bighorn 32 mile

These directions and distances are estimated. A final description will be available at the pre-race briefing.

Course Elevation at the start 7650 feet

The 32M course begins just above the HEAD OF THE DRY FORK aid station and proceeds north and to your left climbing about 500 feet up the 4-wheel drive road. Panoramic views in all directions will greet you as you follow the ridge to Riley Point. If you look down to your left you are viewing the Dry Fork Drainage where later you will be joining the 50 mile course for the remainder of the race. At about 6 miles the course drops steeply for a mile into Miller Creek before reaching the COW CAMP AID STATION, at mile 7 and 6750 feet. This is where you join the 52 mile course.

      The aid station is fully supplied for the 6 mile gradual climb back to the HEAD OF THE DRYFORK aid station at mile 14. After leaving the aid station the course proceeds up the Freeze Out road, following trails and a gravel road cresting on Camp Creek Ridge at 8,100 feet. It then descends down Sheep Creek drainage to 7,300 feet on a four-wheel drive road. After running about 5 Miles from the Dry Fork station will reach the fully supplied UPPER SHEEP CREEK aid station (18 mile Checkpoint) . Next is the summit of Horse Creek Ridge at 8,000 feet, following trails and primitive four-wheel drive roads, which will then drop you into Tongue River Canyon. Take a moment to view the canyon and the distant plains before you descend the trail through seas of wildflowers.

      LOWER SHEEP CREEK aid station at mile 24 and 5025 feet, is a good place to fill your bottles before entering the sometimes hot canyon below. Continuing on to the TONGUE RIVER aid station at mile 26.2 and approximately 4375 feet you will leave the trail and run on a relatively flat gravel road for the remainder of the distance. At about mile 29 is the final aid station, HOMESTRETCH aid station. Continue on and just as you are entering Dayton you will cross the Tongue River on a rustic footbridge. Runners then cross Highway 14 and proceed into town making a left onto 3rd street. Go one block and make a left onto Broadway and into Scott Park where the FINISH and picnic gala await you.

Bighorn Trail Run Aid Stations are famous in the Trail Running spectrum. We are known for our extravagant aid station supplies! Cow Camp station is known as the "bacon station". Other aid stations have featured items as well. In past years items such as shrimp cocktail, egg McMuffins, and McDonald's cheeseburgers, and many other tasty goodies were served! Below is a chart of 32M Aid Stations. The type of station varies from Minimal, Moderate, or Major.   

Mile Elevation 6600'    Moderate Aid    No Crew/Pacers  

Mile Elevation 7480'   Major Aid    Crew/Pacers Allowed    Drop Bags AllowedMedical Check  

Mile Elevation 7450'   Moderate Aid    No Crew/Pacers  

Mile Elevation 5025'    Minimal Aid    No Crew/Pacers  

Mile Elevation 4240'    Moderate Aid    Crew by BIKE ONLY   

Mile Elevation 4040'   Moderate Aid   Crew by BIKE ONLY  

Mile 50 Elevation 3970'    Major Aid    Drop Bags Allowed