COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Ultramarathon Course Description

Aid Station Details

Crew Access Points & Directions to Aid Stations

Trail Marathon Course Description
Printable Version (.pdf 88K)

SECTION A:

Targhee Base – FRED’S MOUNTAIN – TARGHEE BASE (via Shoshone Cat Track)

(0 – 6.8 miles)

From the starting line, which is just up the hill from the Base Aid Station, head uphill via the Teton Vista Traverse Trail (a service road), following the signs for Section A – Fred’s Mountain. You will be heading uphill to the summit of Fred’s Mountain and the Dreamcatcher Chairlift. DO NOT TAKE THE TRAIL ON THE LEFT THAT YOU WILL PASS ABOUT THREE-TENTHS OF A MILE FROM THE START – YOU WILL TURN HERE ON YOUR WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, HOWEVER!  (This trail will see two-way traffic and it is definitely the steepest and probably the most difficult section of the course, with 1,810ft of elevation gain over the 2.7 miles and a few technical, rocky sections as you get closer to the top.)  Stay on this service road/trail for 2.6 miles until you arrive at a major intersection, which will be marked.  Turn right at the intersection, continuing uphill, and in one-tenth of a mile you will arrive at Aid Station #1/Fred’s Mountain(2.7 miles; no crew access; no drop bags).  Aid Station #1/ Fred’s Mountain is the turn-around point for this section of the course; additionally, it is the highest point on the course at 9,840ft.  After checking in and out of the aid station, you will turn around and head back down the mountain via the same service road.  Again, please keep in mind that this section of the course will see two-way traffic.  As you approach the bottom of the hill, turn right at the cat-track and head up a slight hill towards the top of the Shoshone Chairlift; this turn will be clearly marked so please follow the signs for the “Marathon” at this point.  (Be careful here…the Ultramarathon racers will NOT turn right at this intersection…they will continue straight down the hill when you turn right at this cat-track.)  You will pass underneath the Dreamcatcher Chairlift and the trail will continue to the top of the Shoshone Chairlift.  After passing by the top of the Shoshone Chairlift (which will be on your left) head to your left and follow the single-track trail down the hill. This single-track trail will join a service road where you will turn LEFT and follow the signs/flagging back to the Base of the Resort and Aid Station #2/Base Area(6.8 miles; drop bag).  It is possible that you will see two-way traffic on this last section as runners head out into Rick’s Basin.

SECTION B:

TARGHEE BASE - MILL CREEK TRAIL – TARGHEE BASE

(6.8 – 21.2 miles)

After passing through the Base Aid Station (#2), continue in the same direction (toward the deck of the Trapp Bar) and stay to the right as you are looking up the hill, following the dirt road up the cat-track/service road following the SECTION B – MILL CREEK signs and the Sacagawea Chairlift (take the cat-track/dirt road that is just above and to the left of the Trap Bar deck – DO NOT follow the signs for Section A, which is the same cat-track/dirt road that brought you to the top of Fred’s Mountain.  (You will most likely see two-way traffic on this section of the course, too.)  Follow this service road, proceeding uphill, for approximately one mile until it splits, which occurs about 200 feet before going under the Sacagawea chairlift.  At the split, stay to the right so you are following the dirt road and heading slightly downhill…not uphill! After passing under the Sacagawea chairlift you will continue about two tenths of a mile until you come to a ridge (Lightning Ridge) and some trail intersections.  Upon reaching the ridge, follow the dirt/gravel road to the left as it drops down and into a canyon (you will be headed into Teton Canyon).  This is now considered the Mill Creek Trail; you will stay on this ‘trail’ for 3.5 miles.  After leaving the ridge, you will travel about four-tenths of a mile downhill and pass by a wooden platform (with picnic tables) on the right side of the trail. This is Aid Station #3/Cat Ski Platform-Out(8.7 miles; water only; no crew access; no drop bags).  About 1.2 miles farther down the Mill Creek Trail you might see a trail off to the right – stay left at this point!  (In another 8.2 miles, you will return to this point on the Mill Creek Trail via the trail on the right.)  Exit the trail and turn right onto Teton Canyon Road, which is a dirt/ravel road.  (If you’ve been in Teton Canyon in the winter months, you will notice that this area is the parking lot for the X-C skiing loop.)  Follow the Teton Canyon Road for seven-tenths of a mile until it dead ends at the Stop Sign on Ski Hill Road.   Aid Station #4/Ski Hill Road Lower(12.5 miles; crew access; no drop bags) will be located in a paved turnout/parking area on Teton Canyon Rd, just before the Dead Ends at Ski Hill Road.

