Black Hills 100 2027 Guide: Course, Aid Stations, Cutoffs and Pacers
Quick answer: The Black Hills 100 runs June 25 and 26, 2027 on the Centennial and Deerfield Trails near Sturgis, South Dakota. The 100 mile starts Friday at 10:00 AM from Sturgis City Park and is an out and back to Silver City; the 50 mile (6:00 AM), 50K (8:00 AM) and 30K (9:00 AM) start Saturday and run point to point back to Sturgis. Every distance has the same final cutoff, 8:00 PM Saturday. The race says the 100 is really closer to 105 miles (108 on UltraSignup) with 16,779 feet of climbing on rocky single track, and the longest gap between aid stations is 8 miles.
Black Hills 100 2027 at a glance
| Item | 100 Mile | 50 Mile | 50K | 30K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Fri June 25, 10:00 AM, Sturgis City Park | Sat June 26, 6:00 AM, Silver City | Sat, 8:00 AM, Dalton Lake | Sat, 9:00 AM, Runkle Road |
| Course | Out and back | Point to point | Point to point | Point to point |
| Race distance (aid table) | 105 mi | 52.5 mi | 31.5 mi | 19 mi |
| Total climb | 16,779 ft | 6,700 ft | 3,891 ft | 2,363 ft |
| Time limit | 34 hours | 14 hours | 12 hours | 11 hours |
| Fee | $400 | $200 | $175 | $150 |
From the race's official website and UltraSignup page, read October 12, 2026. Fees are before taxes and fees. Registration is open on UltraSignup from September 1, 2026; the website says it closes June 1, 2027 and UltraSignup says May 31 at 11:59 PM MT. No refunds; in extenuating circumstances an entry can roll to the next year. Climbing figures are the course section of the website and come from the race's GPS tracks; the website's quick info block gives different figures for the shorter races. The race is directed by Ryan Phillips and Chris Stores and run under permit with the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
The course
The races use the Centennial and Deerfield Trails, "Single Track Dirt, Rocky," with constant ups and downs and a few creek crossings through prairie and forest. The race is blunt about distance: "our 100 mile course is closer to 105 miles," and on UltraSignup "really closer to 108." It also warns that "this course will almost certainly be harder than you think it will." The Centennial Trail is a shared use trail, open to hikers, horses and mountain bikes.
Aid stations and the gaps between them
The 100 mile has 8 aid stations, 7 of them visited twice. Mileages are from the website; UltraSignup lists the drop bag stations at slightly different miles.
| 100 mile aid station | Mile out / back | Miles to next (outbound) | Access | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis City Park | 0 / 105 | 7 | Start and finish | 8:00 PM Sat |
| Alkali Creek | 7 / 98 | 4.5 | Crew | 6:30 PM |
| Bulldog | 11.5 / 93.5 | 6 | No crew access | 4:30 PM |
| Elk Creek | 17.5 / 87.5 | 6.5 | Drop bag | 2:30 PM |
| Crooked Tree | 24 / 81 | 7 | No crew access | 12:30 PM |
| Dalton Lake | 31 / 74 | 8 | Drop bag | 10:30 AM |
| Nemo / Boxelder Creek | 39 / 66 | 6 | Crew | 7:45 AM |
| Pilot Knob | 45 / 60 | 7.5 | Crew | 6:00 AM |
| Silver City (turnaround) | 52.5 | Drop bag, pacers join | 3:30 AM |
The cutoffs listed are for the return trip on Saturday. The longest gap is the 8 miles between Dalton Lake and Nemo / Boxelder Creek, in both directions; several others are 7 to 7.5 miles. The shorter races start partway along this line and run back to Sturgis: the 50 mile from Silver City, the 50K from Dalton Lake through Crooked Tree, Elk Creek, Bulldog and Alkali Creek, and the 30K from Runkle Road through Elk Creek, Bulldog and Alkali Creek. Bulldog and Crooked Tree are not crew accessible. The race's pages we read do not list what each station serves, and the state's trail brochure notes that "Drinking water is not readily available along the Trail," so carry what you need between stations.
What to carry: With 6 to 8 mile gaps on rocky trail and a chance of heat or afternoon storms, plan water by the time to the next refill, as in How Much Water Should I Carry Trail Running? The 100 mile also runs through the night, and "No muling" means you carry your own supplies, not your pacer. The ROOT8 has twin 500ml front flask pockets and room for a headlamp, a rain layer and food. For the 30K or 50K the ROOT5 comes with two 500ml soft flasks (1L total) and room for a phone, fuel and a light layer. The race does not state a cup policy on its pages.
Cutoffs
"Cut-off Time for All Distances is 8 PM Saturday": 34 hours for the 100, 14 for the 50 mile, 12 for the 50K and 11 for the 30K. 100 mile runners must leave Silver City, the turnaround, by 3:30 AM Saturday, 17.5 hours after the start by our calculation, then meet the Saturday cutoffs on the way back. 50 mile cutoffs run from Pilot Knob at 8:30 AM to Alkali Creek at 6:30 PM.
Pacers, crew, drop bags and rules
- 100 mile pacers may join at Silver City (mile 52.5) or any later manned aid station, one at a time, wearing a PACER bib. Runners over 60 may have a pacer for the full distance. No pacers in the shorter races unless approved before the race.
- "No muling. Runners must carry their own supplies and not use their pacer as a pack mule."
- "Any runner accepting a ride for any reason is out of the race."
- "ABSOLUTELY NO LITTERING! You will be disqualified if you, your crew or your pacers are caught littering."
- Drop bags: 100 mile at Elk Creek, Dalton Lake and Silver City; 50 mile at Dalton Lake and Elk Creek; 50K optional at Elk Creek; none for the 30K. Bags go to Sturgis RV Park and Campground on Thursday (100 mile) or Friday (shorter races).
- Race day check in is mandatory: "If you do not check-in, we will assume that you did not start and will list you as a DNS."
Mandatory gear, headlamp, pole and headphone rules are not stated on the pages we read. The 100 mile starts at 10:00 AM Friday, so plan for a full night on the trail.
Weather
The race gives late June averages of a high of 79 and a low of 53 degrees, with a "chance of afternoon thunderstorms." The state brochure adds that many streams dry up in early summer and weather can change suddenly. A rain layer and enough water for the long gaps are worth the space.
Packet pickup and shuttles
100 mile packet pickup is Thursday from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, and the 30K, 50K and 50 mile pickup is Friday from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, both at Sturgis RV Park and Campground. There is no formal pre-race meeting. Saturday buses leave the Woodle Field lot next to City Park at 4:00 AM (50 mile), 6:00 AM (50K) and 8:00 AM (30K). Food, beer and finish line festivities run from noon to 8:00 PM Saturday at Sturgis City Park.
All 100 mile finishers get a belt buckle, with a special buckle for sub 24 hours, and a finisher's shirt. Shorter race finishers get a finisher coffee mug.
FAQ
How long is the Black Hills 100 really?
The race says closer to 105 miles on its website and closer to 108 on UltraSignup, with 16,779 feet of climbing.
What is the longest stretch between aid stations?
8 miles, Dalton Lake to Nemo / Boxelder Creek.
When can 100 mile runners pick up a pacer?
From Silver City at mile 52.5, or any later manned aid station.
Is there a cutoff for every distance?
Yes, all distances finish by 8:00 PM Saturday, June 26, 2027.
Sources: blackhills100.com (home, course information, event schedule, rules, awards and about pages), UltraSignup, the race's crew directions, the US Forest Service and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Centennial Trail brochure. Read October 12, 2026. LECAMO is not affiliated with the Black Hills 100.