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| Big Horn 100 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Big Horn 100 |
| Location | Greybull, Wyoming, Bighorn Mountains |
| Established | 2005 |
| Distance | 100 miles |
| Type | ultramarathon |
| Terrain | Trail, mountain |
Big Horn 100 The Big Horn 100 is an annual 100-mile ultramarathon trail race held in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming, beginning near Greybull, Wyoming and attracting athletes from across the United States and internationally. The event is part of the Western ultrarunning circuit alongside races such as Western States Endurance Run, Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, Leadville Trail 100 Run, and Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run, and it is governed by organizers aligned with standards similar to those of USA Track & Field and International Association of Ultrarunners. The race tests endurance across high-elevation singletrack and jeep roads, drawing competitors with backgrounds in mountain running, trail running, endurance sports, and military endurance training programs.
The Big Horn 100 features a roughly 100-mile course with cumulative elevation gain comparable to marquee events like Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run and Western States Endurance Run, set in the Bighorn National Forest near landmarks such as Cloud Peak Wilderness and Shell Falls State Scenic Site. The field typically includes elite ultrarunners who have also competed at destinations like UTMB, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Spartan Race, and Comrades Marathon, as well as amateurs aiming for qualifying times used by events like Western States Endurance Run entry lotteries and Hardrock qualification procedures. The race emphasizes self-sufficiency with aid stations operated by local clubs and organizations, including chapters of the American Trail Running Association and regional running clubs.
Founded in 2005 by local volunteers and trail advocates linked to Bighorn National Forest stewardship, the race emerged amid a growing ultrarunning scene that included pioneers from Western States Endurance Run alumni, Badwater Ultramarathon competitors, and early influencers associated with Trail Runner Magazine and Ultrarunning Magazine. Over time the event has been shaped by partnerships with municipal authorities of Shoshone County, county sheriffs, and recreation managers from US Forest Service, alongside sponsorship from outdoor brands known in the sport such as Patagonia, The North Face, Salomon, and Hoka One One. Notable expansions occurred in years when elites from Kilian Jornet's era of dominance and American stalwarts like Anton Krupicka and Scott Jurek raised the profile of ultrarunning globally, encouraging media coverage from outlets such as Outside Magazine and Runner's World.
The course starts near Greybull, Wyoming and traverses ridgelines, alpine meadows, and forested singletrack through sections adjacent to Tongue River, Bighorn River, and Shell Creek. Runners encounter elevation profiles comparable to Mount Evans approaches and passes reminiscent of routes in Sierra Nevada ranges, with aid stations positioned at junctions close to communities such as Ten Sleep, Wyoming, Lovell, Wyoming, and Cowley, Wyoming. Navigation challenges reflect conditions similar to those on courses like Hardrock and Wasatch Front, requiring familiarity with GPS devices from manufacturers such as Garmin and map resources provided by US Geological Survey topographic maps. The route includes road and trail interfaces used historically by Sheepeater routes and early Oregon Trail corridors in the greater region.
Race rules follow standards common to high-profile ultramarathons set by International Association of Ultrarunners and local race directors, including mandatory gear lists influenced by protocols from UTMB and Hardrock events. Cutoff times mirror endurance events like Leadville with multiple aid station deadlines; competitors must carry prescribed equipment such as headlamps made by Petzl and hydration systems by CamelBak, and comply with crew and pacer regulations similar to those used at Western States and Hardrock. Entry operates through online registration and sometimes a lottery system modeled after Western States Endurance Run procedures, with qualification standards akin to those recognized by USATF and IAU.
The race has hosted national-level athletes who have also competed at events like Western States, Hardrock, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, and Comrades Marathon. Course records and significant performances have been logged by prominent ultrarunners, some of whom appear on leaderboards alongside names familiar from Western States Endurance Run and Leadville Trail 100 Run histories. Performances at Big Horn provide qualifying results used by athletes targeting entry into Western States and selection for high-profile international starts at UTMB and Spartathlon, and they are tracked by timing companies such as ChronoTrack and media outlets like Ultrarunning Magazine.
The event generates economic activity for nearby towns including Greybull, Ten Sleep, and Lovell through lodging, dining, and retail spending, paralleling impacts seen from endurance events like Leadville 100 and Western States. Local volunteerism involves organizations such as Boy Scouts of America troops, regional search and rescue teams, and county emergency services, while partnerships with conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy and Wyoming Wilderness Association support trail maintenance. Tourism resulting from the race contributes to visitation at regional attractions such as Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and Devils Tower National Monument, influencing municipal planning and seasonal business cycles.
Medical protocols are coordinated with county health departments, emergency medical services, and agencies including Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and US Forest Service law enforcement rangers, supported by volunteer medical directors and providers certified through programs such as Wilderness Medical Society training. On-course medical stations deploy technologies like portable oxygen, automated external defibrillators from American Heart Association guidelines, and evacuation plans involving local ambulance services and helicopter assets from operators similar to REACH Air Medical Services. Race safety measures reflect practices used at Hardrock and Western States, including mandatory gear checks, weather monitoring via National Weather Service forecasts, and protocols for altitude-related illnesses consistent with Wilderness Medical Society recommendations.