At the Stop Sign/Dead End on Teton Canyon Road, turn right onto Ski Hill Road.  PLEASE stay on the RIGHT side of the road, as there are some very sharp, blind curves on the road, which are quite dangerous.  (Please note, this section of road WILL NOT be flagged because you will leave the pavement when you arrive at the next aid station, which is Cold Springs.)  You will be on Ski Hill Road for 3.2 miles and should have more amazing Teton views over the first mile on this paved section of the course.  After passing the “scenic overlook” parking lot, you will next pass by a small turnout for “slower traffic” and then the road will go through a series of several small, winding curves. At 3.2 miles you will arrive at Aid Station #5/Cold Springs(15.8 miles; crew access; no drop bags) and the turnoff to the Cold Springs Trail.   You will be on the Cold Springs Trail for 2.3 miles until it merges back onto the Mill Creek Trail.  This 2.3 mile section is perhaps the trickiest part of the course, so please pay attention to the trail markings; we will do our best to ‘over flag’ this section of the course. Atfive-tenths of a mile on the Cold Springs Trail, you will come to a “buck-rail” log fence…stay to the left of the fence and follow the trail up a short hill.  (The fence surrounds Cold Spring and you might see a Moose here on quiet day.)  After this point, the trail will go up and down many small hills and you might see several little off-shoots at various points.  Again, it will be well marked, so please pay attention to the flagging as it is almost impossible to provide a verbal description for this section of trail.  When you re-join the Mill Creek Trail, stay to your left…this brings you back to the two-way traffic section of the trail. You are now 1.2 miles from Aid Station #6 which is the same platform you passed on your way down Mill Creek Trail into Teton Canyon.  After passing Aid Station #6/Cat Ski Platform-return(19.3 miles; water only; no crew access; no drop bags), you will travel about nine-tenths of a mile uphill, staying to the right at the top of the ridge, and then up another smaller hill.  Once you pass under the Sacagawea chairlift, a steep downhill will bring you back to the Base of Grand Targhee and Aid Station #7/Base Area(21.2 miles; crew access; drop bags). 

SECTION C

TARGHEE BASE - RICK’S BASIN – TARGHEE BASE (FINISH)

21.2 miles-26.2 miles

After checking in and out of Aid Station #5/Base Area, continue straight up the hill/trail that is to the left of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift and to right of the Ski School (log) building and follow the signs for SECTION C – RICK’S BASIN.  At the top of this small hill, head left on the service road.  When the service road splits, turn right and head up the small hill towards Rick’s Basin.  In approximately two-tenths of a mile the trail will split again, just after the tall steel poles wrapped with black padding.  (It is possible that you will see two-way traffic up to this point.)  At the split, head left following the trail (not the service road) as it goes slightly downhill, then bends to the left and continues uphill.  At the top of this hill you will enter Rick’s Basin.  (Please note, you are likely to see runners in all parts of this Basin, which might be confusing…if you follow the trail marking you should have no problems staying on course.)  When running this loop, please follow the pink/blue ribbons as well as the colored “pin flag” trail markers that will mark the course; do not follow any flagging or ribbon attached to tall poles or tall wooden sticks. Stay left on the trail for about six-tenths of a mile until the trail splits.  Turn right at this junction and in about 100 yards the trail will split again…stay to the right and follow the single track as it heads downhill.  From here, stay left at any subsequent intersection in the Basin.  After a few miles you will pass through some Aspen groves and then wind slightly downhill before crossing a wooden bridge.  About a ½ mile after crossing the bridge, you will come to another intersection. Again, stay left on the trail.  Soon you will arrive at Aid Station #8/Rick’s Basin(24.9 miles; water only; no crew access; no drop bags), which will be on the right side of the trail at top of a slight hill.  Near the end of the Rick’s Basin loop you will head up a gradual hill, pass an old, rotting picnic table (on your right) and then begin a descent that brings you underneath the Blackfoot chairlift.  Keep following the trail as it bends to the right, crosses a rocky wash and then widens, becoming a service road as you begin a slight uphill.  Once the trail becomes the service road, you will travel about 150 feet and see a trail heading uphill to the left (this is the trail that brought you down from the top of Fred’s Mountain).  DO NOT take this trail…instead, stay straight and follow the service road (and signs) six-tenths of a mile back to the Base Area/Start-Finish Line.  Upon returning to the Base Area you will see the finish line chute at the bottom of the hill on the right.  Congratulations, you just ran 26.2 miles!!!

