The Rut Mountain Runs

The Rut Mountain Runs A true Montana mountain running celebration
2026 SEPT 11-13
Registrations open JAN 6th, 2026, 8am MT
VK, 11K, 21K, 28K, 50K, & 1K Runt Run
Big Sky, Montana

05/28/2026

Registration for the Rut Training Runs, August 1st in Big Sky, are open!
The Rut Training Runs are designed to offer you the chance to get acquainted with sections of the Rut courses in a supported and non-competitive environment.

Full details and registration via our link in bio

We offer a 6-mile route which highlights the latter half of the 21K course, an 8.5-mile route which showcases the Lone Peak climb and descent used by the 28K and 50K, and a longer 13.5-mile option which mostly follows the last half of the 50K. Each route will be marked with Rut flagging and have aid stations for you to get the nourishment you need along your run.

At a glance:
📅Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026

📍Location: Big Sky Resort | Big Sky, Montana

💲Cost: $30 (Until July 29th) | $37 (July 29th – August 1st)

What is included in your registration

👉A marked course to follow from start to finish.
👉Aid stations are staffed by friendly volunteers and stocked with nutrition products and drinks.
👉The opportunity to familiarize yourself with sections of your Rut race course in a non-competitive and supported environment.
👉The confidence gained from experiencing the course before race day!
👉Finish line aid station with snacks and beverages.
👉The North Face Shoe Demos

Schedule
7:00-9:00 am: Runner Check-in in Big Sky Resort Plaza
8:00 am: Lone Peak and Andesite Zone 13.5 Mile Route Start
8:30 am: Lone Peak Climb and Descent 8.5 Mile Route Start
9:00 am: Andesite Zone 6 Mile Route Start

Register via our link in bio.

Thank you to everyone who came out amidst some stormy weather this week to help us resurface sections of the M trail as ...
05/25/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out amidst some stormy weather this week to help us resurface sections of the M trail as part of our Missoula Community Night.

Taking care of the places we love and recreate on is something we care deeply about, and it’s a joy to bring opportunities for the community to come together and carry heavy buckets of dirt up a mountain in the name of restoration!

It’s perfect training for your Rut race, we promise.

Thanks again!

05/19/2026

TOMORROW 4pm is our Missoula Run & Restore Community Night | May 20th | "M" Trailhead

This year we're trying something new, and we need your help.
We're hosting a trail work night on Montana's most iconic trail, the M Trail on Mt. Sentinel. With all the love this trail gets, the lower section is due for some restoration, and we're partnering with Friends of the 'M' Trail to make it happen.

We'll follow the trail work with group runs (flat or steep options available), shoe demos from and cap the night off with pizza, drinks from and a raffle.

Oh, and the first 50 people to show up for trail work get a free pair of socks. Tough socks for tough trail builders. 🧦

📅 Wednesday, May 20th 📍 "M" Trailhead, Missoula
4:15–5:30 | Trail Stewardship
5:30–6:00 | Shoe demos + partner booths
6:00–7:00 | Group Runs
7:00–8:00 | Pizza, Drinks & Raffle

This event is FREE and open to everyone, Rut runner or not. But we do need you to sign up so we can plan accordingly. We hope you’ll join us!

Details and link to register in bio.

05/19/2026

Applications for our inaugural Rut Grants will be closing this week, May 20th!

Without a strong community or healthy landscapes, the Rut wouldn’t exist. Period.

The Rut Grants, designed to give back to the people and places that sustain the sport of trail running - beyond racing.

We’ve committed $8,000 in this inaugural year, and our partners at have generously matched it, bringing the total grant pool to $16,000!

Grants will range from $500 to $3,500.

What do the grants fund? Think trail stewardship, creative storytelling, youth programs, and expanding access to the sport.

Please share this with individuals and organizations helping shape the future of trail running.

More details and applications via our link in bio.
Again, applications close May 20th, so don't delay your application!

