Whitefish Trail Blazer
About this race
October 3-4, 2026
The Whitefish Trail Blazer Presented by Flathead Running Company
A weekend of premiere Montana trail running benefitting Whitefish Legacy Partners and the Whitefish Trail
A distance for everyone!
On Saturday, the Blazer 50k ultramarathon challenges racers with over 6,300 feet of elevation gain across approximately 31 miles of single and double-track trails, including ascents to the summit of Big Mountain. Come test your grit on the best trails in Northwest Montana. *Race course is currently under US Forest Service analysis for term special use permit.
Sunday's events include a half marathon, 10k+, 5k+, and family fun run. These courses explore the scenic Beaver Lakes area of the Whitefish Trail starting and ending at the new Whitefish Legacy Center and featuring varying elevation gains to accommodate different fitness levels. Participants receive prizes, nutrition products, and locally-made awards for top finishers. Post-race celebrations include lunch, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
Registration for Half Marathon, 10k, 5k & fun run will close at 11:59pm on Saturday October 3rd- there will be no day-of registration. No pets allowed on racecourse. Registration for 50k will close at 11:59pm on Friday October 2nd- there will be no day-of registration. No pets allowed on racecourse.
Join fellow runners on October 7, 2023 for the Whitefish Trail Blazer. It's a fantastic Ultra, Half-Marathon, 10.9K, 5.5K, 3.2K featuring a flat and fast course in Whitefish.
Pick your distance
Running
50k Mountain Run
Saturday October 7th - the 50k Mountain Run course will start and finish at the Great Northwest Oktoberfest in Depot Park in downtown Whitefish. Runners will climb to the summit of Big Mountain via the Whitefish Trail in Haskill, Whitefish Mountain Resort trails, and Flathead National Forest trails. Of the 31 mile course, approximately 25 miles is on natural surface, single-track trails, and 6 miles is on paved roads and bike paths leaving and re-entering the City of Whitefish. The lollipop/loop section in Flathead National Forest and Whitefish Mountain Resort is approximately 16 miles in length. Runners will utilize 5.5 miles of the Whitefish Trail in both directions to access Flathead National Forest and Whitefish Mountain Resort. See the approximate race course map. Total elevation gain is approximately 6,000 feet. We will provide a map and GPS file to all registrants. All runners will receive FREE entry into Oktoberfest, a beer and food, a custom race buff (neck gaiter), Hammer nutrition products, and a custom 50k finisher patch. Awards to be announced. Our five-year event permit (2021-2025) for the 50k has been approved!! For the safety of runners and volunteers, there will be a cutoff time of 10 hours to complete the course. Specific aid-station cutoff times will be announced. This race course travels through a high alpine environment up to 6,800 feet in elevation. The course could have high wind, snow, ice, and/or wildlife. We expect all runners to be prepared for inclement weather (no cotton clothing), and carrying bear spray is highly recommended. A limited number of bear spray canisters will be available to runners. This event is made possible by Flathead National Forest, the City of Whitefish, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Title Sponsor Hammer Nutrition, and event sponsors Weyerhaeuser, Bedrock Sandals, Busy Bee IV, and Flathead Beacon.
Half Marathon
Sunday, October 8th - the Half Marathon will explore protected lands and scenic lakes in the Beaver Lakes area of the Whitefish Trail. Starting at the Whitefish Bike Retreat, runners will explore 100% single track around Rainbow Lake, Woods Lake, Dollar Lake, Little Beaver Lake. The half marathon course has a total elevation gain of around 2,000 feet. Final course and start times subject to change. All runners will receive FREE food and beverages, a custom race buff (neck gaiter), Hammer nutrition products, and a custom finisher patch. Awards to be announced.
10k+
Sunday October 8th - The 10k will start and finish at the Whitefish Bike Retreat and will take runners to the shore of Beaver Lake on the Whitefish Trail. This course has some sections of dirt roads. Total elevation gain for the 10k is around 750 feet. Final course and start times subject to change. All runners will receive FREE food and beverages, a custom race buff (neck gaiter), Hammer nutrition products, and a custom finisher patch. Awards to be announced.
5k+
Sunday October 8th - The 5k+ will start and end at the Whitefish Bike Retreat and will explore single-track on the South Beaver loop. This course is slightly longer than 5k at ~3.4 miles. Elevation gain for the 5k+ is approximately 500 feet. Final course and start times subject to change. All runners will receive FREE food and beverages, a custom race buff (neck gaiter), Hammer nutrition products, and a custom finisher patch. Awards to be announced.
Family Fun Run
Sunday October 8th - The family-fun run will start and end at the Whitefish Bike Retreat, exploring the Whitefish Trail and dirt forest access roads. This elevation gain for this 2-mile loop is approximately 250 feet. Final course and start times subject to change. All runners will receive FREE food and beverages, a custom race buff (neck gaiter), Hammer nutrition products, and a custom finisher patch. Awards to be announced.
About Whitefish
Whitefish Trail Blazer takes place in Whitefish, Montana, United States. The local timezone is America/Denver.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.