Teton Mountain Runs.
The Teton Mountain Runs start at the Big Red aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and the Cody Peak 50K is the longest job of the weekend: a loop up to 10,455 ft on which almost two thirds of the distance is steep. You are preparing less for a distance here than for two big mountain blocks and what their descents do to your legs.
Teton Mountain Runs 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Despite the name the loop stays under 50 kilometres: it measures 28.3 miles, or a little over 45 km. The first seven and a half kilometres run through the lower terrain, rolling over two short ramps. Then the real work starts with 836 m of climbing in 6.5 km, followed by two further pushes, the last barely a kilometre long but the steepest at around 20 percent. The highest part of the course comes around kilometre 20.
From there the course plunges roughly 1,000 m by kilometre 28, and the second mountain follows at once: 716 m in 5.5 km, this time on tired legs. The descent that comes next gives up about another 800 m by kilometre 41, before two small rises interrupt the way back to the start.
The setting is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and you set off from the Big Red tram. The tram line trail, Rock Springs drainage, Corbet's Cabin, Casper and the lower face loop are the names worth knowing before you arrive. Almost nothing here is flat. Five aid stations sit along the course, plus a point on Summer Road where you look after yourself.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 1 km | 9.5 % | 13 % | +97 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 1.8 | 1.6 km | 9.1 % | 13.5 % | +142 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 7.5 | 6.5 km | 12.9 % | 34.2 % | +836 m | HC |
| km 15.8 | 2.2 km | 14.5 % | 25.3 % | +319 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 19.6 | 1 km | 19.6 % | 29.2 % | +186 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 28.4 | 5.5 km | 13 % | 35 % | +716 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 42.1 | 1.4 km | 5.2 % | 11.5 % | +73 m | — |
| km 45.1 | 0.8 km | 8.8 % | 16.5 % | +71 m | — |
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.
How to pace Teton Mountain Runs.
Start under control
The opening is the part most likely to fool you. Those first kilometres are almost the only runnable ones before the finale, and any speed you take from them is missing on the mountain later. Treat them as a warm-up, and accept that the grades afterwards call for a brisk hike: at around 13 percent for six kilometres, marching saves more than running would gain. Altitude adds to the bill, since much of the first block sits above 9,000 ft, where the same output feels harder.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 21 and 34. Chase the long drop from the high point with hard braking steps and you destroy the very quads that have to carry you up the second climb. Keep your stride short, let it roll, but do not attack.
Spend what is left
The second big trap is the descent after kilometre 34, because after the last hard climb it feels like a reward. More than a third of the course is steep downhill, and only legs that survive it can actually run the final kilometres.
Training plan for Teton Mountain Runs: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect eight to eleven hours depending on your fitness. It is a steady aerobic effort that hardly ever looks steady: long hiking spells uphill, alternating with long stretches where your legs absorb impact with every step down. The heart does its work on the climbs, while the muscles take their damage on the descents.
Train race pace
Your key session is therefore not the longest run but the one with the right order. Plan long days with two separate big climbs and put the second one deliberately late, so you get to know what happens from kilometre 28: legs loaded by downhill, then another 700 m straight up. Hike those grades at a pace you can hold for an hour, because brisk uphill walking is a race skill here, not an emergency measure.
Rehearse the course
Steep downhill belongs in the plan from the start, in small doses and then building. Only repeated descending makes the quads robust enough to still carry you after the second mountain. Without mountains on your doorstep, that leaves long sessions on a steep treadmill, stairs, and strength work such as lunges.
Arrive fresh
Then there is the thin air: the loop starts at around 6,300 ft and climbs past 10,000 ft. If you live at low elevation, plan days at altitude before the race, or at least an early arrival, and adjust your target pace accordingly. Practise eating and drinking on the move too, and carry what you need between stations on your long runs, because at Summer Road you are on your own.
Courses
Download the Teton Mountain Runs course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Teton Mountain Runs 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.
Everything about Teton Mountain Runs.
How long is Teton Mountain Runs?
Teton Mountain Runs is 50 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 Teton Mountain Runs have?
Teton Mountain Runs has around 2,828 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Teton Mountain Runs?
Teton Mountain Runs is classified as Mountainous, averaging 60.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 2% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 30% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Teton Mountain Runs have?
The hardest climb of Teton Mountain Runs starts at kilometre 7.5, runs for 6.5 km at an average of 12.9% and gains 836 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Teton Mountain Runs a loop course?
Yes, Teton Mountain Runs is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Teton Mountain Runs course?
Yes. The Teton Mountain Runs 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 Teton Mountain Runs?
Preparation for Teton Mountain Runs should account for 50 km, 2,828 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 Teton Mountain Runs?
The pacing strategy for Teton Mountain Runs should reflect 50 km, 2,828 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 Teton Mountain Runs take place?
Teton Mountain Runs takes place on July 10, 2027.
Where does Teton Mountain Runs take place?
Teton Mountain Runs takes place in Teton Village, United States.
Which distances does Teton Mountain Runs offer?
Teton Mountain Runs offers 3 distances — Cody Peak 50K: 50 km; Cirque 30K: 30 km; Wild 15K: 15 km.
How do I register for Teton Mountain Runs?
Registration runs through the organiser: tetonmountainruns.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
