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Sun, Oct 4 · 2026Hill City, SDSince 2010

Mount Rushmore Marathon

The Mount Rushmore Marathon runs point-to-point through the Black Hills of South Dakota, starting near Crazy Horse Memorial and finishing in Hill City. It is a genuine mountain road race that rewards patience and punishes ambition in the early miles.

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MOUNT RUSHMORE · US
Mount Rushmore
SUN, OCT 4
2026
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Race Overview

EST. 2010

The Mount Rushmore Marathon starts near Crazy Horse Memorial and runs point-to-point through the Black Hills to Hill City. The setting is genuinely striking, pine-covered ridges and open highway, and the course has enough character to keep you honest all the way in. The big thing to know upfront is the altitude. The start is above 6,000 feet. If you are traveling from a low-elevation home, you will feel it. Don't go out with your usual first-mile energy and expect to hold on. The opening miles have some climb in them, and even on a cool day the effort will register higher than your splits suggest. The back half trends generally downward, which helps, but the legs you saved early are the legs you will need there.

This is a Boston qualifier, though a small fraction of finishers actually hit the standard, so it is fair to say the course is not a gift. It rewards runners who respect the terrain and the air. Registration is open to anyone, no lottery, no qualifier needed to enter, just sign up before September 30 at noon. Pricing goes up in stages through the summer, so earlier is cheaper. If you are coming from out of town, Rapid City is your closest airport and Keystone or Hill City puts you right in the middle of things. Arrive a day or two early if you can, even a little acclimatization time helps.

Field size
—
BQ rate
3%
Below national average
Time limit
7:00
Generous cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration

The Course

Total ascent
—
Total descent
—
Net elevation
—
Highest point
6,085 ft
Lowest point
4,984 ft
Course shape
Point to point
Different start and finish

This point-to-point course sits between roughly 5,000 and 6,100 feet, so altitude is a real factor if you are coming from sea level. Net elevation is listed as flat, but the highest and lowest points are more than 1,100 feet apart, meaning the course undulates rather than cruises. Expect rolling terrain through the Black Hills with climbs in the first half and a general descent toward Hill City later. Pacing conservatively early matters here. The altitude alone will make your target pace feel harder than it looks on paper. Plan to run by effort in the first half and let the back stretch come to you.

View official course mapPast results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
—°F
High
—°F
What to expect

Early October in the Black Hills means cool mornings and crisp air, which sounds ideal until you factor in the altitude. You will likely start in conditions that feel fast, but the thin air does the work your legs haven't done yet. Dress in layers you can shed, because the start can be genuinely cold and the midday sun at elevation bites back. Wind through the hills is possible and worth checking the forecast the day before. Overall the window favors racing well if you manage effort rather than pace.

Entry

OPEN

Registration is open to all runners with tiered pricing that increases in May and again in mid-August; registration closes September 30 at noon. No event switching is permitted after September 1.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in
Closest airport
DEN
287 mi
from the start
≈ 453 min transferLonger haul
What to expect

Fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), about 30 miles from the start at Crazy Horse Memorial. Base yourself in Keystone, Hill City, or at Palmer Gulch resort, all within a short drive of the start and finish.

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