runner information

Village at Mammoth Plaza: 6201 Minaret Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Checkin-MTF Store in Wood Chip Lounge under gondola building

thursday 9/19, 5pm: Live runner briefing and athlete presentation will be held in Village Plaza with Tim Tollefson - details of courses, changes, and any questions will be answered

Village at Mammoth Plaza: Tent in treed wood chip area under gondola building

Thursday: 3-5, 6-8pm

Friday: 6:30-8:00am, 4-8pm

Saturday: 6:15am-7:15am, 4-8pm

Times subject to change

dragon’s back ascent: Friday 9/20 9am on Twin Lakes Bridge near Tamarack Lodge

50K: Saturday 9/21 7:30am in Village at Mammoth Plaza under arch

kids run: saturday 9/21 10:30am in Village at Mammoth Plaza under arch

26K: sunday 9/22 10:00am in Village at Mammoth Plaza under arch

Absolutely no littering, course cutting, or speeding (crews). Violations could result in disqualification upon race management discretion

Cutoff will be enforced at each aid station; welcome to continue to the nearest exit but no official time will be recorded

Bibs must be worn and visible throughout the race

Poles are allowed for all distances

No animals allowed on course (but you may see a bear :)) Mammoth is a very pet friendly town and dogs are allowed in the Village at Mammoth Plaza during all festival activities

Our medical staff and aid station captains have the discretion to remove runners from the race over health or safety concerns

Headphones are discouraged, if you decide to use them we recommend only one earbud

Bathrooms are available at the start/finish area, Twin Lakes, Tamarack, Duck Pass Trail Head, Horseshoe Lake, Summit Aid, Main Lodge, McCoy, and Canyon. Outside of this please follow instructions for proper management of Leave No Trace. (Must be a 6-8” deep hole and 200’ away water, campsites, and trails. Pack-out your toilet paper)

No gear requirements but highly recommend carrying a cell phone, 1L minimum capacity for fluids, extra layers, and an emergency blanket

Mountain weather can change quickly so be ready for wind, rain, snow, graupel, sun, and more. If you become injured or run slower than predicted, time to medical or the next aid station may be longer than expected

We have a detailed Emergency Action Plan with MMSA Patrol, Mammoth Hospital, and SAR that covers the entire course, but you should be self reliant to manage your situation until help can arrive

A designated drop bag truck will be at the start of both 26K and 50K - parked along Canyon Blvd next to MTF bib pickup tent (under gondola building). Bags will be transported to the Summit aid station and then returned in the evening after station closes - if not picked up by Sunday evening the contents will be donated or discarded as seen fit

A designated drop bag truck will be at the start of Dragon’s Back Ascent - parked on south side of Twin Lakes Bridge. Bags will be transported to the Summit aid station and then returned in the afternoon after summit closes - if not picked up by Sunday evening the contents will be donated or discarded as seen fit

Pacers are not allowed

Crews are allowed as per aid station table listed on each races page. Crews are not allowed at Twin Lakes, Tamarack, Duck Pass Trail Head, or Horseshoe Lake. Limited parking is available at Horseshoe Lake and recommended to carpool if you attempt to catch your runner there to cheer. Absolutely NO speeding throughout town. There is no reason and if reported, at the discretion of race management, runners may be disqualified. Our town is small and it is absolutely unnecessary to speed at any point during event weekend. This puts yourself, others, and our local wildlife at extreme risk of morbidity and mortality

There will be 4 aid stations for the 26K, 6 for the 50K, and no aid for Dragon’s Back Ascent, all brought to you by our WONDERFUL volunteers

Twin Lakes: Mammoth Hospital

Duck: Eastside Trail Runners

Horseshoe: Mammoth HS XC

Summit: Elke Reimer + Auburn Friends, and GU

Main: GU

McCoy: Eastside Trail Runners

Canyon: Community Crew!

Garage: Community Crew!

Aid stations will be stocked with a variety of typical sweet and savory options, real food, GU products, and water. Summit aid will have pancakes! working on GF and vegan options - to be announced prior to race

GU PRODUCTS

GU Roctane Energy Drink: Summit Tea or Grape

GU Roctane Gels: Sea salt chocolate, Cherry Lime, Lemonade

GU Chews: Blueberry Pomegranate

GU Stroopwafels: Salty’s Carmel

GU Electrolyte Capsules

Cutoffs are set generously to give all runners high chance of completion. Specifics can be found on each individual race page

-Dragon’s Back Ascent: 2.5 hours

-50K: 12 hours

-26K: 7 hours

Cup-less: We are a cup-less event. Please carry your own bottles or collapsable cups. Local vendors in town have options to purchase if needed

