Copper Kings 100
June 25-26, 2027
Butte, Montana
My family has a long history in Butte, Montana. Both my parents were born and raised there while my dad’s dad worked in the underground mines of Butte, and my mom’s dad was a county commissioner and a well-known insurance agent. My cousins still ranch around Butte, and I have three wonderful and hilarious aunts living in the area. I spent many summer vacations visiting Butte, and it has a very special place in my heart. It is a beautiful place to run too!
The idea of this run started as a way to honor my family’s connection to Butte by making a long run for myself to connect special places from my family’s history.
-Wes Plate
The 100 mile loop course starts and ends at the Belmont Mine in Butte and includes 63 miles of the wonderful Continental Divide Trail. The elevation at the start is 5,650 ft, the highest point is at 8,400 feet, and you will enjoy a total of 13,960 feet of vertical gain and loss.
Bib pickup 2:00-4:00pm Thursday June 24, 2027
Mandatory run briefing 4:00-5:00pm Thursday June 245, 2027
Race start 4:00am Friday June 25, 2027
Final cutoff 8:00pm Saturday June 26, 2027
40-hour cutoff
Fully inclusive including a nonbinary division
Sounds awesome. Is it hard?
Most of the runners who have run this course have said it is harder than it looks. The elevation gain is concentrated between the first aid station and the last aid station, making the nearly 14,000 feet of gain feel more than it is. And most of the time you’re more than 6,500 feet above sea level.
Additionally, some of the aid stations are far apart, with the longest segment being over 17 miles.
The Copper Kings 100 is “tough but doable” as one runner called it. The 40 hour cutoff wasn’t established because you need that much time, we set this cutoff to give back of the pack runners more time to complete the loop. We do not require a qualifier, but you should be prepared for the difficulty of this challenge.
The fastest finish in 2026 was 17:49:01 amongst the men and 21:39:11 in the women’s race.
Women have historically finished at a 9.1 percentage point higher rate than men (88.3% vs 79.2%). This is particularly notable given that women maintained a perfect 100% finish rate in both the 2023 and 2024 fat asses, while men had a tough year in 2024 with only a 50% finish rate. The 2025 race saw both groups converge at the same 85.7% rate, but 2026 pulled them apart again: women finished at 88.1% while men finished at 75.2%. Four events in, the advantage still belongs to the women — and it's growing.
Registration will open in December
Since the Copper Kings 100 runs the same weekend as Western States, we will open registration the day after the WSER lottery draw so that you’ll know for sure that you didn’t get in to Western States again.
Proceeds from this event will benefit:
Course
Link to course map is in the Runners Guide.
Videos and updates
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Withdrawal Policy for Copper Kings 100 (2026)
We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, and we strive to provide a refund policy that balances the needs of our runners and the costs incurred in organizing the race. Please review the following policy carefully:
Refunds are available on a tiered basis based on the time of your cancellation request:
90+ Days Before Race Day: 75% refund of the registration fee.
60–89 Days Before Race Day: 50% refund of the registration fee.
30–59 Days Before Race Day: 25% refund of the registration fee.
Less Than 30 Days Before Race Day: No refunds will be issued.
Regardless of whether a pregnancy is planned or unplanned, or whether it comes to an expected or unexpected conclusion, proper time for healing and recovery is essential for health and well-being. At Onward Endurance, we are dedicated to treating everyone with fairness and understanding. Participants facing these circumstances are eligible for a full UltraSignup race credit, valid for two years from the date it is issued.
Race Cancellation Policy
Copper Kings 100 requires months of planning, permitting, insurance, course preparation, aid station logistics, and volunteer coordination. The vast majority of registration fees are committed and spent well before race day. For this reason, if the race must be cancelled by the organizers for any reason, no refunds will be issued.
Cancellation by the Organizers
If Copper Kings 100 is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control — including but not limited to severe weather, wildfire, natural disaster, government restrictions, public health emergencies, trail damage, permit revocation, or any other force majeure event — **no refunds will be provided.**
If the race is cancelled after it has already begun, no credits or refunds will be issued.
Safety First
The safety of our participants, volunteers, staff, and the general public is our top priority. We will make every effort to modify the course or adjust race logistics before resorting to cancellation, but we reserve the sole right to cancel, shorten, reroute, postpone, or alter the event at any time.
Acknowledgment
By registering for Copper Kings 100, you acknowledge and accept this policy. You understand that your entry fee is non-refundable in the event of race cancellation.
Photos
https://jasonpetersphotography.zenfoliosite.com/copper-kings-100/copper-kings-2026-1
https://jasonpetersphotography.zenfoliosite.com/copper-kings-100/2025-copper-kings-100-1
Results
2026: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?dtid=63288
2025: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?dtid=58824
Reports
https://ultrarunnerjournal.com/2025-copper-kings-100-butte-montana/
https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2025/aug/13/editors-reflections-on-running-a-100-mile-race/
Videos
The Copper Kings 100 is produced by Onward Endurance LLC in partnership with the Montana Endurance Trail Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitible organization.
The Copper Kings 100 takes place in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, and in Butte-Silver Bow and Jefferson counties. The event is fully permitted through the United States Forest Service, Butte-Silver Bow County, Jefferson County, and the Montana Department of Transportation.