Denali Ultras
Click here for the Denali135
Click here for the Denali50k
General Info
Alaska…….Denali……Big, Wild & Wide Open Places.
With 20,310’ tall Denali and surrounding Alaska Range Mountains and glaciers as its backdrop, the 135 Mile Denali Highway is the setting for the spectacular Denali135, Denali100K & Denali50K Endurance Races. The Denali Highway was the original and only road into Denali National Park from 1957 until 1971 and it is still as breathtaking and jaw dropping today as it was more than 50 years ago.
Hardy and qualified adventurous athletes from around the World are invited to challenge themselves during the Denali100K along the half length of the historic gravel road from scenic Alpine Creek Lodge to Cantwell Alaska…. Adjacent to the entrance to Denali National Park.
Superlative panoramic vistas reach out for miles in every direction bathed in the nearly 20hrs of arctic daylight each day during the race. National Geographic rightly called the Denali Highway one of the top ten most scenic roads in North America.
The Denali100k will be limited to 50 runners and their crew and pacers.
Registration Info
Registration Deadlines
Registration
September 5th 2024 Registration Opens.
May 1 or when 50 runners have registered 2025 Registration Closes.
May 1st 2025 Qualifying races must be submitted.
Registration Details
**Runners will be informed of their registration acceptance if they are received along with their qualifying race info.
*** Runners Info Package and Crew & Pacer Rules will be sent within 30 days of their registration acceptance. Once runners are accepted, they will be responsible for passing the Crew & Pacer Rules onto their respective crews and pacers.
**There will be no refunds for the Denali135,Denali100K or Denali50K races. Possible deferments to the next year’s race may…MAY…be made at the sole discretion of the race director. As you can imagine, significant logistics are involved in organization of this race and so we simply are unable to make refunds…..deferments possibly…refunds…sorry.
Race Schedule
Denali100K Race Schedule
June 21st – Mandatory Pre-Race Briefing at Alpine Creek Lodge at 5pm
June 21st – 6:00pm Race Start at starting line at Alpine Creek Lodge.
June 22nd – Noon Race Cut-off at finish line near Cantwell end of Denali Highway.
June 23rd – 6:00pm Post Race Party and Dinner at Denali Education Center in Talkeetna.
Nuts and Bolts
Race Format & Time Cut-Offs
Individual runners with mandatory support crew and optional pacers.
Maximum of 18hrs allotted to complete the Denali100K
See cut off times on the Schedule & Logistics page.
Pacers and Crew
Each runner must be accompanied by a support vehicle/crew who can supply food and water and support to the runner during and throughout the race. One pacer at a time may also accompany the runner. This pacer can also share in crewing/driving the support vehicle.
Support Vehicle and Crew & Pacer Rules/Details will be sent to runners within 30 days of their registrations being accepted.
Awards
Runners completing the Denali100K course in 18hrs or under will receive a one of a kind handmade shed Alaskan Moose antler Denali100K belt buckle and Denali100K finishers shirt. There will be overall men’s and women’s winners special awards as well.
To Qualify
Denali100K Applicants must have completed at least one 50K race and two marathons in the previous 2 years or be able to prove to the Race Director that they have sufficient training to have a reasonably good chance of completing the race within the allotted time.
Qualifying races must have been completed within the maximum time allotted for the race.
The Denali100K has the same runner and crew cap of 50 runners.
Denali100k Course
The Denali100K is also a point to point race which starts at approx. halfway across the Denali Highway at the Alpine Creek Lodge and then heads west before finishing outside Cantwell Alaska at the same finish line as the Denali135 runners.
Denali100K Runners. Runners and crews will check in at the Alpine Creek Lodge no later than 1hour before (5PM) the start of the race which is at at 6PM on June 21st.
The amazing subalpine scenery begins when racers and crew start at Alpine Creek Lodge at mile 68. The lodge offers rooms and cabins, restaurant and light supplies.
Racers, pacers and their crews press on until they reach the Susitna River Bridge at mile 79.5.
A few miles further at mile 82.2 is Clearwater Mountain Lodge. Bed& Breakfast, Food, Gas and Tire repair. Leaving the Susitna River Valley, the road continues on now with no services or lodging until the end. Runners, pacers and crew need to plan this section well because other than the road and occasional passing motorist, they will be alone on the Denali Highway for the next 50 miles until they reach the finish outside Cantwell. Mount Deborah and Hess keep participants company until, weather permitting, 20,320’ Denali makes it’s appearance to the west and rewards the persistent with jaw dropping views of North America’s tallest peak.
Event's current local time: 8:45 PM AK