*Actual distances may vary depending on your GPS device. If course changes are made we will update the distances and communicate respectively

All courses are on USFS land under a special use permit and will be open to public multi-use throughout entirety of the event. As respectful users of these lands we ask that you be courteous of all user groups that may be encountered while running (walkers, hikers, bikes, horses, etc). For trails inside of MMSA (majority of 26K, half of 50K) there is little impact of other user groups but still possible

Do not disturb soils, trample vegetation, or harass wildlife. Always stay on designated and marked trails. Leaving established trails may result in disqualification

All courses will be generously marked with a mix of flagging, ribbons, chalk, and signs. It is ultimately up to you to be familiarized with the route and we encourage you to download the GPX file to your watch or hand held device (smart phone with GIA or physical map. Caltopo GPX files can be found by clicking any course maps on race pages)

Dragon’s Back Ascent: Yellow Ribbons, flags, directional signs

50K: Yellow/Green Ribbons, flags, directional signs

26K: Pink Ribbons, flags, directional signs

colors subject to change prior to race day and will be communicated

2023 Course Description: Follow Pink Flags, ribbons, and directional signs

Start to Twin Lakes (3.6 miles)

Race begins in the Village Plaza, exits underneath the Mammoth gondola bridge, and runs south on Canyon Blvd towards the Lake Mary stoplight. Runners will cross the road and access Twin Lakes Bike Path. A gradual 1 mile climb will be met with a left turn onto Camp High Sierra dirt road where you will descend towards Eagle Lodge - just before Eagle lodge you’ll want to be in a good position as the trail bottlenecks

After a roughy .5 mile climb up the access road turn left to continue onto Juniper Trail climbing through the trees for .75 miles before a left turn onto Lakes Trail. This will drop you at Twin Lakes Parking Area where Aid Station 1 is located.

Twin Lakes to Summit (3.6 miles to 7.5 miles)

Exit the parking lot and continue across the bridge to turn right onto Twin Lakes Rd towards Twin Lakes bridge. You will be directed across the street onto the bike path and half a mile later - and after crossing the bridge - you will turn left onto the World Famous Dragon’s Back Trail - 2.75 miles and 2,400ft to the summit of Mammoth Mountain at 11,053’ - this will be the most challenging trail of the entire race

About 1 mile into the climb, you will stay right at “Hole In The Wall” lava tube to access 7 Lakes Trail. If you wish to spare a minute to pear over the edge and down into the tube, it’s quite worth it! The next climb is the most technical and challenging of the entire course. For .1 miles you will enter the “Hour Glass” that is a mix of rocks and pumice as you overlook the Twin Lakes below you. Course marshals and Mammoth Bike Patrol will be on staff to remind you to take caution. After the beautiful short climb through the rocks you re-enter a wooded trail that climbs for .5 miles before regaining access to Dragon’s Back Trail. The next mile ascent has intermittent rocky sections that should be approached with caution, take your time. The final .5 miles to the summit is soft pumice before a smooth .25 mile flat run to the aid station

Summit to McCoy Aid (7.5-11.1 miles)

From the summit run down the steep access road/Eliminator Trail for 1.25 miles before turning left to access Mammoth Mountain Trail, Off the Top, and eventually Gravy Train Trail. This is a steep road that will season your quads - the first .25 miles is rutted from recent storms so watch your ankles. Enjoy the relatively flat and rocky Gravy Train Trail for just over a mile before reaching McCoy Aid

McCoy Aid to Garage: (11.1-14.8 miles)

From McCoy Aid continue on Brake Through Trail around the pond for roughly 1.5 miles until turning down the steep access road briefly and then you’ll turn left onto 7 Bridges trail for 1 mile. At the bottom turn right onto Uptown Trail and in 1 mile you’ll reach Garage Aid station

Garage Aid to Finish (14.8 -17.1 miles)

Enjoy the mellow 2.25 mile smooth descent from Garage Aid towards the finish at the Village Plaza. At the end of Uptown Trail turn right to reconnect with the the Ski-back Trail Bridge and return through the Village to finish in the Plaza

Description: Follow Yellow Flags, ribbons, and directional signs

Start to Twin Lakes (5.15 miles):

Race begins in the Village Plaza, exits underneath the Mammoth gondola bridge, and runs south on Canyon Blvd towards the Lake Mary stoplight. Runners will cross the road and access Twin Lakes Bike Path. A gradual 1 mile climb will be met with a left turn onto Camp High Sierra dirt road where you will descend towards Eagle Lodge - just before Eagle lodge you’ll want to be in a good position as the trail bottlenecks

After a roughy .75 mile climb up the access road turn right to access Timber Ridge Trail. .75 miles later turn left onto the flowing Paper Route Trail and continue for 1 mile before turning left to briefly descend Juniper Trail. After a right onto Lakes Trail you will exit the forest, cross a small bridge, and drop into Twin Lakes Parking Area where Aid Station 1 is located.

