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The Western States ® 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race.

The Western States ® 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. In the decades since its inception in 1974, Western States has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.

Traversing the traditional lands of the Nisenan, Washoe, and other neighboring Indigenous Peoples, the Western States Trail climbs more than 18,000 feet and descends nearly 23,000 feet before runners reach the finish at Placer High School in Auburn. In the miles between Olympic Valley and Auburn, runners experience the majestic high country of Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, the crucible of the canyons of the California gold country, a memorable crossing of the ice-cold waters of the Middle Fork of the American River, and finally the historic reddish brown trails that led many travelers, including gold prospectors, to Auburn.

For five decades, Western States has been home to some of the sport’s most stirring and legendary competitions. With more than 1,500 dedicated volunteers helping to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Run continues to ignite the spirit of runners from all walks of life, from all over the globe.

Offering the sport’s oldest and most prized possession – a sub-24-hour silver belt buckle and a sub-30-hour bronze belt buckle – Western States remains one of the undisputed crown jewels of human endurance.

June 23, 2026 in General Interest, Race News

2026 Western States 100 Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Trent, WSER Media Relations, press@wser.org PAST CHAMPIONS WALMSLEY, JORNET RETURN AS WELL AS DEFENDING WOMEN’S CHAMPION ABBY HALL FOR 53RD WSER AUBURN, Calif. – Defending women’s champion Abby Hall as well as four-time men’s champion Jim Walmsley and 2011 champion Kilian Jornet, generally considered the greatest ultra runner of all-time, headline one of the most competitive fields ever assembled this weekend with the 53rd running of the Western States Endurance Run (WSER). Western States starts on Saturday, June 27 at 5 a.m. at Palisades Tahoe Resort, at Olympic Valley, California. The world’s oldest trail 100 miler…
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June 5, 2026 in Race News

YueZou Culture Partnership

The Western States Endurance Run (WSER) and YueZou Culture have entered into an exclusive media licensing agreement for the Chinese-speaking region, marking a new step in bringing one of the world’s most iconic trail and ultrarunning events closer to Chinese runners and trail running communities. WSER is one of the most historic and influential 100-mile trail races in the world. With its deep heritage, challenging course, and strong community spirit, the event continues to inspire trail and ultrarunning communities globally. YueZou Culture is a Shanghai-based running and outdoor sports media company with a strong presence in China’s running community. Through…
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January 14, 2026 in General Interest, Race News

WESTERN STATES, STRIDE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

The Western States Endurance Run (WSER) and a new non-profit trail running organization, Support for Trail Running Inclusion Development and Empowerment (STRIDE), have entered into a sponsorship agreement to further the development of trail and ultra runners as they navigate one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Through its partnership with Western States, STRIDE will be making available grants to provide needs-based financial support to trail and ultra runners who demonstrate commitment, perseverance and community spirit but face financial or logistical challenges that could limit their participation. STRIDE grants are available for trail or ultra runners of all abilities and experience…
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Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute

Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute Project – 2025 Update

2026 Trail Work Opportunities

The Western States Endurance Run (WSER), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service’s American River Ranger District (USFS) and the Western States Trail Foundation (WSTF), have made significant progress towards completing a project in Granite Chief Wilderness that will yield over 7 miles of new and rehabilitated trail. The existing trail was never really designed, contained unsustainable grades, and traversed stretches of sensitive habitat. The new trail was designed to current USFS trail building standards, has been re-routed out of sensitive habitat, and is higher up on the ridge with commanding views of area. After years of planning the project was approved in 2019. The USFS secured $1,200,000 in funding through the Great American Outdoors Act, and with an additional commitment of funding by WSER and WSTF construction began in the summer of 2023. In spite of a short 3-month snow-free construction season, the USFS, its contractors, and WSER & WSTF volunteers have made substantial progress these last 3 summers, and hope to have a significant portion of the new trail open for use in 2026, with the balance of the new trail open in 2028. Click here for more info.