Ultramarathon Course Description
Printable Version (.pdf 88Kb)

Ultramarathon Course Description (FOR One, 25-Mile loop)

SECTION A:

Targhee Base – FRED’S MOUNTAIN – TARGHEE BASE

(0 – 5.6 miles)

From the starting line (which is near the base of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift, just beneath the deck of the Trapp Bar) the course heads uphill, following the signs for Section A - FRED’S MOUNTAIN, via the Teton Vista Traverse Trail (which is a service road) to the summit of Fred’s Mountain and the top of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift.  ABOUT THREE-TENTHS OF A MILE FROM THE START YOU WILL SEE A TRAIL/SERVICE ROAD ON YOUR LEFT – DO NOT TURN ONTO THIS TRAIL AT ANY TIME. IT IS PART OF THE MARATHON COURSE ONLY!  This is definitely the steepest and probably the most difficult section of the course, with 1,840ft of elevation gain over the 2.8 miles and a few technical, rocky sections as you get closer to the top.  Additionally, this section of the course will see two-way traffic, so please be courteous to other runners. After covering 2.7 miles on this service road, and crossing underneath the Dreamchaser Chairlift, you will arrive at a major intersection, which will be clearly marked.  Turn RIGHT at the intersection and continue one-tenth of a mile uphill until you arrive at Aid Station #1/Fred’s Mountain(2.7 miles; no crew access; no drop bags) near the top of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift.  Aid Station #1/ Fred’s Mountain is the turn-around point for this section of the course; additionally, it is the highest point on the course at 9,840ft.  After checking in and out of the aid station, you will turn around and head back down the mountain via the same service road.  Again, please keep in mind that this section of the course will see two-way traffic.  As you approach the bottom of the hill and see the Base Aid Station, turn right on the trail and head under the Dreamcatcher Chairlift. After passing a small service building on your left proceed down the hill to Aid Station #2/Base Area(5.6 miles; drop bag).

SECTION B:

TARGHEE BASE - MILL CREEK TRAIL – TARGHEE BASE

(5.6 – 20.0 miles)

After passing through the Base Aid Station (#2), continue in the same direction (toward the deck of the Trapp Bar) and stay to the right as you are looking up the hill, following the dirt road up the cat-track/service road following the SECTION B/MILL CREEK signs and the Sacagawea Chairlift (take the cat-track/dirt road that is just above and to the left of the Trap Bar deck – DO NOT follow the signs for Section A, which is the same cat-track/dirt road that brought you to the top of Fred’s Mountain.  (You will most likely see two-way traffic on this section of the course, too.)  Follow this service road, proceeding uphill, for approximately one mile until it splits, which occurs about 200 feet before going under the Sacagawea chairlift.  At the split, stay to the right so you are following the dirt road and heading slightly downhill…not uphill! After passing under the Sacagawea chairlift you will continue about two-tenths of a mile until you come to a ridge (Lightning Ridge) and some trail intersections.  Upon reaching the ridge, follow the dirt/gravel road to the left as it drops down and into a canyon (you will be headed into Teton Canyon).  This is now considered the Mill Creek Trail; you will stay on this ‘trail’ for 3.5 miles.  After leaving the ridge, you will travel about four-tenths of a mile downhill and pass by a wooden platform (with picnic tables) on the right side of the trail. This is Aid Station #3/Cat Ski Platform-Out(7.5 miles; water only; no crew access; no drop bags).  About 1.2 miles farther down the Mill Creek Trail you might see a trail off to the right – stay left at this point!  (In another 8.2 miles, you will return to this point on the Mill Creek Trail via the trail on the right.)  The Mill Creek Trail ends just in front of a gravel road/parking, just after a small stretch of sagebrush.  Exit the trail and turn right onto Teton Canyon Road, which is a dirt/ravel road.  (If you’ve been in Teton Canyon in the winter months, you will notice that this area is the parking lot for the X-C skiing loop.)  Follow the Teton Canyon Road for seven-tenths of a mile until it dead ends at the Stop Sign on Ski Hill Road.  Aid Station #4/Ski Hill Road Lower(11.3 miles; crew access; drop bags) will be located in a paved turnout/parking area on Teton Canyon Road, just before the Dead End at Ski Hill Road.

