Never Summer 100k / 60k
About this race
A high-alpine mountain ultra through Colorado's State Forest State Park near Gould, run between the Never Summer Mountains and the Medicine Bow Range. The course crosses jeep roads, alpine single-track, boulder fields, and long high ridgelines with abundant wildlife — and is a Western States 100 qualifier.
Choose your distance
100km
What's included in your entry
- Fully stocked aid stations
- Gender-specific race t-shirt
- Unique finisher award
- Finish-line meal (60k & 100k) plus post-race breakfast (100k); vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free options
- Professional medical & emergency coverage
- Real-time results with aid-station splits
- Western States 100 lottery qualification
The course
This is a mountain race in the truest sense — extended high-alpine ridge running through State Forest State Park, with terrain ranging from jeep roads to alpine single-track and significant wildlife (moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bears).
Significant portions run between 10,000 and 12,000 feet, crossing bomber alpine trail, cross-country terrain, boulder fields, and shin-deep mud. Views include the Never Summer Mountains to the south and expansive vistas across North Park to the Park Range in the west.
GPX files for both distances are available. Print all maps you or your crew will need before travelling — cell service is lost a mile past the Highway 287/14 junction and may not return the entire weekend.
Race weekend timeline
Aid-station cut-off times
| 100km · Summit (mi 22.9) | 1:45 pm |
| 100km · Ruby Jewel (mi 31.6) | 4:30 pm |
| 100km · Clear Lake 2 (mi 45.3) | 10:45 pm |
| 100km · Canadian (mi 51.5) | 1:00 am |
| 100km · Bockman (mi 57.4) | 3:00 am |
| 100km · Finish | 5:30 am Sun |
| 60km · Summit (mi 22.9) | 2:15 pm |
| 60km · Bockman (mi 30.9) | 5:30 pm |
| 60km · Finish | 8:30 pm Fri |
If you're not leaving an aid station by its cut-off you'll get a ride back to the finish. Sweeps leave at cut-off, taking course markings with them.
Jacket (windproof / waterproof recommended)
Warm hat / beanie / buff, and gloves
Whistle
Water capacity — minimum 32 oz / 1 L
Light (100km only)
Aid stations
100km aid stations: Michigan Ditch (11.4), Diamond (19.5), Montgomery (25.5), Ruby Jewel (31.6), Kelly Lake (36.3 · safety only), Clear Lake 1 (40.9), Clear Lake 2 (45.3), Canadian (51.5), Bockman (57.4), Ranger Lakes (63.6), Finish (65.7).
60km aid stations: Michigan Ditch (11.4), Diamond (19.5), Montgomery (25.5), Bockman (30.9), Ranger Lakes (37.1), Finish (39.2).
Full-service stations stock Gnarly Fuel2O, Naak gels, water/ice, salty snacks, fruit, sweets, soda, tortillas with PB/turkey, potatoes, grilled cheese/quesadillas, soup, ramen and hot drinks. GF/vegan alternatives on request. A CO State Parks pass is required to access any aid station.
The hardest section is the 10 miles from Ruby Jewel to Clear Lake — high, rough and remote. Stock up at Ruby Jewel; a first responder with limited water and first aid sits at Kelly Lake, the midpoint of that leg.
Drop bags & crew access
Bring your own reasonably-sized bag, clearly labelled with name and bib.
100km drop-bag locations: Diamond, Ruby Jewel, Clear Lake, Canadian, Bockman, Finish. 60km: Diamond, Bockman, Finish.
Bags from later stations won't return to the finish until early Sunday morning.
Getting there & lodging
Directions
- Start/finish is the Gould Community Center, 56750 CO-14, Gould, CO 80480. From Fort Collins it's 1.5–1.75 hrs west on Highway 14; 2.5–3 hrs from Denver via Poudre Canyon.
- Last 24-hour gas is at the 287/14 junction. You lose cell service a mile past there and may not regain it all weekend.
- Main parking is at the Community Center (limited — carpool), with drop-off at the Moose Visitor Center 0.5 mi west. No parking on Highway 14.
Camping & lodging
- On-site limited car camping at the Gould Community Center (pre-order via RunSignup).
- Cabins & yurts: State Forest Cabins, Yonder Yurts, Powderhorn, Howling Coyote. Campgrounds in State Forest State Park and Routt National Forest.
- Hotels in Walden (~25–30 min): North Park Inn, Antlers Inn, Chedsey Motel.
Good to know
- Purposeful littering is immediate disqualification. Stay on trail, run through mud, yield to pedestrians and horses. No dogs on course. Trail Sisters Approved.
- Crewing at designated aid stations only. 100km crew access: Diamond, Ruby Jewel (1.8-mi hike), Canadian (1-mi hike), Bockman. 60km: Diamond, Bockman, plus drop-off for the last 2 miles from Ranger Lakes. No muling.
- Pacers: one at a time from Canadian to the finish (switch at Bockman); runners 60+ may pace from Ruby Jewel.
- Spectating: Lake Agnes (mile 10, 1-mi hike), North Diamond Summit (11,850', 1.5k climb from Cameron Pass), Jewel Lake (2.5 mi beyond Ruby Jewel), and Clark Peak (12,950').
- Permanent restrooms at the start/finish, Diamond, Ruby Jewel, Canadian and Bockman; trowel & TP elsewhere. Training runs run May–July, with a course-preview weekend (camping + trail work) in late June/early July.
- Distance changes online until Monday, Jul 21 at midnight: 60km can upgrade to 100km for a fee; 100km can drop to 60km free. Transfer/deferral credit: 100% until Feb 15, 75% to May 31, 50% to Jul 18 (excludes RunSignup fees). Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable except via the waitlist.
Awards
A unique finisher award for all finishers. Ceremonies at 2:30 pm Friday (60km) and during the 100km post-race breakfast Sunday. 60km age-group awards on a rolling basis.
Discounts, deferrals & transfers
Plans change. Discounts, deferral windows, and bib-transfer rules are the same across every Gnar Runners race — see the details on our Discounts & Deferrals page.
Who puts this on
Directed by Nick Clark & Brad Bishop. Questions? Email racedirector@gnarrunners.com.