Leadville 50 Silver Rush
50M15M5K
Leadville Race Series
Jul 11, 2026
ColoradoRace across the sky at 10,000 feet and come back a legend
Overview
This is Colorado’s original high-altitude sufferfest. You start in Cloud City at 10,200 feet, climb over 12,500 feet twice on Hope Pass, and thread rugged stretches of the Colorado Trail with your lungs burning and the Rockies lighting the way. It is steep, gritty, and absolutely electric.
What makes Leadville special is the culture. From the shotgun start on 6th and Harrison to the red carpet finish, the town shows up. Volunteers, crews, and total strangers will pull you along when the air gets thin. If you’re chasing a buckle or just a breakthrough, Leadville delivers the kind of memories you will talk about for years.
Western States QualifierUTMB Index: trueCuplessVegan Friendly
0 participant limit
Course
Elevation Gain15,000 ft
Elevation Loss15,000 ft
Cutoff Time30HR
An out-and-back on jeep roads and singletrack that climbs Powerline and Sugarloaf, tops out on Hope Pass at roughly 12,500 feet, and uses the Colorado Trail for technical, rooty, rocky miles. Expect thin air, big climbs, exposed alpine weather, and fast runnable sections that reward pacing. Key features include steep Powerline ascents and descents, high-alpine Hope Pass with llamas packing aid, Colorado Trail singletrack, and a raucous finish back in downtown Leadville. Distances are one course only at 100M with outbound and inbound segments mirrored.
Cutoff Details
Cutoff Times | ||||
Saturday | Mayqueen | 12.6 | Outbound | 7:45 AM |
Outward Bound | 23.5 | Outbound | 10:00 AM | |
Half Pipe | 29.3 | Outbound | 11:30 AM | |
Twin Lakes Village | 37.9 | Outbound | 1:30 PM | |
Hope Pass | 43.5 | Outbound | 4:00 PM | |
Winfield (Turnaround) | 50 | Outbound | 6:00 PM | |
Twin Lakes Village | 62 | Inbound | 10:15 PM | |
Sunday | Half Pipe | 70.3 | Inbound | 1:15 AM |
Outward Bound | 76.2 | Inbound | 3:00 AM | |
Mayqueen | 87.4 | Inbound | 6:30 AM | |
Finish | 100 | Inbound | 10:00 AM |
Logistics
Schedule
Friday
All-day | Race Across the Sky Expo and check-in in downtown Leadville
3:00PM | Athlete briefing and crew updates
5:00PM | Drop bag final prep and early turn-in window
Evening | Rest, organize, and carbo-load with your crew
Saturday
3:15AM | Start line staging at 6th and Harrison
3:45AM | National Anthem and final countdown
4:00AM | Start
Daytime | Crew shuttle operations and cutoffs in effect at all stations
Evening | Night running toward Mayqueen inbound with headlamps required
Sunday
6:30AM | Mayqueen inbound cutoff
10:00AM | Course closes and awards day begins Afternoon | Awards ceremony and buckle presentations
Bib Pickup
Packet pickup is hosted during the Race Across the Sky Expo in downtown Leadville. Bring photo identification and your mandatory waivers. Medical or pacer bibs, if needed, are handled at designated checkpoints per the athlete guide. Check the official week-of schedule for any final time updates.
Drop Bags
Clear, labeled drop bags are accepted at the designated location in Leadville prior to race day, with on-course service at Mayqueen, Half Pipe, Outward Bound, Twin Lakes, and Winfield. Unclaimed bags after the posted pickup deadline are donated to local charities, and bags are not mailed.
Crew & Pacers
Crew access is limited to Mayqueen, Outward Bound, Pipeline, and Twin Lakes. No crew, spectators, or pacers at Winfield. Pacers may join from Twin Lakes inbound at mile 62 with a pacer bib and signed waiver. Follow parking staff, shuttle instructions, and all local and USFS regulations to protect the community and trails.
Swag & Medals
Finisher buckles based on time and an awards ceremony on Sunday. Historic belt buckles include the coveted under-25-hour “big buckle.” Additional swag varies by year and is distributed at check-in and the expo.
Getting There
Denver International Airport is the primary gateway, approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours by car depending on traffic and weather. Colorado Springs Airport is an alternative option with a scenic mountain drive to Leadville. Downtown Leadville hosts the Expo, start, and finish, making walkability and shuttles practical for crews.
Driving Directions
Start and finish at 6th Street and Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461.
Parking
USFS day-use fees may be required at certain access points. Follow on-site signage and crew parking staff. Crew parking is staffed by attendants with designated areas at official crew locations. Expect congestion at Twin Lakes and leave extra time to walk to the aid stations. Obey all posted restrictions and never block emergency access.
Lodging
Stay in Leadville for maximum convenience near the Expo, start, and finish. Nearby towns such as Buena Vista and Twin Lakes offer additional hotels, cabins, and camping. Camping in certain day-use areas is not allowed; follow USFS guidance and local rules.
Leadville, colorado
Requirements
Minimum age is 18 on race day. There are no formal qualifying race requirements for entry; most entrants secure a spot via the lottery, qualifiers, volunteer preference, charity partners, or Life Time pathways. Be prepared for extreme altitude and mountain weather.
Trail Work
Give back by volunteering locally or supporting the Leadville Legacy Foundation if you wish to offset your impact.
Mandatory Gear
Strongly recommended for safety are reliable lighting for overnight hours, insulation and rain protection for alpine weather swings, hydration capacity for long climbs, and basic first-aid.
Policies
Charity & Beneficiary
A portion of race entry fees and many fundraising efforts support the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, which invests directly in Leadville and Lake County through scholarships and community grants. Runners can also join Life Time Foundation charity teams to fund youth nutrition and activity programs.
Land Acknowledgement
This race takes place on the traditional homelands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) peoples who have stewarded the central Colorado mountains since time immemorial. We honor their enduring relationship to this land and encourage all participants to treat the course and surrounding communities with respect and care.
About Leadville Race Series
Race produced by Leadville Race Series.
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Disclaimer
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