Goat Rattler 100 — Course Recon: What You Need to Know Before You Toe the Line

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There are races that test your fitness. And then there are races that test whether you belong out there at all.

The Goat Rattler 100 is the second kind.

101.78 miles through the Wasatch Range above Ogden, Utah. 21,600 feet of climbing. Two summit zones above 9,000 feet. A mandatory car shuttle at mile 48.8 where they blast Beastie Boys' Sabotage while you drive to the next trailhead. A 40-mile stretch with zero crew access. And a finish that still asks you to climb 1,200 feet in the final 6 miles.

2025 finishers called it harder than Bear 100 and harder than Wasatch. That's not hype. That's what the course demands.

If you're toeing the line at Goat Rattler, here's everything you need to know — aid station by aid station, segment by segment, and every crew logistics detail that will make or break your race.

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The Numbers

| Stat | Value |
|------|-------|
| Distance | 101.78 miles |
| Elevation Gain | 21,600 ft |
| Elevation Loss | 20,800 ft |
| High Point | 9,667 ft (Ben Lomond summit area, ~Mile 77) |
| Low Point | ~4,400 ft |
| Start Elevation | 4,704 ft |
| Finish Elevation | 5,802 ft |
| Singletrack | 96% |
| Cutoff | 36 hours |
| Start | McGriff Park, North Ogden, UT |
| Finish | Cutler Flats, North Ogden, UT |

[Race Website →](https://enjoythejourneyevents.com/goat-rattler-100)

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Elevation Profile

[COURSE_ELEVATION:goat-rattler-100]

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What Makes This Race Different

Before we get into the segments, here are the things that set Goat Rattler apart from every other hundred you've run:

The Mandatory Shuttle. At mile 48.8 you reach the Pineview Dam. There is no trail connection. You get in a car and shuttle ~1.5 miles to the next trailhead. This is not optional. If you bypass it, you're disqualified. They play Beastie Boys' Sabotage while you drive. It is the most unhinged aid station in ultrarunning and it is mandatory.

40 Miles Without Crew. From Lewis Saddle (mile 61.5) through the Ben Lomond summit zone and out to the North Fork Horse Corral (mile 90.6), your crew cannot reach you. That's nearly 30 miles of self-sufficiency at the hardest point of the race. If your crew is at Willard Campground (AS10, mile 80.3), they need a 4x4 high-clearance vehicle — there is no paved road.

Two Summit Zones. The first comes early — you crest 9,275 feet around mile 25 during the climb to Needles Lodge. The second is the crux of the entire race: miles 77–84 above 9,000 feet, topping out at 9,667 feet at the race high point. In September, these sections at night will be cold. Plan for temperatures in the 30s with wind.

It Never Stops Climbing. At mile 90, you're still climbing. At mile 95, you're still climbing. The final 6.5 miles to the finish include 1,200 feet of gain. There is no coasting home.

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Aid Station Strategy

Here's the part most runners don't plan until they're standing at the aid station, exhausted, trying to remember what they need. HARDN's Crew Dashboard lets you map out every aid station in advance — what you'll eat, what's in your drop bag, what your crew needs to hand you, and how long you plan to spend there.

[COURSE_AID_STATIONS:goat-rattler-100]

For Goat Rattler 100, the aid station strategy is critical because of how crew access works:

Nature Center North (Mile 7.55) — Your crew holds at Mount Lewis Park until you're 10 minutes out. First check-in. Keep it fast.

Needles Lodge (Mile 26.59) — No road access. Crew can only reach it via gondola. This is the only crew option at this station. Plan your drop bag accordingly — you won't have hands-on crew support here.

Lower Maples (Mile 39.71) — First pacer pickup. This is where you want to set up a full crew stop. Change socks, eat a real meal, swap bottles. Your pacer joins you here.

Pineview Dam Shuttle (Mile 48.8) — Mandatory shuttle. DQ if bypassed. The car ride is a mental break — change your shirt, eat something solid, regroup.

Lewis Saddle (Mile 61.55 & 66.17) — Remote out-and-back. No crew, no drop bags. You hit this station twice. Carry everything you need for the 15-mile stretch.

Willard Campground (Mile 80.33) — Rough dirt road — 4x4 high clearance required. If your crew is meeting you here, they need the right vehicle. This is deep in the summit zone.