05/14/2026

🏔️ Missoula Run & Restore Community Night | May 20th | "M" Trailhead

This year we're trying something new, and we need your help.
We're hosting a trail work night on Montana's most iconic trail, the M Trail on Mt. Sentinel. With all the love this trail gets, the lower section is due for some restoration, and we're partnering with Friends of the 'M' Trail to make it happen.

We'll follow the trail work with group runs (flat or steep options available), shoe demos from and cap the night off with pizza, drinks from and a raffle.

Oh, and the first 50 people to show up for trail work get a free pair of socks. Tough socks for tough trail builders. 🧦

📅 Wednesday, May 20th 📍 "M" Trailhead, Missoula
4:15–5:30 | Trail Stewardship
5:30–6:00 | Shoe demos + partner booths
6:00–7:00 | Group Runs
7:00–8:00 | Pizza, Drinks & Raffle

This event is FREE and open to everyone, Rut runner or not. But we do need you to sign up so we can plan accordingly. We hope you’ll join us!
Details and link to register in bio.

05/11/2026

4 MONTHS TO GO!
Strength Training with Coach Bailey from

It's simple, do these exercises 1-2 times per week.

And you'll be stronger, more injury resistant and even more ready for your time on the trails at The Rut!

Be sure to check out the programs and expert advice offered by The Mountain Project if you want to incorporate strength and conditioning into your weekly training and RUT preparation.

05/06/2026

We want to hear from you!

Last week we launched The Rut Grants, designed to give back to the people and places that sustain the sport of trail running - beyond racing.

We’ve committed $8,000 in this inaugural year, and our partners at have generously matched it, bringing the total grant pool to $16,000!

Grants will range from $500 to $3,500.

What do the grants fund? Think trail stewardship, creative storytelling, youth programs, and expanding access to the sport.

Please share this with individuals and organizations helping shape the future of trail running.

Details via our link in bio. Applications close May 20.

We're thrilled to announce that registration for the 2026 Rut Volunteer is now open! The Rut would not be possible witho...
05/04/2026

We're thrilled to announce that registration for the 2026 Rut Volunteer is now open! The Rut would not be possible without the support of hundreds of dedicated volunteers who join us in Big Sky each year.

From assisting with packet pick up, sweeping the course, helping at aid stations, and even handing out finish line medals, there are countless ways for our community to come together and cheer on the thousands of Rut runners as they chase their dreams.

As a token of our gratitude, every 2026 Rut volunteer will receive:

👉Priority registration for the 2027 Rut Mountain Runs, giving you early access before it opens to the public.

👉A stylish 2025 Rut Volunteer T-shirt to commemorate your participation.

👉Grab-and-go food options to keep you well fueled for the job.

👉A scenic lift ride pass for Big Sky Resort lifts,

👉A complimentary beverage from Big Sky Brewing

👉The priceless experience of supporting and celebrating Rut runners as they chase their potential up, down, and around Lone Peak.

Head to the link in bio to see all available roles and sign up!

And THANK YOU in advance to all our amazing volunteers!

We're thrilled to welcome Trust for Public Lands as our newest Rut partner. While it’s only become official in 2026, w...
02/26/2026

We're thrilled to welcome Trust for Public Lands as our newest Rut partner.

While it’s only become official in 2026, we have long admired the work of TPL in ensuring that lands and trails remain protected and accessible for all.

To date, they’ve helped protect more than 1 million acres of public land across Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, supporting the places that make running, biking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and quiet moments outdoors possible.

If you see the Northern Rockies Director, David Weinstein (picture #5) or another TPL team member along the course this September, be sure to ask them about any of the following:

•⁠ ⁠TPL’s vision for the Yellowstone Heritage Trail, a 56-mile trail connecting Livingston to Yellowstone’s North Entrance through Paradise Valley

•⁠ ⁠Their work alongside Tribal and Indigenous communities on parks, trails, and schoolyards across the Northern Rockies

•⁠ ⁠Why public lands matter for wildlife, local economies, and the health of communities in Montana and beyond

We’re proud to have TPL alongside us, helping keep these landscapes accessible, connected, and cared for.

Learn more at

Address

50 Big Sky Resort Road
Big Sky, MT
59716

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Rut Mountain Runs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share