Bear Lake Marathon Trifecta Idaho
St Charles, ID
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Waters Edge Resort Bear Lake Marathon & Half Marathon Trifecta (say that three times fast) is one of the Rocky Mountain Regions fastest growing running events. Combining the breathtaking scenery in 3 amazing States with hometown hospitality & stunning scenic courses, makes this event an unforgettable weekend of running, … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jun 05):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 79 | 60 | 78 | 76 | 64 |
| L (°F) | 42 | 45 | 46 | 44 | 46 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Beautiful location
Race two of the series as at similar altitude - around 6,000ft - but with a little more elevation gain than day 1 - 550ft. Day 2 I ran happier … MORE
Race two of the series as at similar altitude – around 6,000ft – but with a little more elevation gain than day 1 – 550ft. Day 2 I ran happier and smoother and really loved this race. Beautiful views of Big Bear lake and running through small lakeside communities. Yet again the course prediction was wonderful – aid stops roughly every 2 miles, fantastic support from the volunteers and huge support from the RD team at the start and finish line. Definitely a race to do.
Beautiful and basic
1st I think it’s an amazing feat for a smaller group to put on 3 races in 3 days. Big props to the group. Packet pick up was easy and … MORE
1st I think it’s an amazing feat for a smaller group to put on 3 races in 3 days. Big props to the group. Packet pick up was easy and went smooth the swag is great as well. Only one shirt (like I needed another shirt ha ha) there is not a lot of information about the course it self so I’m posting my elevation graph from my personal watch on here. The course are beautiful!!! Basic race very little crowd support aid stations are places 2 miles apart and have basic supplies.
Shout out to all the volunteers
Pretty scenery
This is probably my favorite course of the 3. Watch out for cattle guards, you’ll cross 2 of them twice. The race crosses over into Utah for a total of … MORE
This is probably my favorite course of the 3. Watch out for cattle guards, you’ll cross 2 of them twice. The race crosses over into Utah for a total of about 10 miles. The course was measured short by 3/10 of a mile which I corrected at the out and back turn around and prior to finishing.
Fantastic Lake view
- a rolling start - no expo - high elevation - rolling hills - 3 water stations/2 potter potties along route - up and back route - no cheering along … MORE
– a rolling start
– no expo
– high elevation
– rolling hills
– 3 water stations/2 potter potties along route
– up and back route
– no cheering along the route
– Great staff and volunteers
– only 20-25 min drive from Garden City UT
– cars on the route so stay to the side
Uphill Both Ways
I'm not sure how it is even possible for an out and back, but it was tough and felt uphill both ways. Not being used to the altitude and then … MORE
I’m not sure how it is even possible for an out and back, but it was tough and felt uphill both ways. Not being used to the altitude and then adding the direct sun, this race a mental and physical struggle the whole time.
Packet pick-up was smooth. I enjoyed the medal with ID on it. We wish the long-sleeve would have had the states listed on it.
My first leg of a 3 in 3 in 3.
In May, I ran the Strolling Jim 40 miler technically, it is about 41.3...Laz, the RD, isn't too particular :) Shortly afterwards, I heard about the Bear Lake Trifecta. Three … MORE
In May, I ran the Strolling Jim 40 miler technically, it is about 41.3…Laz, the RD, isn’t too particular 🙂
Shortly afterwards, I heard about the Bear Lake Trifecta. Three Marathons, in three consecutive days, in three states (Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah). We used to live in Idaho Falls and were in those three states often so it really appealed to me (plus, I needed all three states for my hunt to run a marathon or longer in each of the 50 states). So, I applied.
I ended up flying into Salt Lake City as the most convenient airport. It was a decent drive to Bear Lake – but once I entered Cache National Forest, it became very beautiful. I snapped a great photo of Bear Lake from above as I headed towards the race packet pick-up. It was very relaxed and organized. I got my three race numbers, three t-shirts, and a few race decals. Then off I went to my hotel
I had decided to stay a bit outside the Idaho start – so I stayed in Montpelier, ID. It was pretty convenient (30 minute drive maybe) and, as a huge Butch & Sundance fan, I loved finding a Butch Cassidy Museum and toured it (former bank that was one of his first robberies).