Ben Lomond Saddle (Mile 75.57 & 84.47) — Very remote. No crew access. You're above 8,600 feet both times you hit this station. Carry layers and calories.

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3D Flyover

[COURSE_FLYOVER:goat-rattler-100]

Watch the course unfold on satellite terrain before you run it. The flyover loads the GPX onto satellite imagery with elevation exaggeration so you can see exactly where the big climbs hit, where the descents drop, and what the summit zones look like from above. Run it at 4x to get the big picture, then go back at 1x through the sections that scare you.

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[COURSE_SEGMENTS_TABLE:goat-rattler-100]

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Segment-by-Segment Breakdown

Segment 1: Start → AS1 Nature Center North — Miles 0–7.55

Effort: Conserve | Terrain: Rolling Singletrack | Elevation: +1,229 ft / -1,489 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:0]

The first 1.14 miles are on road before you hit singletrack. Then it's rolling terrain through the foothills. Deceptively technical. Don't let the "easy" start fool you into going out too hard — the real race doesn't start for another 15 miles.

How to race it: Conversational pace. Set a heart rate ceiling and stick to it. You have 94 more miles after this.

Nutrition timing: Start eating at mile 3, not mile 7. Get your stomach working before the first big climb. Aim for 200-250 calories per hour from the gun.

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Segment 2: AS1 → AS2 Skyline / Weber State — Miles 7.55–16.83

Effort: Steady | Terrain: Foothills Climb | Elevation: +1,658 ft / -1,251 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:1]

A net climb through the foothills that builds toward what's coming. The terrain is manageable but the gain is steady. You're building a wall of vertical and you haven't even started the real climbing yet.

How to race it: Stay patient. This is banking time for the climbs ahead. Don't chase pace — chase efficiency.

Nutrition timing: Take in calories consistently — you need fuel loaded before mile 17 when the first major climb begins. Top off fluids at AS2, it's the last easy crew access before Needles.

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Segment 3: AS2 → AS3 Needles Lodge — Miles 16.83–26.59

Effort: Conserve | Terrain: Sustained Major Climb | Elevation: +5,263 ft / -1,394 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:2]

This is the first major climb. 5,200+ feet of gain in under 10 miles. You'll crest around 9,275 feet. This is where the race announces what it actually is.

Needles Lodge (AS3) has no road access. Crew can only reach it via gondola. Plan your drop bag strategy accordingly — you won't have crew support here in any meaningful way.

How to race it: Hike this. All of it. Power-hiking the big climbs is not weakness — it's how you finish a hundred. Keep your heart rate in zone 2. Eat at every switchback. Poles are mandatory here.

Nutrition timing: You're burning through glycogen at an enormous rate on this climb. Force calories every 20 minutes. If gels are getting old, switch to real food. You need a full tank for the descent ahead.

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Segment 4: AS3 → AS4 Green Pond — Miles 26.59–36.71

Effort: Controlled | Terrain: Long Descent | Elevation: +243 ft / -2,639 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:3]

Long descent. Over 2,600 feet of drop. This is where your quads start paying for every foot you climbed. The temptation is to bomb the downhill — don't. You have 65 miles left and two more major climbs.

How to race it: Protect your legs. Short, controlled steps. This descent determines whether you have quads at mile 80 or not. Think of this as a quad savings account — every step you control now pays dividends in the Ben Lomond summit zone.

Nutrition timing: Easy to eat on descents. Get calories in. Top off everything at Green Pond — it's a full crew access point.

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Segment 5: AS4 → AS5 Lower Maples — Miles 36.71–39.71

Effort: Easy | Terrain: Short Connector | Elevation: +328 ft / -683 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:4]

Short connector. Three miles. This is your last chance to set up before the long middle section. Your pacer can join you at AS5 — this is the first pickup point.

How to race it: Use this short section to reset. Change socks, adjust your pack, eat a real meal at AS5. You're about to enter the longest no-crew stretch.

Nutrition timing: Eat a real meal at AS5. Quesadilla, PB&J, whatever your stomach wants. Load up — the next crew access is 11+ miles away.

