Western States 100 2027 Guide: Lottery, Course, Cutoffs and Pacers
Quick answer: The Western States 100 runs June 26 to 27, 2027, starting at 5:00 AM in Olympic Valley, California, and finishing 100.2 miles later at Placer High School in Auburn. The official limit is 30 hours, with a finish cutoff of 11:00 AM Sunday. Finish in under 24 hours and you get the silver buckle; between 24 and 30 hours earns the bronze. The 2027 lottery application window is November 1 to 21, 2026, and the drawing is on December 5, 2026. The race is cupless, poles are allowed, and pacers can join at Foresthill (mile 62). This guide covers the lottery, the course, every cutoff, water planning, and crew and pacer rules.
Western States 100 2027 at a glance
| Date and start | Saturday, June 26, 2027, 5:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Start | Olympic Valley, CA (valley floor about 6,200 ft) |
| Finish | Placer High School track, Auburn, CA (mile 100.2) |
| Climb and descent | About 18,090 ft up and 22,970 ft down |
| Time limit | 30 hours (finish by 11:00 AM Sunday). Silver buckle under 24 hours, bronze for 24 to 30 hours |
| Field | 369 starters (U.S. Forest Service permit limit) |
| Aid | 20 aid stations between start and finish, cupless |
| Pacers | From Foresthill (mile 62), or from Michigan Bluff (mile 56) if you leave after 8:00 PM |
| Poles | Allowed anywhere on course |
Source: wser.org aid station, course, lottery, entry, pacer, crew and performance rule pages, read October 28, 2026. Check the 2027 Participant Guide when it comes out, because it is the final word.
The 2027 lottery: dates, tickets and qualifying
- Apply: November 1 to 21, 2026, at portal.wser.org.
- Drawing: December 5, 2026, 8:00 to 11:00 AM, at the Placer High School Auditorium in Auburn.
- Qualifying window: You need a finish at a race on the official qualifying list, within that race's listed time, between November 3, 2025 and November 8, 2026. Races not on the list don't count, and neither do virtual events. Examples include 100 miles in 30 hours at races such as Javelina Jundred, or 100K in 17 hours at Black Canyon.
- Tickets: You get 2(n−1) tickets, where n is the number of years you have applied: 1, then 2, 4, 8 and so on.
- Wait list: 75 applicants are drawn for an ordered wait list, which is used to fill the field back up to 369.
- If you're picked: The entry fee is $575 plus the online fee. You have 10 days to register, or you lose the spot and your accrued tickets.
If your qualifier was a desert 100 last fall, our Javelina Jundred gear guide and Black Canyon Ultras guide cover those races.
The course in four parts
- The Escarpment and high country (miles 0 to 30): You climb 2,550 ft in the first 4.5 miles, from the valley floor to Emigrant Pass at 8,750 ft. From there the trail runs through remote high country to Robinson Flat. The race follows the same basic course used since 1986 unless snow conditions force a route change.
- The canyons (miles 30 to 62): From Robinson Flat the course runs past Miller's Defeat, Dusty Corners, Last Chance, Devil's Thumb, El Dorado Creek and Michigan Bluff to Foresthill. Crews can meet you at Dusty Corners and Michigan Bluff; the other stations in this stretch are runner-only.
- Foresthill to the river (miles 62 to 78): The Cal Street trail runs down to the American River. At Rucky Chucky (mile 77.8), you cross on a guide rope, or by raft in a high-water year.
- The river to Auburn (miles 78 to 100.2): Green Gate, Auburn Lake Trails, Quarry Road, Pointed Rocks and Robie Point, then the finish at Placer High School (mile 100.2).
Our guide to reading a trail race course profile explains how to turn these numbers into a pacing plan.
Cutoffs
| Mile | Aid station | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.0 | Duncan Canyon | 7:30 | 12:30 PM Sat |
| 30.0 | Robinson Flat | 9:10 | 2:10 PM |
| 38.7 | Dusty Corners | 11:05 | 4:05 PM |
| 43.6 | Last Chance | 12:25 | 5:25 PM |
| 48.0 | Devil's Thumb | 14:10 | 7:10 PM |
| 53.2 | El Dorado Creek | 15:40 | 8:40 PM |
| 56.0 | Michigan Bluff | 16:55 | 9:55 PM |
| 62.0 | Foresthill | 18:45 | 11:45 PM |
| 70.5 | Peachstone (Cal-2) | 21:40 | 2:40 AM Sun |
| 77.8 | Rucky Chucky | 24:00 | 5:00 AM |
| 79.6 | Green Gate | 24:50 | 5:50 AM |
| 84.9 | Auburn Lake Trails | 26:15 | 7:15 AM |
| 90.5 | Quarry Road | 27:40 | 8:40 AM |
| 94.2 | Pointed Rocks | 28:40 | 9:40 AM |
| 100.2 | Placer High School | 30:00 | 11:00 AM |
- Cutoffs are deadlines for leaving each aid station, and the race enforces them strictly.
- A few remote stations, including Miller's Defeat, Dardanelles, Ford's Bar and Robie Point, carry a default cutoff equal to the next station's cutoff. The race says these are for emergency use.