Twin Lakes to Duck Pass Trail Head (5.15-8.8 miles)

Exit the parking lot and continue across the bridge to turn right onto Twin Lakes Rd where crossing guards will direct you into the Tunnel to access Panorama Trail (less than .25 miles of pavement). Continue up the short punchy climb to Panorama Dome where you will be met with view of the Lakes Basin, Crystal Crag and the Mammoth Crest. Half mile of soft pumice trail will drop you to the Old Mammoth Rd Crossing and continue up .6 miles on the horse trail before the short access road climb turns into single track for 1.5 miles before Duck Pass Trail Head. Upon reaching the parking lot stay right and a crossing guard will direct you towards the Aid Station

Duck Pass Trail Head to Horseshoe Lake Aid (8.8-13.75 miles)

Enjoy the steep rocky .5 mile climb up Emerald Lake Trail before turning right onto Cold Water Campground to Lake George Trail at the John Muir Wilderness boundary. This 2.5 mile trail will pass several lakes and drop into the Lake George Parking area. Follow the instruction of the crossing guard to wrap around the lot and continue down the short road before turning left on the Lake Maime Trail. This will run along Lake Maime before turning left to loop around Horseshoe Lake and terminate at Horseshoe Lake Aid station

Horseshoe Lake Aid to Summit Aid (13.75-18.25 miles)

From the iconic Horseshoe Lake parking area turn left to join McCloud Lake Trail and .5 miles later at the lake turn right onto the trail that runs towards Dragon’s Back Trail. After 1.3 miles turn right to descend Dragon’s Back Trail for .5 miles before turning left to climb 7 Lake Point Trail. This is the famous “Hole In The Wall” lava tube you wish to spare a minute to pear over the edge. The next climb is the most technical and challenging of the entire course. For .1 miles you will enter the “Hour Glass” that is a mix of rocks and pumice as you overlook the Twin Lakes below you. Course marshals and Mammoth Bike Patrol will be on staff to remind you to take caution. After the beautiful short climb through the rocks you re-enter a wooded trail that climbs for .5 miles before regaining access to Dragon’s Back Trail. The next mile ascent has intermittent rocky sections that should be approached with caution, take your time. The final .5 miles to the summit is soft pumice before a smooth .25 mile flat run to the aid station

Summit to Main Lodge Aid (18.25-22 miles)

From the summit run down the steep access road/Eliminator Trail for just shy of 1.3 miles before turning left onto Off The Top/Mammoth Mountain Trail. This is a steep road that will season your quads - the first .25 miles is rutted from recent storms so watch your ankles. Enjoy Mammoth Mountain Trail with view of the Minarets, Ritter Mt, Banner Peak, and Yosemite in the distance for 2.5 miles before exiting at Main Lodge Aid

Main Lodge Aid to Garage (22-29 miles)

1/4 mile after leaving the aid, continue on Uptown Trail for almost 1 mile before a right turn to access 7 Bridges Trail. After ~500 vertical feet in less than 1.5 miles, continue onto Break Through and enjoy 2 miles of flowing singletrack around Lincoln Mountain on Lincoln Express before turning left down Skidmarks. You will descend a series of soft switchbacks for 1 mile before turning left onto the buttery Manzanita for 1.5 miles. You will finally turn right and descend partially via Bullet DH Trail before continuing on Big Ring down to reach Canyon Lodge

Canyon to Finish (29-32 miles)

Exit the aid and drop towards Austria Hoff before taking a left turn to ascend a beautiful singletrack through the trees and past many rock formations. A gut-punching 300’ climb is all that separates you and 2.5 miles of buttery downhill singletrack on Down Town Trail

Cross the Ski-back Trail Bridge and return through the Village and finish in the Plaza

Should you abandon the race at any point you will be responsible for your own transport back to the start/finish area. In event of medical emergency our medical staff will comply with our EAP and MMSA Patrol, Mammoth Hospital, and possible SAR will extract runner PRN. Please notify the nearest aid station medical lead of your abandonment or check in with our timing company at the finish line

