Saturday, Sep 27, 2025

Run the Red Desert

South Pass City, WY

South Pass City, WY 50K, 25K

Registration Opens Wed. Jan 1, 2025 @ 12:00 AM MT

About

Originally conceived to honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the 30th anniversary of the Wyoming Wilderness Act, Run the Red has become an annual celebration of Wyoming’s Red Desert.

The Lander Running Club, in partnership with The Wyoming Wilderness Association, invite runners and their families to experience this unique landscape, starting and finishing at South Pass City. The Red Desert contains countless opportunities for enjoying wild spaces, including Wilderness Study Areas, the longest ungulate migration route in the lower 48 states, and more. Run the Red is Wyoming’s most unique ultra-marathon dedicated to conserving the vast, rugged, and historical landscape of the Red Desert. Runners will experience one of the last undeveloped high desert steppe ecosystems in the country while celebrating the importance of maintaining a contiguous desert landscape for Wyoming's heritage, wildlife, and recreational benefits.

The Run the Red Desert Trail Races were completely new and redesigned in 2019. This year's races will start and end at the South Pass City Historic Site, and will be loop courses that feature the spectacular northern portion of Wyoming's Red Desert with views of the iconic Continental Peak and Oregon Buttes. Run the Red is designed to be a remote and wild wilderness experience that is sprinkled with history at every turn.

Courses

50 KM- Starting at 8:00 AM, you will enjoy sunrise over the canyon walls while leaving South Pass City. You will quickly exhibit the state park boundaries and continue on the Continental Divide Trail. Climbing a bit first, you'll drop down to Pulmetto Gulch, where you will hop some rocks to cross Willow Creek. Gear up as you make your way up to the top of the canyon to get your first views of the open Red Desert and Wind River Mountains. In not long, you'll pass by the historic cemetery as you get closer to your first aid station. Buckle up as you make your way towards the Sweetwater River with massive views of Oregon Buttes. Before you know it, you will begin your way back north with the Wind River Range in your back drop. Your final aid station will welcome you after a quick little rock scramble. Enjoy the beautiful rock formations and re-enter the state park boundary while following Willow Creek back to South Pass City.

25 KM- Starting at 10:00 AM, the sun will be high in the sky providing some warth at South Pass City. You will quickly exhibit the state park boundaries and continue on the Continental Divide Trail. Climbing a bit first, you'll drop down to Pulmetto Gulch, where you will hop some rocks to cross Willow Creek. Gear up on as you make your way up to the top of the canyon to get your first views of the open Red Desert and Wind River Mountains. In not long, you'll pass by the historic cemetery as you get closer to your first aid station. At this point, you will leave the 50K course and continue your way on a old railroad bed. Soon you will meet back with the 50K and your final aid station will welcome you after a quick little rock scramble. Enjoy the beautiful rock formations and re-enter the state park boundary while following Willow Creek back to South Pass City.

Kids Race- This is a fun and exciting 30 minute looped race for kids of all ages. Kids will have the opportunity to enjoy the sites of South Pass City while running with their friends and family. Each kid will collect a bracelet after each lap and can make the decision when to stop. Kids run for free and signup will happen onsite.

Registration and Rollovers

Registration will open January 1 and close on September 22. Distances changes and bib transfers must be complete by September 22.

If you canceled your registration from the previous year's race, you have received rollover credit for the amount you spent on your previous registration. In order to use that credit, you must re-register before the race has met its capacity to secure your spot. Please register with your account or with the same email address you used in the past.

For questions relating to how to edit or cancel your registration, please visit UltraSignup's Runner Support Page: https://help.ultrasignup.com/docs-category/runner-assistance/

Applying Rollovers: https://help.ultrasignup.com/guides/runner-assistance/using-your-credits-rollovers/
Edit Registration: https://help.ultrasignup.com/guides/runner-assistance/edit-your-race-registration/

About South Pass City

South Pass City is a historic gold mining town nestled between the Northern Red Desert and the Southern Wind River Mountains. It is the current home to several residents and serves as our start and finish. Family and friends can enjoy the exhibits that are maintained by the Wyoming State Park services along. For your planning, the nearest gas station is either 35 miles North in Lander or 45 miles south in Farson. Please visit the South Pass CIty website to learn more about this fantastic destination spot. https://www.southpasscity.org/

Event's current local time: 10:24 AM MT

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