RACE OVERVIEW

The Black Hills 100 is a challenging ultramarathon held on the Centennial Trail (Trail #89) in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota. Featuring over 16,000 feet of elevation gain for the 100M event, the race follows an out and back course, beginning and ending in legendary Sturgis, SD. What the Black Hills lack in altitude, they make up for in relentless hills that offer a unique challenge compared to other western ultras.

Course Overview

  • Surface: Dirt, rocks, single-track trail, double-track ATV trail, as little pavement as possible.
  • Course: Centennial Trail (Trail #89) and Deerfield Trail (Trail #40)
  • Elevation Profile: Up. Then down. Then up again. Repeat.
  • Host Town: Sturgis, South Dakota
  • Average Late June Weather: High of 79 degrees, low of 53 degrees, chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Fun Facts

  • The Centennial Trail was created in 1989 in recognition of South Dakota’s centennial, hence the trail’s name and number. Originally a mixture of single-track trail and old logging roads, over the past 30 years the trail has been rerouted numerous times to create a mostly single-track route. At 111+ miles, it is the longest trail in South Dakota.
  • The top three men and women in the 100 mile race receive a hand painted buffalo skull designed by a local Native American artist. Runners can also earn the special Man/Woman in Black skull by completing each of the four distances we offer (30K, 50K, 50M and 100M). The buffalo skull is also the symbol that appears on Centennial Trail markers and is the inspiration for our race logo.
  • Sturgis, our host town, is home of the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which draws upwards of half a million bikers each August.

Learn about Sturgis, South Dakota

Event Distances
Event Media

Reviews

Our Awesome Sponsors!