Yellowstone Gateway 30K

🏞️ Event Overview

Yellowstone Gateway 30K runners will know why “Yellowstone is more Valuable than Gold”!

🏃‍♂️ General Description

This race, renowned for its unique beauty, spans just over 18 miles. It starts at the 2024 MICHELIN Guide awarded Sage Lodge trails, with a 10-mile climb that steadily increases in steepness, followed by an exhilarating 8-mile downhill that gradually eases in gradient. The entire course is off-road, with no pavement in sight. Instead, participants traverse a mix of trails, gravel roads, USFS dirt roads, and scree-covered jeep paths. The upper elevations in Emigrant Gulch are an out and back, and the rest of the race is point to point. The initial miles take runners through the rolling grasslands of the Paradise Valley foothills, near the Yellowstone River. From there, they ascend a deep gorge alongside the rushing Emigrant Creek, reaching a high point 2,609 feet above the starting elevation. At the high aid station, turn and take in stunning views of Emigrant Peak and the Snowy Block Mountains of the Western Beartooths. The course then makes a wild descent along Emigrant Creek, passing through the historic mining settlement of Old Chico. The race concludes on foothill trails, finishing at the legendary and renowned Chico Hot Springs Resort.

📅 Details

• Start Location: At the start at the Sage Lodge, you will run double track trails over rolling foothills past the historic Chico Cemetery, then past the historic Yellowstone City gold settlement (c. 1864-1866) where some of the first gold seekers came to Montana to find fortune.
• Course Path: Continue to Old Chico and turn right up Emigrant Gulch and begin climbing up an increasingly steep gorge cut by a dirt/scree jeep road between steep canyon walls and past abandoned mines and where a recent industrial gold mine was halted when local residents and the federal government decided that “Yellowstone is more valuable than gold.”
• River Crossings: Your feet will get wet crossing Emigrant Creek and the East Fork of Emigrant Creek on the way up and again on the way down.
• Elevation Points: The elevation varies from 4,966 feet at the start at the Sage Lodge in Emigrant to 7,618 feet at the top aid station east of Emigrant Peak, and 5,250 feet at the finish at Chico Hot Springs in Pray Montana.

🎒 Packet Pick-Up

• Early Pickup: Early packet pickup time and location will be announced as we get closer to race day but is usually in Livingston at the Park County Environmental Council office on the Friday before race day.
• Race Day: Sun (9/21) 7:30 AM-8:45 AM -- Sage Lodge Mud Room (55 Sage Lodge Drive, Pray, MT)

💧 Aid Stations

There are three aid stations on the 30K course. Each aid station will be stocked with water, Tailwind Nutrition Fuel drink, gels, and various standard trail food. Pack your own nutrition if you have specific needs. This is a cup-less race so you must bring your own bottle or bladder for water/Tailwind, and we recommend wearing a trail running vest or waist pack to carry your bottles, layers, and snacks.

⏰ Cutoff Times

Cutoff times are established for the consideration of our volunteers, but they are generous, allowing participants to average 20-minute miles, equivalent to a fast hike, and adjusted for climbing and descending pace. See aid station information below for specific cutoff times.

1. Old Chico Aid Station: 3.8 miles from the start
2. Emigrant Gulch Aid Station: 7.0 miles
3. St. Julian turnaround: 10 miles. Cutoff time 12:45 pm
4. Emigrant Gulch Aid Station: 13.0 miles Cutoff time 1:45 pm
5. Old Chico Aid Station: 16.0 miles Cutoff time 2:35 pm
6. Chico Finish! 18.2 miles

⚠️ Safety

Running downhill on steep rocky slopes can be hazardous and you can roll an ankle or take a fall. Emigrant Creek is ankle to shin deep at the crossing and while the current won’t wash you away, the rocks are slick underfoot and you could fall. We picked September because it is often awesome for running but it could be cold and snowy or hot and dry, on race day. Check the Point forecast for Emigrant Gulch frequently as race day approaches for the latest forecasts. This is not a closed course and there may be off road vehicle users recreating in the Gulch. Please exhibit mutual courtesy. We will have warning signs up, encouraging any motorized users to watch for runners. Park County Search and Rescue Volunteers will be on the course with off road vehicles to assist if you become ill or injured and require assistance to evacuate.

🌱 Our Commitment to Sustainability

• Cupless: You must bring your own cup/water bottle/hydration pack.
• Reducing Waste: At the post-race picnic, Happy Trash Can will help us to compost and reduce our footprint.

🔍 Course Markings

The course will be well marked with flags, cones, and paint. Race volunteers will be at critical junctions to ensure that no one makes a wrong turn.

👟 Shoes, Terrain, and Equipment

The upper part of the course is very rocky and uneven in places. Trail shoes are the best choice. If you like poles, they will help you on the steep uphill and downhill sections and water crossings, but they are a matter of choice and not required. Water depth at both crossings is often ankle to calf deep. Less than half of our participants carry poles, but they can help you keep your feet dryer by allowing you to balance on rocks without falling, if you have a comfortable way to carry them when not needed.

🐻 Bear Spray

There will be a lot of runners and volunteers and some machines on the course which is a deterrent to bears. You may wish to carry bear spray in your pack or hand for protection in some of the upper sections that are less frequented by humans, but it is not required. The aid station volunteers, and SAR teams travel noisily through there in trucks and ATVs prior to the start so that will alert any animals to humans.

🚗 Parking

Due to limited parking at the start at Sage Lodge, we encourage you to take the free and short shuttle to from Chico to Sage Lodge before the race unless you have someone who can drop you at the start. Parking for the shuttle is at the “Field of Dreams” parking lot above the Day Spa at Chico Hot Springs and you will walk down the stairs to the shuttle pick up. Signs and attendants will direct runners to the parking lot at Field of Dreams.

🚌 Shuttle

The shuttle Bus will depart Chico “Field of Dreams” Parking area above the Day Spa at the following times: 7:10 am, 7:30 am, 7:50 am, 8:10 am, and 8:30 am. Any schedule changes will be announced in emails prior to the race.

🎒 Drop Bag Transport

Participants are encouraged to bring a bag to drop at the start at the Sage Lodge. Your drop bags will be taken to the finish line and will be stored at the finish line prior to the first finisher's arrival. Please write your name and phone number on your drop bag. If you leave any articles of clothing with aid station volunteers, they will return to the finish but may not arrive until after 3:30 pm.

🥇 Prizes

Everyone will receive a Yellowstone Gateway 30K hat with the Lynx logo. Awards for top