Big Sky Biggie
2023 Courses
First, this race would not be possible without the cooperation and generosity of several land owners and managers in the Big Sky area. Our courses travel in and out of private and public lands. Putting the routes together, while being mindful of hazards, roads, horse traffic, easements and just good ole’ fashioned manners was not easy. There were numerous conversations, edits, phone calls, meetings, more edits, and then more favors being asked.
The best way to get familiar with our course maps is to use the Trailforks App and view the course maps within Trailforks. You can see the embedded course maps below. We also have provided a summary of all the courses layered on top of each other to provide some context for how each distance fits within the overall map.
60 Mile Course
Revised course file and description – updated on July 18, 2023
Grab the race course file at Trailforks »
Total Miles: Approx 58 miles this year
85% Singletrack
Around 8,600′ + Elevation Gain
Average Finish Time: between 7 and 8 hours (Fastest is 5.5 hours / Slowest is 9.5 hours)
This could be the best 60 Mile course to date. There are several changes from the previous years, so please read carefully.
We have an improved start waive and neutral roll-out schedule. You’ll ride a new piece of singletrack that connects the Poop Chute doubletrack to the Big Sky Resort Mountain Village. You’ll descend a brand-spanking-new Mountain to Meadow trail. And you’ll sample some of the private trails in the Spanish Peaks Community. On top of all that, you’ll be riding the Yellow Mule loop in the opposite direction – Up First Yellow Mule and Down Second Yellow Mule.
Note: There is a 1pm Time Cut-Off at Aid Station #3. Read more »
30 Mile Course for 2023
Revised course file and description – updated on July 20, 2023
Grab the race course file at Trailforks »
Total Miles: Approx 32 miles this year
85% Singletrack
Around 4,200′ + Elevation Gain
Average Finish Time: between 3.5 and 4 hours (Fastest is sub 3 hours / Slowest is 6 hours)
The 30 mile course is similar to the 2022 course, but with one spectacular update! We have added an entirely new section in the Spanish Peaks neighborhood between the bottom of Mountain to Meadow and Fishcamp. Our 2023 course includes a brand new Mountain to Meadow track, Fish Camp, and the same finish into town via First Yellow Mule -> Ralph’s -> Uplands -> Hummocks.
TWO WAIVE STARTS
8:00am: If you think you’ll finish in 4 hours or earlier, lineup for the 8am start.
8:30am: If you think you’ll be finish later than 4 hours, lineup for the 8:30am start.
15 Mile Course
This course is perfect for beginners and juniors. This 15-mile loop features all the best town trails. Almost all of the climbing on this course will be done at the beginning on pavement, although there is one sneaky switchback section on Ralph’s Pass that’ll raise your heart-rate.
Your Aid Station
There is one Aid Station on your course, right at the halfway mark. This Aid Station is also known as Aid Station #3 (because it’s the third aid station in the full 60 mile course). This Aid Station will be stocked with water, Skratch hydration, and snacks. There are no spectators allowed at this Aid Station. Period. The footprint for this aid station is very small. Having extra traffic or vehicles attempting to access this Aid Station poses a safety risk for the entire field of racers, and puts our permit in jeopardy.
Time Cut-Offs
Look, nobody wants to pull you from the race. Our whole mission is to provide you with an amazing day on the bike and watch you succeed. However, we have 9 different use permits and agreement with land-owners for this event, which require us to vacate their land so that their normal daily operations may continue. We rely on volunteers who donate their entire day to the event. But we need to have their safety in mind and will not ask them to stay out on the course for longer than is reasonable. We ask that you have these priorities in mind if we ask you to scratch from the event.
Time cut-off for the 60 Mile Course is at Aid Station #3 at 1:00pm
If 60 Mile racers have not arrived to Aid Station #3 (Critical Junction) by 1:00pm, then they will be routed to the finish, using the 30 mile course. They will be a DNF for their event.
There are no official time cut-offs for the 30 or 15 Mile Courses at this time.
However, if our safety team and sweepers determine that it’s in the best interest of the race for you to scratch at a certain point, we will ask you to do so.