The next morning I got to the start line. It was on the shore of Bear Lake in a grass and dirt lot. We received some instructions and soon the race started. I managed to stay pretty much in the front half of the race for a good amount of time. The terrain was rolling hills that stayed basically along the edge of the road. If I recall, we did cross the border into Utah at one point. Then eventually we got to the turn-around and went back on the same rolling route. The sun was out and the air was heating up. Thankfully, the course had plenty of aid stations (usually with water, electrolyte, and snacks….I recall popsicles at some).
I kept running, my legs getting a bit sore as the recent 41 miler was still in my muscles’ memory.
Soon I turned a corner and crossed the finish line. I ended up #22 out of 51 runners….and third in my age group.
I will say, I really enjoyed that marathon. Race directors were very nice and supportive too.
Convenient for Idaho
Overall the race was okay, however, I will preface that I'm not a huge fan of multi day events as I feel like I don't really see the state. I … MORE
Overall the race was okay, however, I will preface that I’m not a huge fan of multi day events as I feel like I don’t really see the state. I added this race in as I had a double in Washington following so I was able to easily add the Thursday race in and Idaho is a harder state to find. It’s an out and back course, with hills and an elevation change if you’re not acclimated. A decent group of people but far more enjoyable if you find a buddy to run with. Ample water/food stops as well as food/drinks at the finish line.
Great Experience!
Great way to get the most bang for your buck if you're trying to run a race in all 50 states. Absolutely beautiful scenery! Running at 6,000 ft was a … MORE
Great way to get the most bang for your buck if you’re trying to run a race in all 50 states. Absolutely beautiful scenery! Running at 6,000 ft was a challenge and the hilly course added to it but it was worth it. The weather was perfect!
Great Communication from Race Directior
We did Vacation Races Grand Teton and picked up this race on our way to do Vacation Races Yellowstone to get Idaho State! The Race Director and Staff, Volunteers are … MORE
We did Vacation Races Grand Teton and picked up this race on our way to do Vacation Races Yellowstone to get Idaho State! The Race Director and Staff, Volunteers are Amazing! Nice T-Shirt and fit true to size – Very rare these days! The course is very hilly and the altitude was a challenge for me – but still did better than I thought considering the elevation!
Convenient Race for Idaho
The Bear Lake Trifecta includes a half marathon or marathon in Idaho on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. I only did the race in Idaho. I had … MORE
The Bear Lake Trifecta includes a half marathon or marathon in Idaho on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. I only did the race in Idaho. I had already had planned to do the Grand Teton Half and Yellowstone Half with vacation races on back to back weekends and when I realized the Idaho portion of the trifecta was the Thursday in-between I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get 3 states in one trip. Packet pick-up and the suggested lodging is at Garden City, Utah on Bear Lake. It is about 2 hours from SLC which is the closest airport. It is also about 3 from Jackson, Wyoming and 4 from West Yellowstone if you are thinking of adding it to the Grand Quad. It is a bit out of the way but much less out of the way than traveling back to Idaho from the East Coast. Packet pick-up is at Water’s Edge Resort and Spa on Wednesday or the morning of the race. Packet pick-up went pretty late on Wednesday and I was able to pick up my packet then after driving from Jackson Hole in the afternoon. Packet pick-up was a little slow. The RD was extremely nice and apologized for it being slow but they were individually making the bags and didn’t have a great system in place since it was a little confusing with so many people doing different distances. Maybe separate lines for bibs, shirt and general swag bag may be quicker. It wasn’t super long or anything but it seemed like it could be more efficient. Packet included tech shirt and some goodies. If you did multiple races you got multiple shirts. Shirt is really fun and kind of 80s rock band themed with the bear logo. I stayed at the Water’s Edge Motor Lodge next to the resort. It was cheap and adequate for a night and price but wasn’t the nicest accommodation in the world. If I was doing the trifecta and didn’t spend so much on lodging in Jackson and West Yellowstone I’d probably rather stay somewhere nicer but if you are looking to save money it’s a fine option. The Idaho race is about 20 minutes from Garden City, UT and was an easy drive with easy parking. Lots of 50 states and half fanatics/marathon maniacs do this race so it is a fun one if you are a part of these running clubs. Production of the race was good but it was not