THE RUT 11K RACE

Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 7:30 AM START

This beautiful loop course follows along the lower and mid-mountain elevation single-track trails on Big Sky Mountain Resort. Runners will follow the 50k course in reverse along fir and white park pine forest before reaching a high point directly below the top of Andesite Mountain. From here you’ll be able to see Lone Peak and Headwaters Ridge. Runners will briefly follow a dirt road before a steep and wild descent down the Africa trail before connecting into Moosetracks and closing the loop back at the Big Sky Base Area.

11K Course Map

Aid Station (We are a cupless event)

There is one aid station located along the 11K course approx. 4.7 miles into the race, at the top of Andesite. It will be supplied with water, Skratch Labs electrolyte drink, first aid, and energetic volunteers.

By the Numbers

Distance: A short 11K (6.3 Miles)
Aid Station: 4.7 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1600 ft / 487 meters
Elevation Loss: 1600 ft / 487 meters
80% Single Track
20% Dirt Road

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WAVE STARTS

To limit congestion on the course, the 11K will have 8 wave starts separated by five minutes each. When participants sign up they share an estimated finishing time for their event. We then assign waves based on their estimated finishing time. We will send an email out to runners with their assigned wave. Also, runners’ waves will be on the back of their bib. Runners must start in their assigned wave. Help us in limiting congestion on the trails. Thank you!

*Overall awards will be based on the time from when the gun goes off with the first wave. Age group awards will be based on chip timing.

PRIZES

All 11K finishers will receive a unique finishers award.
Age group awards for age groups (Under 20, 20-29,30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)
Podium ceremony with awards designed by a local artist for our top five overall men, women, and non-binary athletes.

Course Markings (Purple Pin Flags)

This is not an orienteering race. The race organizers will do everything they can to have the course marked well for race participants on the day of the event. The Rut 11K will be marked with purple pin flags and signs with a Rut Logo on them.

Weather

Please be prepared for any type of weather. This is a challenging run on challenging terrain and the race organizers reserve the right to stop the race at any time should they deem the course unsafe due to weather.

Rut Policies & Rules

Learn more about all Rut Policies and Rules HERE

Rut Registration Policy

There will be no deferrals, transfers to other runners, or waitlists for any Rut race. No exceptions.
Distance Transfer - Our hope is for you to make it to a Rut starting line, even if it's not the one you originally intended. With this in mind Rut runers may move down in distance for certain events. We do not allow transfers into the VK. The 50K can transfer to the 28K, 21K, or 11K, but not the VK. The 28K can transfer to the 21K, or 11K, but not the 50K or VK. The 21K can transfer to the 11K, but not the 50K, 28K, or VK. The VK can transfer to the 11K only. The 11K cannot transfer to another event. Transfers must be completed no later than August 15th. A transfer in distance will be charged a $5 processing fee.
Pregnancy Policy - If you become pregnant, or adopt a child, after registering for a Rut race and cannot participate, you can use your race entry for up to 2 years after the original race date. To take advantage of this policy, you must contact the Rut Registration Director (registration@runtherut.com) by race weekend. Requests made after race weekend will not be honored.
Registration Cancellation Policy - If you need to cancel your race entry, we are happy to offer partial credit toward the following year's Rut. This helps us to balance the needs of our participants with the time and nonrecoverable expenses incurred in organizing our event. Credits are awarded based on the following tiered structure by date.
- Cancel by 11:59 PM on June 15th: 60% credit to the following year's Rut (e.g. If you spend $100 on a race this year, and decide to cancel, you will have $60 to go towards the following year's race registration for whatever distance you choose.)
- Cancel by 11:59 PM on August 15th : 40% credit to the following year's Rut (e.g. If you spend $100 on a race this year, and decide to cancel, you will have $40 to go towards the following years race registration for whatever distance you choose.)
How to Cancel Your Registration - To receive credit, runners must cancel their registration through their Runsignup account. Credits cannot be applied retroactively, and cancellations must be completed by the runner themselves.
- Important Details About Race Credit
  - Credits can only be used for the following year.
  - To ensure those with credits can enter into the following year's race, we will have a priority registration window available prior to registration opening to the public.
  - Once the event fills the credit can no longer be used.

Questions? Check out our Rut Registration FAQ's page.