This is a high altitude challenge on technical terrain. Take care over rocky terrain and when in doubt slow down and cautiously take your time. Remember, we all hike/walk. Mountain weather can change quickly so carry what you may need for completion of event including possible layers, food, water, poles, a space blanket and emergency first aid kit should you take longer than expected or become stranded and await medical attention. Aid stations are roughly 3-5 miles apart - except between A5 and A6 in the 50K which is 7 miles - so depending on your pace, this could be more than 2 hours. We will keep all participants updated on weather forecast leading up to the event. Recommended that all runners carry a mobile phone during event and every effort to communicate in areas without service will be made from event staff/volunteers

In event of an emergency call 911. If able to reach an aid station our captains will initiate our EAP accordingly

Our partners at Mammoth Hospital are on site throughout the event weekend and managing the Canyon and Lakes Basin aid stations

The kids run, 26K, and 50K all finish on the same line that you began from - in Village plaza

Dragons’ Back Ascent will finish at the summit sign on Mammoth Mountain

Professional chip timing will be provided using B-tags and used for determining overall and age-group awards. Gun time will be used for all awards

Live splits of 26K/50K will be available online with QR code posted on this site and MTF tent

Top 10 overall female/male runners in the GTWS 26K will be awarded cash prizes as follows

F1/M1: $3,000

F2/M2: $2000

F3/M3: $1000

F4/M4: $900

F5/M5: $800

F6/M6: $700

F7/M7: $600

F8/M8: $500

F9/M9: $400

F10/M10: $300

Top 5 overall female/male runners in 50K and Dragon’s Back Ascent will be awarded cash prizes as follows

50K

F1/M1: $1,400

F2/M2: $1,000

F3/M3: $700

F4/M4: $600

F5/M5: $300

Dragon’s Back Ascent

F1/M1: $700

F2/M2: $600

F3/M3: $250

F4/M4: $100

F5/M5: $50

All runners are subject to random drug testing and specifics on race day testing can be found on our Golden Trail Series page

Top 3 female/male runners in each 10 year age group awarded unique gift

Age groups: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Overall awards will be given:

-Dragon’s Back Ascent: Friday 9/20 11:30am at Summit podium

-50K: Saturday 9/21 7:30pm at Village at Mammoth Plaza stage

-26K: Sunday 9/22 5:00pm at Village at Mammoth Plaza stage

-Triple: Sunday 9/22 5:00pm at Village at Mammoth Plaza stage

Age group awards will be awarded on stage at the same time for each respective distance at times listed above

We recognize that organized events create a lot of waste and we will continually aim to reduce our overall consumption, production, and distribution of goods that may end up in landfills, and reuse products when possible

Education: In 2023 in an effort to educate ourselves and others, we dedicated Friday evening of the Fest to environmental sustainability and have Runners For Public Lands to host a Happy Hour Trivia with proceeds of drink sales going to Runners For Public Lands

Transportation: We encourage carpooling to Mammoth when possible and once in town, utilize the free Town Trolly to get around - details under Free Town Trolley tab below

Reduce/Reuse: We have partnered with local race organizers - Bishop High Sierra Ultras - to build a collective of race good that will be reused between multiple events throughout the Eastern Sierra. Thus minimizing the waste created by purchasing goods that are used once a year

Participant bags will not be provided at check-in so please bring a small tote or bag to collect your items. As part of our continued efforts to offer high quality products with low environmental impact we are currently sourcing the pieces for this years event. We hope to offer options and will communicate details in the coming months

Terracycle: We have partnered with GU Energy to provide Terracycle management at our event. Save your sports nutrition wrappers from ALL brands, GU and any others - Gels, chews, stroopwafels, bars, drink mixes, and recovery drink mix single serve wrappers - as they can be upcycled. Don't toss them in the garbage or recycling bin, look for our Terracycle containers throughout the event. Join us in saying #NotTodayLandfill

Cup-less race: Cups will not be provided at Aid Stations or the Start/Finish line. Please bring your own reusable cup and/or bottle/hydration pack

Single-use Plastics: We aim to eliminate single-use plastic and polystyrene items in all possible ways and scenarios. We respectfully request that providers, vendors, attendees and spectators eliminate their use of single-use plastic and polystyrene products and packaging as well

Leave No Trace: We all love the outdoor spaces we are fortunate enough to visit and recognize the importance of minimizing our impact on these lands. Leave No Trace provides an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors and we recommend you familiarize yourself with their Seven principles

Littering: As stated in our rules section, littering will not be tolerated and at discretion of race management will result in disqualification

