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Set against the rugged backdrop of West Yellowstone, Montana, and the edge of Custer Gallatin National Forest, the Yellowstone Half Marathon & 5K offers an exhilarating blend of high-altitude trail running and breathtaking wilderness views. Held annually in mid-June, this event serves as a premier destination race for outdoor enthusiasts looking to combine endurance sports with a national park vacation.

Elevation & Environment: Sitting at roughly 6,000 feet of elevation, participants experience thin air that adds an extra layer of challenge. The course winds through dense pine forests with sweeping mountain vistas, with early morning temperatures often starting crisp before warming up significantly.

👉 Half Marathon (13.1 mi)

Primarily unpaved dirt and forest service roads featuring rolling hills, technical rocky sections, and a notable sustained climb around the midpoint.

👉 5K (3.1 mi)

A fast, relatively flat course starting on local roads before transitioning to hard-packed trail paths.

For runners seeking an even bigger adventure, Yellowstone is paired back-to-back with neighboring parks as part of Vacation Races' June Wyoming/Montana swing:

• The Grizzly Double: Combines the Grand Teton Half Marathon and the Yellowstone Half Marathon across two consecutive weekends.
• The Grand Quad: For the most hardcore competitors, this option spans four races across both weekends (combining 5Ks and half marathons at both parks) with ample time for mid-week sightseeing and hiking.

⛰️ Acclimation

Because the event takes place at a significant altitude (~6,000 ft), arriving a couple of days early is strongly advised to adjust to the elevation and prevent altitude sickness.

🐻 Wildlife Awareness

The course takes place in active bear country. While race organizers take proactive measures on race morning (such as sweep vehicles playing loud sounds to clear the paths), runners should remain "bear aware" during training hikes and independent exploration.

🚗 Park Proximity

The West Yellowstone park entrance is just minutes away from the race hub, making it seamless to transition from the finish line to exploring iconic local sights like Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

The Zion Half Marathon is designed to move you through the landscape, not just past it. Beginning in Virgin, the course follows the curves of the Virgin River and gradually climbs toward Springdale, revealing more of Zion with every mile. It’s a steady, intentional route that rewards you with a finish just outside one of the most iconic national parks in the country.

Why Run Zion? Zion in the early morning feels like pure magic — the canyon quiet, shadows stretch across the valley, and cliffs glow as the sun slowly climbs. The course moves through long desert views and gradually reveals towering sandstone walls, pulling you deeper into the landscape with every mile. It’s a race that feels like stepping inside the Southwest’s greatest masterpiece!

The Zion Half Marathon begins on Kolob Terrace Rd in the small town of Virgin, Utah. Almost immediately after the start, runners hang a left onto a partially closed SR-9. They follow this road eastward as it winds and climbs uphill following the curves of the Virgin River through unique towns toward Springdale.

There are only two major turns on this course: one at the beginning and one at the end. Otherwise, runners stay on the main road or on the paved trail and bike path running parallel to SR-9 all the way into Springdale. Just after mile 13, runners turn right into the entrance of Cable Mountain Lodge.

The official Race Shirt is picked up at the expo upon check-in, and the official race medal is awarded upon crossing the finish line.

Exclusive race merchandise will be available both at the race expo and near the finish line! When possible, we'll have race merch for sale in our online store after the race is over. Please allow time for us to add items online.

Any participants hoping to compete for overall awards will need to start in the BLUE wave at the very beginning of the race. While Overall Male, Female, Non-Binary, and Masters Male/Female are based on chip time, competitors for these awards must begin in the first wave within the first 15 minutes of the starting gun time. Any athletes crossing the start line after the first wave begins will be considered for Age Group awards.

Medals: Finisher medals are given to everyone who finishes! Place medals are awarded to the top 5 male, female, and non-binary runners overall, as well as the Masters 40+ group, and top 5 in age groups: 11 & under, 12-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75+. (Non-binary age group awards are not offered yet).

Expect 5 aid stations on course, spaced every 2 miles starting near mile 3 (~3, 5, 7, 9, & 11). They include toilets, water, electrolytes, gels, and basic first aid (with a medic stationed at aid station #3 near mile 7).

Clothing Drop: Aid Station #1 near mile 3 acts as the only official clothing drop on course. Items left at this sign will be transported to the finish line.

Cup-Free Racing: Cups are not provided on course to reduce plastic waste. Please bring your own reusable water bottle, folding cup, or hydration pack!

Sorting Stations: Look for three bins at events: Compostables (organic food/banana peels without wrappers), Recyclables (paper, aluminum, glass—please empty liquids first), and Everything Else (gel packets, wrappers).

🚀 Start Line Shuttles (4:30 AM – 6:00 AM)

NO START LINE PARKING. All runners take a shuttle or get dropped off. Shuttles run from Springdale (Cable Mountain Lodge, Red Cliffs Lodge Zion, Hampton Inn, and the small lot across from Hotel De Novo) and La Verkin (between Best Western and River Rock Roasting Co., and in front of the city office building).

🚗 Runner Drop-Off (5:00 AM – 6:00 AM)

Turn north from SR-9 onto Kolob Terrace Rd, drop off in the designated area, turn left onto Pocketville Rd, and exit back onto the highway before road closures begin.

👥 Spectators & Post-Race Shuttles

Finish line shuttles run from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM for runners and spectators connecting to Springdale shuttle stops and La Verkin parking (including Fairfield Inn in Virgin). Note: La Verkin shuttles do NOT pick up spectators. Please use paid town parking in Springdale and avoid entering the National Park visitor center parking or entering the park between 10 AM and 2 PM to prevent traffic congestion.

Day 1 — Expo & Packet Pickup

• 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Race Expo & Bib Pickup open to all runners
• 6:00 PM: Bib Pickup closes

Day 2 — Race Morning

• 4:30 AM: Shuttles start loading for the start line
• 5:10 AM: Last minute bib pickup opens (at start line)
• 6:00 AM: Last start line shuttle leaves
• 6:45 AM: Runners line up & last call for gear check
• 6:55 AM: National Anthem
• 7:00 AM: Race starts! (BLUE Wave first)
• 9:45 AM: Awards Ceremony