Elkhorn Mountains, MT (near Helena), Montana
A brutal, remote 50-miler in Montana's Elkhorn Mountains, put on by HURL from the Willard Creek Trailhead. 37 miles of very technical singletrack, 13 miles of jeep road, and roughly 12,000+ feet of climbing with a high point just under 9,000 ft. Six big climbs, a pass through the Elkhorn ghost town, and tight cutoffs make it one of the toughest 50s in the northern Rockies.
| Name | Mile | Elevation | Crew Access | Drop Bag | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Park | 6.1 | 7,790 ft | No | No | — |
| Tizer Lake | 13 | 7,700 ft | No | No | — |
| Elkhorn Town | 20 | 6,620 ft | No | Yes | 11:30 AM |
| Skyline Mine | 26 | 8,690 ft | No | No | 2:15 PM |
| Guard Station | 32 | 6,880 ft | No | No | 4:00 PM |
| Elk Park (2nd visit) | 36.6 | 7,760 ft | No | No | 5:30 PM |
| Tepee Creek | 40.1 | 5,780 ft | No | No | 7:00 PM |
| McClellan Creek | 46 | 5,250 ft | No | No | 8:45 PM |
| Segment | Miles | Terrain | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start → Elk Park | 0–6.1 | climb | hard | Big opening climb — +2,610 ft in 6 miles. Settle in; you climb all day. |
| Elk Park → Tizer Lake | 6.1–13 | rolling | hard | High, rolling technical singletrack near the crest. +1,362 / −1,462 ft. |
| Tizer Lake → Elkhorn Town | 13–20 | descent | hard | Up to ~8,450 then a long drop to the Elkhorn ghost town. Drop bags + 11:30 AM cutoff. |
| Elkhorn Town → Skyline Mine | 20–26 | climb | extreme | THE CRUX: +2,396 ft to the 8,690 ft high point at Skyline Mine. |
| Skyline Mine → Guard Station | 26–32 | descent | hard | Long −2,355 ft descent off the high point. Save the quads. |
| Guard Station → Elk Park | 32–36.6 | climb | hard | Back up +1,378 ft to Elk Park (second visit). 5:30 PM cutoff. |
| Elk Park → Tepee Creek | 36.6–40.1 | descent | hard | Steep −2,086 ft plunge to Tepee Creek. |
| Tepee Creek → McClellan Creek | 40.1–46 | rolling | hard | A sting late: +1,524 / −2,053 ft of rough rolling terrain. 8:45 PM cutoff. |
| McClellan Creek → Finish | 46–50.3 | rolling | moderate | Final +833 ft back to Willard Creek. Beat the 10 PM cutoff. |
View the full interactive elevation profile, 3D course flyover, and race strategy tools on HARDN.