John Colter Run – Three Forks, MT 2026

Race day is September 19, 2026 , and will start at 9:00 am sharp when the ole 50 caliber Hawkins black powder rifle goes off. The Race begins and ends at the Missouri Headwaters State Park – one mile south of Trident and about 6 miles northeast of Three Forks, MT. Take Exit 278 off I-90. Follow signs to Headwaters State Park and Trident. Parking is limited. Please carpool. The Course: The course is approximately 7 miles long, with the first mile and a half on a paved/gravel country road, and the remaining 5.5 miles on mostly rugged trails, just like it was when Lewis and Clark came through here. The trail portion is relatively rough but suited for cross-country running. There are two railroad crossings. BNSF will stop ALL trains at the first crossing just after the start where we will have a crossing guard. They only do this for two events in Montana! The second crossing goes UNDER the railroad tracks and by the time you get there the trains will be running again. You MUST go under the