Course identity

The Western States 100 runs point-to-point from Olympic Valley, California, along historic mining trails to Auburn, finishing on the Placer High School track. This page pins the 2026-western-states-official-course version using the organiser's public material from Western States Endurance Run Foundation.

This is a point-to-point mountain ultra; distance, climb, aid spacing and heat are not interchangeable with road-marathon assumptions. The official route and map material help with geometry only and does not replace the technical course, aid or entry requirements.

Verified facts

• It starts in Olympic Valley and finishes on the Placer High School track in Auburn, point-to-point.
• The official course is 100.2 miles with 18,090 ft of climb; the opening section climbs to Emigrant Pass.
• The route follows 1850s mining trails; the organiser provides route and map material, but this site does not bundle or redistribute a track file.
• Distance basis: Official 100.2 miles (about 161.3 km).
• Elevation basis: Official 18,090 ft climb (about 5,514 m)
• The map anchor is a RunMap editorial overview location, not an official start, finish or course coordinate.

What this page does not provide

The organiser provides route and map material; this site does not bundle or redistribute a track file. It does not treat a third-party track, illustration or elevation sketch as official geometry; race-day routes can also change because of construction, weather or safety arrangements.

How to use this page

Treat it as a pinned-version entry, not a navigation tool. Confirm the year, category and direction, then check the organiser's technical material for that edition. Use the pace calculator for arithmetic and read the marathon distance for training context. Ultra and trail races also require separate checks of mandatory kit, aid spacing, weather windows and escape options.

Sources and reuse

This original explanatory text was prepared by the RunMap editorial desk from Western States Endurance Run Foundation's public material and is licensed CC BY 4.0. Event names, official marks, official route text and official files remain the property of the organiser; The organiser provides route and map material; this site does not bundle or redistribute a track file.