Butte 100 Course Details
99.8 miles; ~16,600 ft. elevation gain; 10 aid stations
View interactive course map and elevation profile
Overview
The Butte 100 course consists of a figure-eight format on a “North Loop” and “South Loop,” guaranteeing racers never see the same trail twice.
Racers will begin heading north. The North Loop runs 52.2 miles and approximately 6,156 feet of climbing over mainly dual-track jeep trails. The diversity of trail environs will still be very evident; the north loop consists of dense wooded area with buff packed dirt, progressing to decomposed granite, and eventually a high altitude desert environment slogging through heavy sand at times. The first portion of the race will test nearly every facet of pure mountain bike skill.
After crossing back through the Start/Finish area, 100-milers go south. The South Loop is a crowd favorite with epic amounts of single track on the Continental Divide Trail, with sweeping views of the area’s mountains, and unparalleled athletic tests such as the notorious Basin Creek climb. Stats for the south loop check in at 47.5 miles with an elevation Gain of around ~8544 ft.
Start to Aid Station #1
5.5 miles; +1,006 ft.; 8 mi. cumulative
~3 mile Camp Caroline climb, old gravel roads, forest turning to decomposed granite sand
Aid Station #1 to #2
7.7 miles; +1,407 ft.; 15.7 mi. cumulative
-dual track, old gravel roads, transitioning from decomposed granite to packed sand
Aid Station #2 to #3
9.3 miles; +1,352 ft.; 25 mi. cumulative
~4 mile climb on double/single track, followed by 2 mile descent on gravel road
Packed to loose sand
Aid Station #3 to #4
10.7 miles; +1,665 ft.; 34.8 mi. cumulative
Epic 3 mile single track descent, quite sandy high altitude desert conditions
Aid Station #4 to #5
7.2 miles; +1,686 ft.; 42 mi. cumulative
Notorious decent to gully crossing after railroad bed
~ 5.5 mile climb to Aid Station
Aid Station #5 to #6 (Start/Finish)
10.5 miles; +1,599 ft.; 52.5 mi. cumulative
typically quite loose, sandy trail
Incorporated dual tracks this year
Riders must enter start/finish area and cross through timing chute
Start/Finish #6 to #7 (Thompson Park)
7.9 miles; +1,563 ft.; 60.4 mi. cumulative
Cross through time gate in the start/finish area.
Decomposed granite hard pack, gravel roads, ~1 mile concrete.
Technical 2 mile Black Tail Descent. Great single track climb and descent across MT Hwy 2, through Thompson Park roads to the Aid Station
Short ride on an asphalt connection, through a housing division to Black Tail Trailhead; 3 mi. climb and 3 mile descent to Hwy 2 crossing and Thompson Park area
Aid Station #7 to #8 (Basin Creek)
8.5 miles; +1,192 ft.; 68.9 mi. cumulative
Granitic to hard pack on climb, loose dirt to sand graduating to gravel road on descent
~3 mile climb to the chimney trail landmark. ~3 mile descent from single track to road- (watch for wash-outs) trail graduates to dual track, established double track, then gravel road into Basin Creek Aid station #8
Aid Station #8 to #9 (Highlands)
11.3 miles; +2,593 ft.; 81.2 mi. cumulative
Sandy, loose, ugly ~6 mile Basin Creek Climb
Join the CDT about 4 miles in- better trail conditions, epic flowy 4 miles on arguably the best section on the course.
Aid Station #9 to #10 (Hwy 2)
10.4 miles; +1,266 ft.; 92.6 mi. cumulative
Endless amount of packed CDT singletrack.
Section of trail know locally as “the 8 miles of hell” which, by all accounts, couldn’t be more inappropriately named after last year’s USFS trail rerouting-but the name stuck
3 steady climbs and descents all hovering around 8,000 feet of elevation.
Nice long descent to the Highway 2 aid station.
Those pulling in after 7:00 p.m. will no be allowed to continue, no exceptions.
Aid Station #10 to Finish
10.7 miles; +1,344 ft.; 102.3 mi. cumulative
~3 mile climb out of A.S.
~4 miles on popular trail section, weaving through boulders and catching glimpses of Butte on the way- be aware of other trail users
The trail will wrap around a small rise, go through a gate, and intersect with a road/bridge over interstate. Right Turn- Only 0.3 miles to the finish line!
