The Yellowstone Gateway 30K starts at 9:00 AM in Pray, Montana, giving you a reasonable window to arrive the morning of the race without requiring an early pre-dawn departure. This trail running event covers 18.2 miles and takes place at 163 Chico Road, positioning you near the northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Entry fees range from $65 to $75. If you're traveling to this September race, factor in that Pray sits in south-central Montana, a remote area where accommodation options may be limited. Book lodging well ahead and confirm driving time from your hotel to the venue, as mountain roads can add travel time, especially if conditions are variable in late summer.
From the Race Organizer
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, climbs 2,609 ft, and descends 2,366 ft. 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: 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. 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.” 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. After turning around at the aid station near the closed St. Julian Mine (c. 1906) you will descend out of the gulch, turn right at Old Chico Road and join the Chico Hot Springs Ranch 635 trails to the finish at Chico Hot Springs. The elevation varies from 4,966 feet at the start at the Sage Lodge in Emigrant to 7,6180 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 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. Aid Stations Old Chico Aid Station: 3.8 miles from the start Emigrant Gulch Aid Station: 7.0 miles St. Julian turnaround: 10 miles. Cutoff time * 12:45 pm Emigrant Gulch Aid Station: 13.0 miles Cutoff time *1:45 pm Old Chico Aid Station: 16.0 miles Cutoff time *2:35 pm 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: Yellowstone Gateway 30K is a race that takes you through some of the most beautiful country in the greater Yellowstone area. This is our backyard. This is your public land. As Directors and racers, we choose to tread lightly and steward the landscape responsibility. Cupless - You must bring your own cup/water bottle/hydration