the top notch production of vacation races. Although that is to be expected for a smaller race and production was better than most smaller races this size. There was a rolling start although it was an official start at 7 for the full and 7:15 for the half you could start whenever you wanted. The course is an out and back. This race is really pretty with lots of views of bear lake. It gets a bit repetitive being an out and back but it is an enjoyable course. There are also some cows. It is pretty hilly and the altitude makes it difficult but given you are probably running this along with other races the next couple days you probably aren’t going to try to PR anyways. There were a good number of aid stations. Had water and lots of snack options. More than just gels. Almost like an ultra race. I noticed there was no electrolyte drink the first half but it did appear in the second half. Not sure if it came late or if to make it last they were instructed to not serve it until later. The course was easy to follow and turn around well marked. At the finish line you get your medal. The medal is cool with the bear logo and has the specific state. It says “Idaho” really big so it is a good 50 state medal. My finishing time was about the same as Grand Teton. Again not going for a PR just trying to survive with 4 half marathons in 16 days and an injured foot. Post race snacks were pretty generic just granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. Fine for a half but I’d want something more substantial after a full. Overall I though this was a very good race and a very convenient way to get Idaho. If you are looking to get multiple states at once I would definitely recommend this race. You can do the traditional trifecta or add Idaho to the Grand Quad like I did. There were also members of the 50 states half marathon group who ran Bear Lake Idaho Thursday, Bear Lake Wyoming Friday and Yellowstone with vacation races on Saturday since they already had Utah and didn’t want as long of a trip as the Quad. One negative not related to the race so I did not let it affect my score but I think is important for people who may be planning this race is that there are very few restaurant options nearby since it is such as small town and it could be difficult to find food if you have dietary restrictions. I really couldn’t find anything vegan and had to cheat. If you do have strict dietary restrictions such as strict vegan or celiac I’d recommend getting lodging that has a kitchen and buying groceries in Salt Lake City and planning to prepare a lot of your meals on the trip.
3 races in 3 states in 3 days
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on … MORE
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days
The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. We stayed in Garden City, Utah, which was a quaint and very friendly little town. The Idaho race was 25 minutes away from there, the Wyoming race was 50 minutes away and the Utah race was in Garden City itself. There were plenty of beautiful views in the area, including Bear Lake itself. We even went to the Teton mountains, about 3 hours away.
The T-shirts were tech material, with all featuring the same design. The bear logo and state name were a different color to designate which state it was for. The finishers medals were the same shape and design for each state. The ribbon and bear logo on the medal were different colors, depending on the state.
Each race was a timed out and back, with a rolling start and 100-120 runners completing the half marathon distance. Each race had water/aid stops roughly every two miles, with a porta potty every other water stop. A deejay welcomed runners back as they finished each race. The age group awards were just like the finishers medal, but were gold, silver or bronze. Runners who completed all 3 races received a nice medal hanger featuring the bear.
This series of races was difficult for me, but not because of the 3 races/3 states/3 days. I was not accustomed to the altitude (6000-6500 feet above sea level). While not sore at all, my legs felt like they just did not want to move, from the very beginning! I was surprised by just how much the altitude slowed me down.
Idaho-Idaho had the best views, especially of Bear Lake. My watch registered over 500 feet of gain. The mountains provided some shade early, but the race ended with lots of sun exposure.
Wyoming-Wyoming was the flattest of the three, yet my watch still registered over 380 feet of gain. Wyoming was also the coolest of the three days.
Utah-Utah had the longest and steepest hills and was my least favorite of the 3 races. My watch registered over 600 feet of gain. This course started in the middle of town, so we didn’t get the great views until after mile 4. The middle 3 or so miles was on dirt/rock trail that went up in the hills of sagebrush. We had to watch our steps, not just for rocks and ruts, but also cowpies!
I’m glad I completed this series but was even more glad when it was done…the running anyway!