At the Stop Sign on Teton Canyon Road, turn right onto Ski Hill Road.  PLEASE stay on the RIGHT side of the pavement, as there are some very sharp, blind curves on the road, which are quite dangerous.  (Please note, this section of road WILL NOT be flagged because you will leave the pavement when you arrive at the next aid station, which is Cold Springs.)  You will be on Ski Hill Road for 3.2 miles and should have more amazing Teton views over the first mile on this paved section of the course.  After passing the “scenic overlook” parking lot, you will next pass by a small turnout for “slower traffic” and then the road will go through a series of several small, winding curves. At 3.2 miles you will arrive at Aid Station #5/Cold Springs(14.6 miles; crew access; no drop bags) and the turnoff to the Cold Springs Trail.  

Turn right here and you will be on the Cold Springs Trail for 2.3 miles until it merges back onto the Mill Creek Trail.  This 2.3 mile section is perhaps the trickiest part of the course, so please pay attention to the trail markings; we will do our best to ‘over flag’ this section of the course. Atfive-tenths of a mile on the Cold Springs Trail, you will come to a “buck-rail” log fence…stay to the left of the fence and follow the trail up a short hill.  (The fence surrounds Cold Spring and you might see a Moose here on quiet day.)  After this point, the trail will go up and down many small hills and you might see several little off-shoots at various points.  Again, it will be well marked, so please pay attention to the flagging as it is almost impossible to provide a verbal description for this section of trail as there are no permanent trail markers in place.  When you re-join the Mill Creek Trail, stay to your left…this brings you back to the two-way traffic section of the trail.  You are now 1.2 miles from Aid Station #6 which is the same platform you passed on your way down Mill Creek Trail into Teton Canyon.  After passing Aid Station #6/Cat Ski Platform-return(18.1 miles; water only; no crew access; no drop bags), you will travel about nine-tenths of a mile uphill, staying to the right when you reach the top of the ridge, and then up another smaller hill.  Once you pass under the Sacagawea chairlift, a steep downhill will bring you back to the Base of Grand Targhee and Aid Station #7/Base Area(20.0 miles; crew access; drop bags). 

SECTION C

TARGHEE BASE - RICK’S BASIN – TARGHEE BASE (FINISH)

(20.0 miles-25.0 miles)

Crew Access Points & Directions to Aid Stations
Printable Version (.pdf 64Kb)

We encourage all runners to utilize a support crew during the race. Please remember, however, that each runner is ultimately responsible for the actions of their crew members (and pacers, for the 100 milers).  We ask that everyone not running in the event be considerate to other crew members, spectators, aid station volunteers, medical staff and, most importantly, other runners.  Also, as much as we’d love to see your pets, please leave them at home – our permit requires this. 

Each 25 mile loop on the course has 5 crew access locations. On the course map, the five stations (AS#2, #4, #5, #8) are noted with a “blue-green box” and are easily reached by vehicle (or foot) at all times.  Additionally, one aid station (AS#2/Fred’s Mountain) has “limited access” via the Dreamcatcher Chairlift – that is, access is weather and time permitting based on Grand Targhee’s hours of operation..  (If you wish to take the chairlift to the top, you must purchase a lift ticket at the Grand Targhee Resort’s Activities Center.) 

Again, the aid stations with crew access are fairly simple to locate.  In fact, if the crew drives up Ski Hill Road to Grand Targhee, they will drive by two of these points (AS #4 & #5) on the way to Grand Targhee Resort.  There is only one road that leads to and from the Resort, so your crew will not be able to use the “I/we got lost trying to find the Aid Station” excuse for this event.  We will review the crew access points at the pre-race meeting, but please do not hesitate to ask a race official or volunteer about these directions.  We have used the Aid Station numbers here for convenience, but it might be easier for the crew to refer to each by the actual name listed on the Course Profile. 

BASE AREA-MAIN STATION / AID STATION #2, #7, #9

Course Distance (Ultras): 5.6 miles/ 20 miles/ 25 miles/ 30.6 miles, 45 miles, 50 miles, 55.6 miles, 70 miles, 75 miles, 80.6 miles, 95 miles, 100 miles

Course Distance (Trail Marathon): 6.8 miles, 21.2 miles

This Main Aid Station (Start-Finish line) is located at the base of the Dramcatcher Chairlift, just above the swimming pool and Spa area.  If you watch the runners depart from the starting line, you will most likely notice the large tent here.  (This is also the main medical station for the Races, so if you, or your runner, have any problems please do not hesitate to speak with a race official or volunteer.)  Runners for all races will pass through this Aid Station three times per loop, so it is a good location to assist them, especially if you do not have access to a vehicle.  Once your runner passes through this station the first time, you can relax at the Resort, or drive down to meet them at the Ski Hill Road-Lower Aid Station (#4). 

