Copper Kings 100
The 2027 Copper Kings 100 will be an official qualifier for the 2028 Western States Endurance Run.
Run the Richest Hill on Earth
Overview
The Copper Kings 100 is a single-loop 100-mile ultramarathon starting and finishing at the Belmont Mine in Butte, Montana, named for the mine barons who battled for control of Butte's copper fortune in the 1880s. Race director Wes Plate built the course to connect places tied to his own family's history in Butte — his grandfather worked underground in the mines, and his other grandfather was a county commissioner and insurance agent in town. After informal "fat ass" test runs in 2023 and 2024, the race became an officially permitted event in 2025, produced by Onward Endurance in partnership with the Montana Endurance Trail Foundation.
Course
A single loop starting and finishing near downtown Butte, built from nine named segments: Start to Basin Creek (12.1 mi), Basin Creek to Highland (12.9 mi), Highland to Pipestone (11.8 mi), Pipestone to Homestake (9.5 mi), Homestake to Our Lady (12.3 mi), Our Lady to Nez Perce (17.7 mi — the longest stretch, and where the course hits its 8,400 ft high point), Nez Perce to Konda (4.5 mi), Konda to Moulton (9.1 mi), and Moulton to the finish via Broadway (10.2 mi). Roughly 63 miles of the route follows the Continental Divide Trail. Starting elevation is 5,650 ft, the high point is 8,400 ft, with a total of 13,963 ft of climbing and 13,960 ft of descent over the loop. Supporters can meet runners near the finish at 3.5, 2.2, and 0.25 miles out. The race takes place in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and in Butte-Silver Bow and Jefferson counties, and is permitted by the relevant local and federal agencies.
Cutoff Details
The 40-hour cutoff wasn't set because the course requires that much time — it's intended to give back-of-the-pack runners more time to finish. No qualifier is required, but runners should be prepared for the difficulty of the course.
Aid Stations
8 named aid stations plus the finish: M 12.1 — Basin Creek M 25.0 — Highland M 36.8 — Pipestone (no crew access) M 46.3 — Homestake M 58.6 — Our Lady (Our Lady of the Rockies, no crew access) M 76.3 — Nez Perce M 80.8 — Konda M 89.9 — Moulton Finish — via Broadway
Logistics
Bib Pickup
Bib pickup, and the race start and finish, are all on the lawn at the Belmont Mine.
Swag & Medals
Finishers receive a hand-made copper belt buckle.
Getting There
Parking
Runners and crews park at the Maroon Activity Center, 550 E Mercury St, Butte.
Policies
Race Policies
Refunds are tiered by how far out you cancel: 90+ days before race day, 75% refund; 60–89 days, 50% refund; 30–59 days, 25% refund. Rather than refund money already committed to the race, credits toward a future Onward Endurance race are also offered: 60+ days out, 50% of registration (less processing fees) as an UltraSignup credit valid two years; fewer than 60 days out, no credit or refund. Credits are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Active-duty military who are deployed or recalled after registering receive a full refund (less processing fees) with a copy of their orders. Runners facing pregnancy-related circumstances, planned or unplanned, are eligible for a full UltraSignup credit valid two years.
About Onward Endurance
Disclaimer
We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information on Kåduka, but details may change. Please always confirm the latest information on the official race website. See something that needs correcting? Send us a note at [email protected]