Guide to the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5K

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Millions of visitors flock to Yellowstone National Park each year, and for good reason. But only a select few experience its backcountry in the most unique way – by running the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k held annually in West Yellowstone, Montana. If you are looking for a different kind of vacation in the oldest National Park in the United States, this destination “runcation” is the answer!

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Guide to the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k

This isn’t just a race, it is an entire experience! One that involves exploring one of the most intriguing places in the country, and one that brings runners and adventurers together from across the country. And one that is perfectly orchestrated by a top notch running organization, and one that perfectly melds the beauty of Yellowstone with the high energy, morale, and excitement of an epic running event!

Here is a brief overview of the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5K:

Location: West Yellowstone, MT, in Gallatin National Forest
Date: second weekend in June (5k on Friday night / half marathon on Saturday morning – run them both for a Bison Double Challenge!)
Organization: Vacation Races
Distances: Half Marathon and 5k
Nearest Towns: West Yellowstone, Island Park, ID
Nearest Airport: Bozeman Airport
Stroller Friendly: No
Cost: $159 Half Marathon / $57 5K / $231 Bison Double
Register HERE!
Additional Info: Want to run 4 races in two back to back weekends, both set in National Parks? Take on the Grand Quad Challenge by running in the Grand Teton Half Marathon and 5k races during the 1st weekend in June, and then the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k the 2nd weekend in June, and explore all the best of both National Parks in between!)

Medals from the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k challenges

What to Expect from the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5K

Quick Facts:

Elevation: 6,990 feet

Elevation Gain: 582 feet

Terrain: Dirt

Course: Loop Trail

Rating: Moderate

Weather: morning temperatures can still start out in the 30’s, but averages tend to warm to the 50’s or even low 60’s. You may start out with a jacket in the morning, but you will likely want to shed it once you start running, and you will likely finish the race in balmy 50’s degrees temperatures. Snow is still a possibility at the beginning of June, so a lightweight waterproof shell is a suggestion. The weather can still be erratic this time of year, so it is important to keep an open mind and plan ahead. One year, it hailed at the start of my Yellowstone Half Marathon. One year, it was a perfect blue bird day.

Aid Stations: 6 aid stations with toilets, water, energy gels, first aid, and small snacks on occasion

***The Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k are cupless events, so you will need to have a portable water cup or system. You can also request a Nathan collapsible, reusable cup when you register.

Expo / Packet Pickup: held the Friday before the Half Marathon race at the Start Line location in West Yellowstone. If you are running in the 5k race held on Friday night, you can pick up your packet just prior to the 5k race. And don’t forget to grab your picture with the iconic blue “Vacation Races” sign while you are there!

Race Day Morning: during registration, you will select your estimated finish time, and will be pre-placed in a color coded “queque” or corral. You may line up with your color corral at the time of start, even though you will not be penalized if for some reason you do not. (One year I was using the bathroom and missed the start of my color corral, and had to join a later one – no big deal though!). The National Anthem will be sung, followed by brief announcements and energy from the crowd, runners, and spectators. It does take some time to release each of the corrals to start running, as they are staggered, so those in later corrals may be prepared to wait an additional 5 or 10 minutes after the official start time before their corral begins running.

There will be plenty of parking at the Start Line. Spectators are welcome at the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k, and its convenient location close to the main West Yellowstone road, as well as nearby hotels and lodging, makes it easy for spectators to access. Spectators are encouraged to cheer and greet their runners at the finish line!

***If you want other Race Day tips, check out this handy checklist!

Overview of the Yellowstone Half Marathon Course

The Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k are both trail races. They both start in West Yellowstone, Montana, just outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. For both courses, you will be running a brief stint through the town streets of West Yellowstone and trails just outside of town, before entering the trails of Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the backcountry of Yellowstone.

The first 3 miles of the Yellowstone Half Marathon are run both through the paved town streets of West Yellowstone and trails just outside town, before entering the forest. Expect locals, fans, friends, family, and other spectators on the streets of West Yellowstone, cheering you on and supporting you at the onset of this race!

The first 5 miles of the Yellowstone Half Marathon course are relatively flat, with the section of greatest incline coming between miles 5 and 6. At mile 5, runners cross the South Fork Madison River, and then take on the majority of the hills in the forest. Mile 6 is a challenging uphill, followed by a welcome downhill.

By mile 7, the course is deep in the forest, and though it has flattened out, it does gain some in technicality with a less defined path, and more weeds, rocks, tree roots, etc.

Miles 8, 9, and 10 contain either small portions of flat and/or downhills. Mile 11 has one small hill, and then mile 12 is a final coast on flat trail to the finish line!

Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k — *Yellowstone Half Marathon finish!*

Running the Yellowstone Half Marathon course is truly a once in a lifetime experience and a completely unique way to witness the wilderness of Yellowstone. You may even spot wildlife along the course. During my 2023 race, a black bear was even spotted in the deep forest just off the course – don’t worry, no runners were ever in real danger! He was quite content to be spotted for several seconds before disappearing again into the thick growth of Gallatin National Forest. But that just goes to show how unique and deeply rooted to the surroundings this National Park race really is!

If you choose to run the Yellowstone 5k event also, thus completing the Bison Double Challenge, you will run a mini loop version of the full Yellowstone Half Marathon course, starting with the first paved portion in town, and the later portions running through trails and through the forest. The Yellowstone 5k is a great way to enjoy the camaraderie of this running event, while getting in a great warm up before the big race the following morning!

Preparing for the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k

What do you need to do to prepare for running the Yellowstone Half Marathon and/or 5k?

First, because these are both trail races, you will want to train and run in trail running shoes, like my favorites, Hoka One One Speedgoats.

Second, you will want to stick to a training program and physically get ready in the months before the Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k, by following a training calendar, like this 16 week half marathon training calendar.

Lastly, this is dubbed a destination “runcation” for a reason, so don’t forget to include an Yellowstone itinerary around your race, that includes all the best things to do in the area!

Need some inspiration? Keep reading!

What Else to Do in the Yellowstone Area

This running event is set in Yellowstone National Park, so you have a plethora of options to explore outside of running. I would recommend giving yourself an itinerary of several extra days in the area in order to not only run the race, but to see all the one of a kind things in Yellowstone, and truly get the most out of the entire Yellowstone Half Marathon and 5k experience!

Here are a few of my favorite things to do in the Yellowstone area:

Favorite Hikes in Yellowstone National Park and Surrounding Area:

Norris Geyser Basin
Fountain Paint Pots
Artist Paint Pots
Old Faithful
Gibbon Falls
Harlequin Lake
Midway Geyser Basin
Grand Prismatic Springs
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and Artists Point
Targhee National Forest: Mesa Falls
Grand Teton National Park: Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, Leigh Lake, Phelps Lake, Taggart Lake