SKI HILL ROAD-LOWER / AID STATION #4

Course Distance (Ultras): 11.3 miles/ 36.3 miles/ 61.3 miles/ 86.3 miles

Course Distance (Trail Marathon): 12.5 miles

From the Start/Finish line/ Base Aid Station (AS#5) area, locate your vehicle in the parking lot – there is no need to run…you will be driving, downhill on a paved road, almost the same distance that your runner is running, about 5.6 miles from the Log Arch as you depart the Resort.  Please, for everyone’s safety, do not speed on this road; there are many curves and blind turns that can be dangerous when wet and the road sees a good amount of bike traffic.  Additionally, you might encounter race competitors coming up a portion of the road.  From the base of the resort, you will travel the 5.6 miles (passing the Cold Springs / Aid Station #5 along the way) to the bottom of the hill, where you will take your first left onto the paved Teton Canyon Road.  (If you cross over the cattle grate you have just passed the turn and gone too far.) The Ski Hill Road-Lower Aid Station (#2) will be just ahead on the left.  Please park before reaching the aid station and leave enough room for other vehicles.  You may wish to back into your parking spot so it is easier to see oncoming runners when leaving this aid station.  We are requesting that crews do not drive past the Aid Station, however, you are welcome to walk down the Teton Canyon Road and run/walk with your runner before they enter the Aid Station.  From here, you runner will travel up Ski Hill Road, heading up the paved road to the Grand Targhee Resort.  Please remind your runner to run on the right hand side of the road.  This is for safety reasons due to some blind curves on the road.)

COLD SPRINGS TURNOFF / AID STATION #5

Course Distance (Ultras): 14.6 miles/ 39.6 miles/ 64.6 miles/ 89.6 miles

Course Distance (Trail Marathon): 15.8

Be careful of runners and vehicle traffic when leaving the Ski Hill Road-Lower aid station.  Exit the parking lot on Teton Canyon Road by returning the same way you entered.  Turn right at the Stop Sign (Dead End), heading back up Ski Hill Road towards the Resort.  In approximately 3.2 miles you will arrive at the COLD SPRINGS TURNOFF / AID STATION #3, which you passed on your way down from the Resort.  The Aid Station will be located on the right side of the road, just after the second “Slower Traffic Use Turnout” sign.  Ski Hill Road is part of the actual race course, so please be very careful while driving on this section of winding pavement as you’ll be sharing the road with the runners, as well as other drivers and bikers; speeding, reckless driving, or stopping along Ski Hill Road will not be tolerated by the Forest Service, Teton Country Sheriff’s Office or race officials.  Park your car in the paved parking area on the left side of the road immediately after the COLD SPRINGS TURNOFF aid station.  Be sure to look both ways when crossing the road to meet your runner at the Aid Station and when returning to your vehicle. 

You can next see your runner back at the Base Area/ Main Aid Station.  Leave the Cold Springs Turnoff aid station and continue heading back uphill towards the Resort.  There is no need to rush back to the Resort…you will drive about 2.5 miles but your runner has to cover 5.4 miles of terrain and most of it is uphill.  Once back at the Resort, park and head to the Base of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift to wait for your runner at the BASE AREA/START FINISH – AID STATION #7. 

Since Aid Station #7 doubles as Aid Station #9, your runner will pass through here and return to this same location after traveling  5 miles through Rick’s Basin.  You can wait for them here or, if operating, take the Dreamcatcher Chairlift to the top of Fred’s Mountain and wait for them there.

FRED’S MOUNTAIN / Aid Station #1 (via the Dreamcatcher Chairlift)

Course distance (ULTRAS): 27.8 miles/ 52.8 miles/ 97.8 miles

Course distance (Marathon): Chairlift will NOT be open in time to meet Marathon runners.

The Dreamcatcher Chairlift does not open until mid-morning, so it is not possible to see your runner here immediately after the start of their race.  (This applies to all races.)  Additionally, we suggest that you do not count on this being a fully accessible crew access point as it is fully dependent on the chair lift schedule, as well as the weather.  Should the weather not cooperate, or the chairlift malfunction and be forced to close, your runner could arrive at the Fred’s Mountain Aid Station (#1) wondering where you are.  If the chair is running (and we hope it is because the Teton views from the top are priceless) you will need to purchase lift tickets from the Resort Activities Center in order to board the lift and get to the top.  Once at the top, exit the chair and you will see the Aid Station at the top left.  You can either return to the base via the chairlift (but keep in mind that you could miss your runner at the bottom) or hike 2.8 miles down the service road, which is the actual race course, to the Base Area.

Aid Station Details |  Top of Page

Permitted area is located in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest

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This page was last updated on February 28, 2009