- Elapsed times are our arithmetic from the 5:00 AM start.
- Note that the Rucky Chucky cutoff falls exactly 24 hours in. A runner who reaches the river at the cutoff can no longer finish under 24 hours, so the race from there is for a bronze buckle.
Water, aid and what to carry
Western States is cupless, so carry your own flask or collapsible cup for every refill. The race also warns that some dry stretches run longer than 8 miles. Three gaps are worth planning around:
- Olympic Valley to Lyon Ridge, 10.0 miles. At 10.0 miles this is the longest gap between aid stations, and it starts with the 2,550 ft climb to Emigrant Pass. The morning is cool, but the gap is long.
- Red Star Ridge to Duncan Canyon, 8.3 miles, as the day warms up.
- The canyons, miles 43.6 to 56. The gaps are only 2.8 to 5.2 miles. The cutoffs here run from 5:25 PM at Last Chance to 9:55 PM at Michigan Bluff, so back-of-pack runners cover this stretch in the late afternoon and evening. Refill at every station.
Plan water by the time it takes to reach the next refill, not by mileage. A 5-mile canyon climb can take longer than 8 miles of ridge running. Our guide on how much water to carry on a trail run walks through the math.
For the carry itself:
- The LECAMO ROOT5 ships with two 500ml wide-mouth soft flasks (1 liter). The wide mouth makes it quicker to fill with water and ice at a busy aid station. Two bungee cords across the lower back hold folded poles, which helps on the canyon descents if you stow them.
- The ROOT8 also ships with two 500ml flasks and adds space for a night layer, a light and more food. That room matters if you're crewless between Foresthill and the river.
- Many runners carry a third flask through the canyons, and an extra 500ml soft flask is one way to do it.
Compare all three pack sizes on the trail packs page.
Heat, snow and the night section
The race warns that temperatures on course can range from about 20°F to above 110°F, so you need to be ready for both. A light, vented hat that you can soak at every station is worth carrying. Our lightweight trail running hat is one option. The performance rules allow your run number to be worn on the front of your body or on your hat.
By our calculation, on June 26, 2027 sunrise in Olympic Valley is about 5:36 AM, so the 5:00 AM start is in early twilight. Sunset in Auburn is about 8:34 PM, and civil twilight ends around 9:06 PM. The Foresthill cutoff is 11:45 PM, well after civil twilight ends, so runners near the cutoff arrive in the dark. The race tells runners to have a light from Foresthill, and runners on 28- to 30-hour pace to have one from Michigan Bluff. It also advises carrying two LED lights. See where to keep a headlamp in a running vest.
Crew, pacers and rules
- Crew points: Olympic Valley, Duncan Canyon (1 vehicle), Robinson Flat (shuttle), Dusty Corners (1 vehicle), Michigan Bluff (shuttle), Foresthill, Rucky Chucky near side (shuttle or a 3.5-mile hike), Green Gate (1.25-mile hike), Pointed Rocks (0.75-mile hike), Robie Point, and the finish.
- Vehicles: One vehicle per runner at every station except Foresthill, and no motor homes except at Foresthill. Crews stay within 200 yards of the aid station.
- Bath Road: Since 2025, runners can't be paced or crewed anywhere along Bath Road. Pacers and crews wait inside the Foresthill aid station.
- Pacers: One at a time, age 18 or older, starting at Foresthill (or Michigan Bluff after 8:00 PM). Pacers can switch at Foresthill, the river, Green Gate, Pointed Rocks and Robie Point. Muling is banned, so the pacer can't carry your water, food, light or clothing. Each entrant gets three pacer numbers.
- Poles: Allowed everywhere. You can only drop off or pick up poles at stations with crew access or drop bags.
- No littering anywhere on the Western States Trail. The race says littering threatens its continued use of the trail.
Our guide to crew vest handoffs covers how to plan a vest swap with your crew.
Records and a little history
In 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh ran the course on foot alongside the Tevis Cup horse ride and finished in 23:42:20. The first official race was in 1977, with 16 runners signed up. In 2026, on the third-coolest day in the race's history, both course records fell. Vincent Bouillard set the men's record in 13:46:15, and Jenn Lichter set the women's record in 15:28:05.
FAQ
When is the Western States 2027 lottery?
Applications are open November 1 to 21, 2026, and the drawing is December 5, 2026, at Placer High School in Auburn.
How many tickets do I get?
You get 2(n−1) tickets, where n is the number of years you have applied: 1, then 2, 4, 8 and so on.
Is Western States cupless?
Yes. Carry a flask or cup for every refill.
Where can pacers start?
At Foresthill (mile 62), or at Michigan Bluff (mile 56) if you leave after 8:00 PM.
Are trekking poles allowed at Western States?
Yes, anywhere on the course. You can only drop them off or pick them up at stations with crew access or drop bags.
What is the time limit?
30 hours. Sub-24 earns the silver buckle; 24 to 30 hours earns the bronze.
LECAMO is not affiliated with the Western States Endurance Run. Sunrise and sunset times are our own calculation. Sources: wser.org (course description, aid stations, lottery, entry process, qualifying races, pacer rules, crew rules, performance rules, records); 2026 race reports; Wikipedia race history. Read October 28, 2026.