About the Big Sky Marathon
The course runs almost entirely downhill, dropping from the high plateau of the Gravelly Range through the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and down a steep switchback section that will work your quads hard. After that descent, the road flattens onto a gravel valley floor before hitting pavement near a fish hatchery and finishing at a bridge over the Madison River. Most of the route sees little to no traffic.
This race is designed to pair with the Madison Marathon the day before, so the field skews toward runners chasing back-to-back marathon weekends. The finish is at Varney Bridge on the river, not in town, so plan your post-race logistics accordingly. Both a full and a half are offered, with the half starting further down the mountain for a straighter shot to the finish.
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Distances & Start Times
26.2 Miles7/11/2027 07:00$100
13.1 Miles7/11/2027 09:00$80
50K7/11/2027 06:30$110
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Not sure what to aim for? The marathon pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Ennis — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
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