Madison Marathon (Montana): Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Madison Marathon runs the Gravelly Range Road high above the Madison Valley near Ennis, Montana: a point-to-point gravel marathon that never drops below about 2,530 m and finishes at Clover Meadows. Run by the Greater Yellowstone Adventure Series (inaugurated in 2008), it offers a full and a half marathon on the same ridge.
Course & Elevation
The course starts at about 2,810 m on the ridge and climbs early to its high point around 2,910 m near Monument Ridge within the first 8 km. From there it rolls along the crest past landmarks like Black Butte, drops to around 2,580 m by halfway, and keeps undulating on the gravel road with short, steep kicks at roughly km 21, 32 and 35 before reaching the Clover Meadows finish. Our profile measures about 800 m of climbing against roughly 1,030 m of descent, and the whole route is unpaved forest road with open views and pronghorn and mule deer country around it.
Pacing Strategy
Altitude is the governing factor: at 2,500–2,900 m the same effort costs far more than at sea level, so set your target by effort or heart rate rather than your usual marathon pace. Hold back on the early climb to the high point: it comes before km 8, when the legs still feel fresh and overreaching is easy. Use the long descending section towards halfway to settle, not to bank time, and keep something for the short steep ramps after km 30, where walking briefly can be faster than grinding.
Training plan for Madison Marathon (Montana): 12-week build
Prepare for sustained running on loose gravel with frequent short climbs and long descents: hilly long runs on unpaved roads, downhill-specific work to protect the quads across roughly 1,000 m of descent, and strength for the steep kicks late in the race. If you can, arrive a few days early to acclimatise to the altitude, and practise fuelling and hydrating in dry mountain air.
Course Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 0.0 | 0.6 km | 7.1% | 14.1% | +39m | — |
| KM 3.6 | 1.8 km | 5.1% | 10.2% | +91m | Cat. 4 |
| KM 5.8 | 1.4 km | 6.9% | 12.3% | +99m | Cat. 4 |
| KM 11.9 | 0.8 km | 5.0% | 8.3% | +37m | — |
| KM 21.5 | 1.9 km | 5.3% | 8.2% | +102m | Cat. 4 |
| KM 31.7 | 0.8 km | 8.0% | 12.3% | +68m | — |
| KM 35.5 | 0.9 km | 6.8% | 10.3% | +63m | — |
| KM 37.2 | 1.2 km | 6.1% | 9.9% | +73m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
Course as GPX
Download the Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Adaptive race preparation
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Madison Marathon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Madison Marathon (Montana)?
Madison Marathon (Montana) is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Madison Marathon (Montana) have?
Madison Marathon (Montana) has around 797 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Madison Marathon (Montana)?
Madison Marathon (Montana) is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 16% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Madison Marathon (Montana) have?
The hardest climb of Madison Marathon (Montana) starts at kilometre 21.5, runs for 2 km at an average of 5.3% and gains 102 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Madison Marathon (Montana) a loop course?
No, Madison Marathon (Montana) is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Madison Marathon (Montana) course?
Yes. The Madison Marathon (Montana) course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Madison Marathon (Montana)?
Preparation for Madison Marathon (Montana) should account for 42.2 km, 797 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Madison Marathon (Montana)?
The pacing strategy for Madison Marathon (Montana) should reflect 42.2 km, 797 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Madison Marathon take place?
Madison Marathon takes place on July 10, 2027.
Where does Madison Marathon take place?
Madison Marathon takes place in Ennis, United States.
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