The Rut Mountain Runs Big Sky, MT   Sep 11–13, 2026

The Rut 50K is an extremely challenging mountain run held on Big Sky Resort property. Race participants will find themselves covering ALL types of terrain including  jeep roads, forested single track trails, alpine ridge lines and even to the iconic summit of Lone Peak!

There are sections of this course, including the ascent and traverse of Headwaters ridge, as well as the ascent and descent of Lone Peak, which are EXTREMELY STEEP & TECHNICAL with sections of exposure and potential rockfall hazard. We will have safety personnel along these sections keeping an eye out for runners and assessing any objective hazards, but the responsibility falls on the race participant to be aware of your surroundings and other runners. This is a true mountain course so please treat it with the respect it deserves! We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the course terrain before registering for this event.

The Rut 50K by the Numbers:

• Distance: 31 Miles / 50K
• Elevation Gain: 10,500 ft / 3,200 Meters
• Elevation Loss: 10,500 ft / 3,200 Meters
• 60% Single Track
• 25% Dirt Road
• 15% Off Trail

Welcome to the Rut 28K! There are sections of this course, including the ascent and traverse of Headwaters ridge, as well as the ascent and descent of Lone Peak, which are extremely steep and technical with sections of exposure and rockfall hazard. A fall in these sections could result in injury or death. The responsibility falls on the participant to have the skills to traverse these areas safely. Do not let the distance fool you. This is a true mountain course so please treat it with the respect it deserves! We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the course terrain before registering for this event. If you are interested in the 28K but just don’t feel ready for it, we suggest checking out our 21K course.

The Rut 21K is the perfect addition to our series of races as it fills the very large gap between our 11K & 28K race experiences.  For the Rut Runner looking to level up from the 11K, but is not quite ready for the 28K, or who simply wants to run a beautiful and challenging course on the flanks of Lone Peak, this race is for you. While this race still has a lot of climbing and descent (approx. 4000 ft) it does not traverse the exposed and rugged ridgelines of lone peak like the Rut 28K and 50K.  Instead, this course utilizes many of Big Sky’s best single-track trails creating one big loop that plays along the border of the subalpine and alpine areas of the mountain.

The beautiful Rut 11K loop course follows along the lower and mid-mountain elevation single-track trails on Big Sky Mountain Resort. Runners will follow the 50k course in reverse along fir and white park pine forest before reaching a high point directly below the top of Andesite Mountain.  From here you’ll be able to see Lone Peak and Headwaters Ridge.  Runners will briefly follow a dirt road before a steep and wild descent down the Africa trail before connecting into Moosetracks and closing the loop back at the Big Sky Base Area.

The Rut VK is one of the most dramatic and challenging vertical races in the country. Runners will begin in the Big Sky Resort base area at an elevation of 7,534 ft and finish on the summit of Lone Peak at 11,166ft. It is ALL uphill gaining 3,632 ft. of elevation in 2.8 miles!

The first half of the course takes the most direct route to the summit heading up the ski runs known as Huntley Hollow and Calamity Jane to the top of the Swiftcurrent lift and the base of Bonecrusher Ridge.  The second half of the race along Bone Crusher and Alto Ridge to the summit is EXTREMELY STEEP AND TECHNICAL with sections of exposure and potential rockfall hazards. We will have safety personnel along the ridge keeping an eye out for runners and assessing any objective hazards, but the responsibility falls on you the race participant to be aware of your surroundings and other runners. This is a true mountain course and participants must be comfortable in steep and exposed terrain to participate in this event!

Once you reach the summit, enjoy the well earned view at 11,166 ft! After enjoying some snacks from the finish line aid station and grabbing your dropbag, participants will take the Lone Peak Tram and Explorer Gondola back to the base area.

The Rut Runt Run is a 1K loop in the Big Sky Base Area and is open to Rut Runts of all ages and abilities. We’ll be sure to throw a few hay bails along the course for added obstacles on race day. It wouldn’t be Rut-approved without a little extra challenge right?  All Runts will receive a Runt Race Bib as well as a fun finishers award upon completion of the route.  Runt parents, you are welcome to participate with your Runt!