Western States 100

The course begins at the base of Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) with an immediate 2,500-foot climb to Emigrant Pass at 8,750 feet — the highest point on the course and a rude awakening at mile 4. From there, the route follows the Western States Trail through the granite high country before beginning a long, relentless descent into the American River canyons. By the time you reach the river crossings at Rucky Chucky (mile 78), you’ve dropped nearly 7,000 feet from the high point. The final 22 miles from the river to the Placer High School track in Auburn are a mix of exposed canyon trail and rolling singletrack, often run in the dark and in searing heat that radiates off the canyon walls. The course rewards patient runners who respect the heat and manage their effort through the long middle miles. The canyons are beautiful and unforgiving in equal measure.