Big Sky Biggie
2024 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.
Watch the Overview Video
50 Mile Course
Total Miles: Approx 47 miles
85% Singletrack
Around 7,500′ + Elevation Gain
Average Estimated Finish Time: between 5 and 7 hours (Fastest is 4.5 hours / Slowest is 8.5 hours)
We’ve shrunk our previous 60 mile course down to 50 miles. IT IS STILL VERY HARD!
We have an improved start wave and neutral roll-out schedule. You’ll climb Huff’s Trek to the Big Sky Resort base area, and then climb the Coolridge trail, before descending the famous Mountain to Meadow. Your first Aid Station will be located at the bottom of Mountain to Meadow. From there we will be routing you up to the Spanish Peaks neighborhood with a paved road climb, and then you’ll ride some single-track on your way to Fishcamp. After Fishcamp, you’ll hit Aid Station #2, and from there you’ll start out to do the infamous Mules Loop. We swap the direction of the Yellowmules Loop each year and for 2024 you’ll be riding the Mules in the counter-clockwise direction: Up Second Yellowmule and Down First Yellowmule – giddyup!
NEW! Downhill Timed Segment on First Yellowmule. Read about the Mule Skinner Award »
Note: There is a 12pm Time Cut-Off at Aid Station #2. Read more »
30 Mile Course
Total Miles: Approx 31 miles this year
85% Singletrack
Around 4,500′ + 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 very similar to the 2023 course with a few changes. You’ll climb Huff’s Trek to the Big Sky Resort base area, and then climb the Coolridge trail, before descending the famous Mountain to Meadow. Your first Aid Station will be located at the bottom of Mountain to Meadow. From there we will be routing you up to the Spanish Peaks neighborhood with a paved road climb, and then you’ll ride some single-track on your way to Fishcamp. The Fishcamp descent will be the MonTANNER DH Timed Segment which includes a little bit of pedaling to keep it real. Your second (and final) Aid Station is at the end of this timed segment. The finish into town travels through First Yellow Mule -> Ralph’s -> Uplands — and includes a new fun downhill flow section!
15 Mile Course
This course is perfect for beginners and juniors. This year’s course is approximately 14 mile and 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. The finish into town travels through First Yellow Mule -> Ralph’s -> Uplands — and includes a new fun downhill flow section!
Your Aid Station
There is one Aid Station on your course, about 2/3 of the way through your course. This Aid Station is also known as Aid Station #2 (because it’s the second aid station in the 30 and 50 mile courses). 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 50 Mile Course is at Aid Station #2 at 12:00pm
If 50 Mile racers have not arrived to Aid Station #2(Critical Junction) by 12pm, 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.