Special thanks to MMSA for the subsidized rate for our event and keeping the gondola spinning an extra week just for us. Access to Summit and McCoy aid station is possible through purchased gondola ticket or hiking along designated Mammoth Mountain Trail and Dragon’s Back Trail

2024 Operating hours released prior to event weekend

9/22:

9/23:

9/24:

Prices posted race week (2023 was $15 or less per ticket)

trolley schedule

The summertime free Town Trolley operates daily, as follows

2024 Times

May 15th - November, 2024 every 30 minutes from 7:00am until 2:00am

Ample free parking is available at Canyon Lodge (50K, A6), Eagle Lodge (mile 1.65 50K/26K), and Main Lodge (50K A5 and access to Summit 26K A2/50K A4 and McCoy A3 26K via gondola) during each race respectively. For parking around Village at Mammoth refer to below general town parking guidelines, Berner St Parking Lot is the most accessible paid lot

Parking for Dragon’s Back Ascent on Sunday 9/20 is limited at Twin Lakes and the finish is on the summit of Mammoth Mountain with a free gondola ride down to Main Lodge. We will have a shuttle running from the Village plaza to Tamarack Lodge/Cross Country Ski Center Yurt (walk the short 250m on the bike path to Twin Lakes bridge) and from Main Lodge back to Village plaza after the event. You are free to hike/run back down Dragon’s Back Ascent after the race if you wish to avoid gondola/Main lodge parking but no transport will be provided from Tamarack Lodge

Important General Town Parking Guidelines:

Unless otherwise marked, vehicles may be parked overnight along city streets from May 1 through October 31 as long as they are removed from the lanes of travel

Overnight parking is prohibited in any of the public parking day-use areas around town during the summer months

Public parking day-use areas:

-Immediately below the Westin Monache Resort off of Hillside Drive

-Mammoth’s city parks, including Trails End Park, and Shady Rest Park

-Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center

-Mammoth Lakes Park and Ride located at the corner of Old Mammoth Road and Tavern Street

Paid overnight parking is available throughout the summer at the following locations: Mammoth Mountain RV Park (call for pricing), at the Berner Street Parking Lot near the Village at Mammoth (across the street from the Minaret side of the Village at Mammoth, payment is via self-serve kiosks), and the Mammoth Yosemite Airport (long term parking $8 per vehicle per night, self-service kiosks are located outside of the aviation terminal)

When reserving lodging, inquire about parking rules and regulations at the property prior to arriving

Parking may be limited during special events held at the Village at Mammoth and it is advised that guests forego driving and utilize Mammoth’s free bus routes when possible

Mammoth has dispersed camping just outside of town but please familiarize yourself with the regulations to ensure legal camping

These tips brought to you by our friends at Mammoth Hospital:

The center of town is approximately 7,800 ft above sea level, and the elevation at the base of Mammoth Mountain near the Main Lodge is 9,000 ft, with the mountain's summit towering at 11,053 ft

Adjustment: When you first arrive, acclimatize yourself for a period of time prior to beginning any strenuous activities. At high elevations, the atmosphere is thinner and there's less oxygen and humidity available than at sea level. This can result in a number of symptoms, such as muscle fatigue, insomnia, mild headaches or slight shortness of breath

Avoid sunburn: Our thin atmosphere filters out only a minimum of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and can result in severe sunburn. Be sure to take adequate precautions to protect your eyes and skin. During high-exposure activities such as running, those with fair skin may experience sunburn after only two hours of sun exposure, even after applying maximum sunscreen protection. Parents should be especially careful with young children, and apply a generous amount of sunscreen prior to any outdoor activities

Keep Warm: At this higher elevation, the weather can change quickly. Prolonged exposure to the elements can cause serious problems in any season. It is wise to layer your clothing, no matter what the season. A t-shirt, wool sweater, nylon windbreaker with hood and a bottle of water are basics for just about any summer activity

Eat Lightly and Drink Plenty of Liquids: You may tend to become dehydrated more quickly at high altitude than at sea level, so drink plenty of water and other fluids (at least 8–10 glasses daily). You should also avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for the first 24 hours of your stay

Listen to Your Body: If you experience symptoms such as headache, insomnia and/or fatigue, you may have a mild form of altitude sickness. These symptoms are a warning to decrease your activity level. If symptoms persist or begin to worry you, don’t hesitate to contact medical staff in Village or get checked out the Mammoth Hospital

We ask that if experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness related to Covid-19 - or otherwise - that you please stay home and protect yourself and others. Masks are not required during the races or festival but please wear them to your comfort. Village at Mammoth has hand sanitizing stations. Refer to our withdrawal policy listed on utrasignup as needed