Auburn, US · June 2026
Western States 100
Western States 100: 161.05 km, 4191 m of climbing. Course route, elevation, weather and a personalised pacing plan.
- Distance
- 161.05 km
- Elevation gain
- 4191 m
- Typical temp
- 6–21 °C
- Cutoff
- 30:00:00
The short version
A brutal course
- ▸Big climbing day — 4191 m up. Pace the ascents on effort, not the clock.
- ▸Quad-pounding descent (5705 m down) — control the early downhills or pay for it late.
- ▸Low sun in your eyes around km 3–141 — bring a cap or shades.
Next edition
27 June 2026
Typical race-day conditions
6–21 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
BrutalDriven by 4191 m of climbing, altitude up to 2631 m, 5705 m of quad-pounding descent. Harder than UTMB Mont-Blanc (10.0), easier than Zugspitz Ultratrail (10.0) — tougher than 99% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Last verified: source review pending
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Verified profile
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Official WSER course GPX + Open-Elevation DEM
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
15:08:42
Course cost
+157:28
Fuel target
90 g/h
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 110:54
- km 26:54
- km 314:27
- km 410:40
- km 56:51
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full Western States 100 plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- ✓Difficulty score & course data
- ✓Course-cost & toughest km
- ✓Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- ✓Every km split, weather-adjusted
- ✓Nutrition & fluid timeline
- ✓Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- ✓Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- ✓Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- ✓Everything in Race Pass
- ✓Unlimited races, all year
- ✓Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. Cancel anytime on Annual.
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
4191 m total gain · 5705 m loss · max 2631 m, min 166 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
21 km
Sun on your back
31 km
Side / overhead
90 km
Expect low sun roughly in your eyes around km 3–141 — pack a peaked cap or shades; low glare hides kerbs and potholes. From km 37 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 05:00:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
The Escarpment
A brutal ~780 m climb in the first 7 km from Olympic Valley to Emigrant Pass.
The Canyons
Mid-race deep, hot canyons with steep descents and grinding climbs in peak afternoon heat.
Rucky Chucky River Crossing
Cold American River crossing around mile 78.
No Hands Bridge to Robie Point
The iconic final stretch into Auburn and the Placer High track finish.
Race overview
The world's oldest 100-mile trail ultramarathon, run point-to-point from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California along the Western States Trail — over 5,500 m of climbing across the high Sierra and the hot American River canyons, 30-hour cutoff. The route measures 161.05 km with about 4191 m of climbing and 5705 m of descent (high point 2631 m). It typically runs in June.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the Western States 100 compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (14 °C / 55 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | Western States 100 finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 16:24:26 | 19:50:47 | +21% | 6:17/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 13:25:27 | 16:14:17 | +21% | 5:09/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 12:19:52 | 14:54:57 | +21% | 4:43/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 10:38:20 | 12:52:08 | +21% | 4:05/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 14:54:57 at 14 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 90 g
- Total carbs
- 1342 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full Western States 100 strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
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New to trail and ultra pacing? Start with our trail and ultra pacing guide or run the VDOT calculator.