The Telluride Mountain Run, held on August 22, 2026, invites runners to an extraordinary challenge amidst the breathtaking San Juan Mountains of Telluride, Colorado. This iconic event offers a range of distances including a 100K, 40M, 24M, and 13M, each promising an unforgettable adventure for experienced mountain athletes. Typical race day conditions in late August feature pleasant highs around 77F and lows around 51F, with only a 10% chance of precipitation, providing ideal weather for tackling the high-altitude terrain.

Renowned for its extreme difficulty and stunning scenery, the Telluride Mountain Run is truly a "mountain race, not a trail run". Participants will navigate rugged and exposed ridgelines, technical rocky singletrack, alpine tundra, and old mining roads, often encountering sections where there are no discernible trails at all. The courses feature significant elevation gains, with runners ascending above 13,000 feet, including summits like Telluride Peak at 13,509 feet. The notorious "Mile and a Half of Sky" section, a sharp ridgeline above 13,000 feet, particularly on the longer distances, is a testament to the course's challenging nature, pushing runners both physically and mentally. Race founder Dakota Jones aptly describes the course as "really hard".

Aid stations are strategically placed and fully stocked with water, electrolyte drinks, a variety of sweet and salty snacks, wraps, and quesadillas, along with basic first aid and supportive volunteers. While the 40-mile race offers two drop bag locations, runners are expected to be self-sufficient, especially given the remote and exposed sections. Finishing in the charming heart of Telluride, runners will earn a profound sense of accomplishment, having traversed some of Colorado's most beautiful and demanding alpine landscapes.