We will offer Tailwind at all the aid stations come race day.
- Here is a link to buy some Tailwind products to try out before race day. https://tailwindnutrition.com/