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Segment 6: AS5 → AS6 Ard Nord (via Shuttle) — Miles 39.71–51.2

Effort: Steady | Terrain: Rolling + Mandatory Shuttle | Elevation: +1,706 ft / -2,182 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:5]

The longest segment without crew access. At mile 48.8, you hit the Pineview Dam shuttle — the mandatory car ride with Beastie Boys. Then you continue to Ard Nord at mile 51.2 where your crew can meet you again.

How to race it: Carry enough nutrition and fluid for 11+ miles. The shuttle is a mental break — use it. Change your shirt in the car. Eat something solid. Then get back to work.

Nutrition timing: You should be 8-10 hours in. Whatever your stomach can handle, eat it. The shuttle car ride is a perfect time to eat real food — take advantage of not moving.

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Segment 7: AS6 → AS7 Lewis Saddle — Miles 51.2–61.55

Effort: Conserve | Terrain: Major Sustained Climb | Elevation: +3,158 ft / -729 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:6]

The second major climb. 3,100+ feet of gain starting at mile 51. You're climbing to nearly 8,000 feet when your legs have already done 50 miles of mountain terrain. This is where most runners find out whether their training was honest.

Lewis Saddle is remote. No crew. No drop bags. You hit it on the way out and again on the way back.

How to race it: March. Poles if you have them. Don't look at the summit — just the next 100 meters. Eat continuously. You need calories in your system for the Ben Lomond push later.

Nutrition timing: Force yourself to eat every 20 minutes. You won't want to. Do it anyway. The summit zone at mile 77 will punish you if you're in a calorie deficit.

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Segment 8: AS7 Out-and-Back — Miles 61.55–66.17

Effort: Steady | Terrain: Rolling Out-and-Back | Elevation: +840 ft / -832 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:7]

Out-and-back from Lewis Saddle. No crew. Remote trail. This is a mental grind — you're running to a turnaround point and coming back to the same place.

How to race it: Stay present. Use the out-and-back to count runners ahead and behind you. Stay social. Talk to people going the other direction. It helps.

Nutrition timing: Keep the rhythm going. You're deep into the race now — consistency is survival.

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Segment 9: AS7 → AS8 N. Ogden Divide — Miles 66.17–69.08

Effort: Controlled | Terrain: Fast Descent | Elevation: +167 ft / -1,923 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:8]

Fast, punishing descent. Nearly 2,000 feet of drop in under 3 miles. Your quads will scream. N. Ogden Divide is the first crew access in a long time — your people will be there.

How to race it: Don't try to make up time here. Control the descent. You need your legs for what's coming — the Ben Lomond summit zone.

Nutrition timing: Eat on the way down. Top off everything at AS8 — your crew is here. This is your last reliable crew point before a long stretch of remote high country.

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Segment 10: AS8 → AS9 Ben Lomond Saddle — Miles 69.08–75.57

Effort: Conserve | Terrain: Sustained Major Climb | Elevation: +2,603 ft / -84 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:9]

Nearly all climbing. 2,600 feet of gain with almost no loss. You're climbing to 8,693 feet at the gateway to the summit zone. This is the approach to the hardest section of the race.

How to race it: Hike. Eat. Stay warm — you're entering high country and it's probably dark by now. September nights above 8,000 feet in the Wasatch can drop into the 30s.

Nutrition timing: Layer up and eat. Warm broth if you have it. Your body is burning calories to stay warm now, not just to move.

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Segment 11: AS9 → AS10 Willard Campground — Miles 75.57–80.33

Effort: Survival | Terrain: Summit Zone | Elevation: +1,227 ft / -1,210 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:10]

Summit zone. Above 9,000 feet. Night running. Exposed. If your crew is meeting you at Willard Campground, they need a 4x4 high-clearance vehicle. There is no paved access.

How to race it: Layers. Headlamp with fresh batteries. This is survival running. Forward progress is the only metric that matters.

Nutrition timing: Whatever you can get down. Calorie-dense options — nuts, candy, anything. You're burning through fuel at altitude in the cold.

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Segment 12: AS10 → AS11 Ben Lomond Saddle Return — Miles 80.33–84.47

Effort: Maximum | Terrain: Summit Climb (Race Crux) | Elevation: +1,116 ft / -976 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:11]

The crux of the race. The race high point of 9,667 feet is in this segment. You're at mile 80+, in the dark, above 9,000 feet, with over 1,100 feet of climbing. This is where Goat Rattler earns its reputation.