Beautiful race, awesome race directors!
Location: Bear Lake is a beautiful area to spend a few days! Course: The Idaho course is an out-and-back on a paved road right beside the lake. The views are … MORE
Location: Bear Lake is a beautiful area to spend a few days!
Course: The Idaho course is an out-and-back on a paved road right beside the lake. The views are spectacular! There are some small, rolling hills, but nothing too difficult. Aid stations are plentiful and well-stocked. I don’t need crowd support, but if you do, you’ll need to bring your own! There’s little to no support out on the course.
Logistics: These are small races (only 42 in full marathon), so it’s easy to show up, park, and get started within a few minutes.
Swag: Although this is a 3-day series, there are unique shirts and awesome unique medals for each day/state!
Race Director: Tricia and her sister are amazing people! They are great with communication and are clearly passionate about these races. Their enthusiasm is contagious! I loved these races!
Beautiful and hilly course
This course was beautiful, but there were lots of hills that we don’t have in western Ky. :) The race went smoothly and staff was very friendly. MORE
This course was beautiful, but there were lots of hills that we don’t have in western Ky. 🙂 The race went smoothly and staff was very friendly.
Run it the week after Grand Tetons!
This is truely the "caribbean of the rockies!" The most spectacular tourqoise blue water you will ever see in a lake due to it's limestone composition. Stay in the funky … MORE
This is truely the “caribbean of the rockies!” The most spectacular tourqoise blue water you will ever see in a lake due to it’s limestone composition. Stay in the funky motel next to the start and be sure and get a raspberry milkshake after the race! Be ready for no shade and a lot of dry heat. A great experience and no crowds.
Beautiful scenery
Beautiful scenery... but in a small town area... not a whole of options of lodging without being out in the middle if no where. But would definitely do this race … MORE
Beautiful scenery… but in a small town area… not a whole of options of lodging without being out in the middle if no where. But would definitely do this race again
Very laid back and fun.
Great area to relax. Great views of Bear Lake. Easy to get to the start line. Packet pickup was a breeze. The course was rolling hills and full sun for … MORE
Great area to relax. Great views of Bear Lake. Easy to get to the start line. Packet pickup was a breeze. The course was rolling hills and full sun for a good portion. Love the medals. The aid stations were at good locations and very well stocked.
Beautiful Lake View
Loved the small town charm, the beautiful views, and the amazing runners from all around the country that came out for this trifecta! I wasn’t expecting quite so many hills- … MORE
Loved the small town charm, the beautiful views, and the amazing runners from all around the country that came out for this trifecta! I wasn’t expecting quite so many hills- but there was plenty to look at. I didn’t mind the out and back at all. Awesome aid stations! Loved this race!!!
Awesome Scenery
Well ran event, staff and volunteers were great. Quick to respond to question and emails about the race. Very nice medal. Views were amazing! Highly recommended! MORE
Well ran event, staff and volunteers were great. Quick to respond to question and emails about the race. Very nice medal. Views were amazing! Highly recommended!
Rolling with great views of bear lake
Great out and back course with quiet views of Bear Lake. The extremely friendly race staff made everyone feel welcome. I really enjoyed interacting with other participants --many of whom … MORE
Great out and back course with quiet views of Bear Lake. The extremely friendly race staff made everyone feel welcome. I really enjoyed interacting with other participants –many of whom were completing the trifecta.
Let's look at Day 1, shall we?
The entire series of races was well organized and had good support. The aid stations had water and snacks about every 1.5 miles. Good after-race snacks, drinks, and music. The … MORE
The entire series of races was well organized and had good support. The aid stations had water and snacks about every 1.5 miles. Good after-race snacks, drinks, and music.
The Idaho half marathon had some hills that were unexpectedly high, and the wind was strong on much of the course. Beautiful view of the lake on the out and back course. The elevation was over 6000 feet, but it didn’t seem to bother me.
I really enjoyed the race production and organization. The participants were all very friendly and seemed to have a good time. This was the first time I stayed with others during a race. Five of us completed all three days and getting to know them and spend time with them made the weekend an even better experience.