THE RUT 28K RACE

Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 8 AM START

Welcome to the Rut 28K! There are sections of this course, including the ascent and traverse of Headwaters ridge, as well as the ascent and descent of Lone Peak, which are extremely steep and technical with sections of exposure and rockfall hazard. A fall in these sections could result in injury or death. The responsibility falls on the participant to have the skills to traverse these areas safely. Do not let the distance fool you. This is a true mountain course so please treat it with the respect it deserves! We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the course terrain before registering for this event. If you are interested in the 28K but just don’t feel ready for it, we suggest checking out our 21K course.

*MANDATORY GEAR IS REQUIRED FOR ALL 28K RUT RUNNERS. LEARN MORE HERE

28K Course Map

Aid Stations & Cut-off Times (We are a cupless event)

There are 3 fully stocked and 1 hydration-only aid station along the 28K course. They will be supplied with water, Skratch Labs goodies, sweet and salty snacks, first aid, and energetic volunteers!

Headwaters Bowl: Mile 3.9 (Cut off time of 10:15 AM)
Swiftcurrent: Mile 9.4 (Cut off time of 12:15 PM)
Summit: Mile 10.5 (Cut off time 1:45 PM)
Moosetracks: (Mile 14.6) (Cut off time of 3:15 PM)
Finish Line: (Mile 17.6) (Cut off time of 4:30 PM)

*Cut-off times will be strictly enforced for the safety of the runners and the volunteers. Cutoff times are the same regardless of your wave start time. Also, time has been added to cutoffs as the event has grown and waves have been added. While it is true that those in wave one have more time, we have based out cutoffs on the start time of the final wave. This is the best option forward as it is of the utmost important for the on trail experience to allow those who have faster estimated times to begin first to limit the amount of passing on the trail. Thank you in advance for helping us limit congestion on the trails!

Skratch Labs products you can expect on the course:

Anytime Energy Bars:

Peanut Butter + Chocolate Chip (new flavor!)
Cherries & Pistachios

Sport Energy Chews

Raspberry
Orange

Sport Hydration Mix

Lemon & Lime
Strawberry Lemonade

By the Numbers

17.8 Miles | 28 Kilometers
7600 ft. | 2195 Meters of elevation gain!
Low Point: 7,500 ft | 2286 Meters
High Point: 11,166ft | 3403 Meters
3 fully stocked aid stations, 1 hydration-only station.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PRIZES

All 28K finishers will receive a unique finishers award.
Awards for top three in each age group (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.

Cash prizes for the top 3 overall men and women of the 28K!

First: $3000 (USD)
Second: $1000 (USD)
Third: $500 (USD)

WAVE STARTS

To limit congestion on the course, the 28K will have wave starts. 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. Note that cut-off times will be strictly enforced for the safety of the runners and the volunteers. Cutoff times are the same regardless of your wave start time. Also, time has been added to cutoffs as the event has grown and waves have been added. While it is true that those in wave one have more time, we have added time to all the cutoffs with the later wave starts in mind. This is the best option forward as it is of the utmost important for the on trail experience to allow those who have faster estimated times to begin first to limit the amount of passing on the trail. Thank you in advance for helping us limit congestion on the trails!

*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.

Crewing/Spectating

There will be no crewing of runners allowed. You are, however, highly encouraged to get out on the course and see your runners as much as possible and cheer for them! See our spectator page to learn more.

Dropping out

You must inform a race official if you drop out of the race.

28K Course Markings (Blue 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. Off-trail sections of the course will be marked in a way that race participants should be able to see from each course marking to the next to help guide them along the course. During the on-trail sections of the course, runners must stay on the trail. No switchback cutting! The 28K will be marked with blue flagging.

Course Reconnaissance

We welcome you to check out the Rut course prior to the event, but please be aware that you cannot go on downhill mountain biking trails other than on race day. It is unsafe to do so. Please check out Big Sky Resorts’ summer trails map to see what trails allow running and hiking before heading up to the resort.

Weather

Please be prepared for any type of weather. Though weather in Big Sky is relatively mild and stable in mid-September historically, we are still in the mountains and conditions can quickly change. 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. The race organizers will have a 28K Plan B course, which will not take race participants into exposed alpine terrain, should extreme weather exist on race day.

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.