How to race it: One foot in front of the other. This is the pain cave. You trained for this. Stay warm, stay fueled, stay moving. Don't sit down. Don't stop.

Nutrition timing: Eat anything. Everything. You need every calorie you can get for the massive descent ahead.

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Segment 13: AS11 → AS12 N. Fork Horse Corral — Miles 84.47–90.65

Effort: Controlled | Terrain: Massive Descent | Elevation: +26 ft / -3,128 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:12]

Massive descent. 3,100 feet of drop in 6.2 miles. After the summit zone, your legs are wrecked and now you're dropping fast. This descent will either break you or set you free.

How to race it: Poles down. Short steps. Your crew is waiting at the bottom. Get there in one piece. Don't rush — a twisted ankle at mile 87 ends your race.

Nutrition timing: Your crew is at AS12. Eat real food when you get there. You have 11 miles left with 2,300 feet of climbing still to go.

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Segment 14: AS12 → AS13 Mule Ear — Miles 90.65–95.27

Effort: Push | Terrain: Climb at Mile 90 | Elevation: +1,091 ft / -853 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:13]

You're at mile 90 and the course is still climbing. Over 1,000 feet of gain. This is what makes Goat Rattler different from most hundreds — there is no easy finish.

How to race it: You're almost there. But "almost" is 11 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing. Don't celebrate yet. Keep eating, keep moving. Your pacer is your best friend here.

Nutrition timing: Last meal opportunity. Eat at AS13. You have 6.5 miles to the finish.

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Segment 15: AS13 → Finish Cutler Flats — Miles 95.27–101.78

Effort: Everything | Terrain: Final Climb + Descent | Elevation: +1,206 ft / -1,389 ft

[COURSE_SEGMENT:goat-rattler-100:14]

The final 6.5 miles. 1,200 feet of climbing. The course doesn't let you coast home. You will earn every step of this finish.

How to race it: This is why you trained. This is why you did the hill repeats and the back-to-back long runs. Leave everything on the trail. Cutler Flats is waiting.

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Crew & Logistics Cheat Sheet

Key crew access points: AS1 (mile 7.5), AS2 (mile 16.8), AS4 (mile 36.7), AS5 (mile 39.7), AS6 (mile 51.2), AS8 (mile 69.1), AS12 (mile 90.6), AS13 (mile 95.3), Finish.

No crew access: AS3 Needles (gondola only), AS7 Lewis Saddle (both passes), AS9 Ben Lomond Saddle, AS11 Ben Lomond Saddle return.

4x4 required: AS10 Willard Campground — rough dirt road, high clearance only. Do not attempt in a sedan.

Pacer pickups: AS5 Lower Maples (mile 39.7) is the first. Also available at AS6, AS8, AS10, AS12, AS13.

The Shuttle: Mile 48.8 at Pineview Dam. Mandatory ~1.5-mile car shuttle. You will be disqualified if you bypass it. They blast Beastie Boys. It's incredible.

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Weather & Gear

September in the Wasatch above 9,000 feet means cold nights. Plan for:

- Summit zones (miles 25 and 77–84): Temperatures in the 30s°F with wind. Bring a windproof layer, gloves, and a beanie. If you're in the Ben Lomond summit zone at night, hypothermia is a real risk.
- Lower sections: Can still be warm during the day. Layer system is critical.
- Rain/snow possibility: September storms happen. Bring a waterproof shell.
- Mandatory gear: Check the race website for the current mandatory gear list. Expect it to include rain jacket, headlamp (x2), emergency blanket.

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The Bottom Line

Goat Rattler 100 is not a race you show up to hoping it works out. It demands preparation, crew planning, and the kind of fitness that comes from months of honest mountain training.

The course never lets you relax. It climbs when you're fresh and it climbs when you're destroyed. It takes away your crew when you need them most. It sends you above 9,000 feet in the dark. And it still asks you to climb in the final miles.

But if you do the work — if you train the vert, plan the logistics, and prepare your crew — you'll cross the line at Cutler Flats knowing you finished one of the hardest hundreds in the country.

Break free.

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