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Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run
Race Details:
- Location: Wrightwood, CA, USA
- Race Date: 10/03/2026
- Race Distances: 100 Mile, Ultra Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Western States 100: Yes
UTMB Index: Yes
Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run Description
The Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run marks its 36th year in 2026, with a temporary course change: trail and road closures in the San Gabriel Mountains have moved the start and finish to Loma Alta Park in Altadena, instead of the traditional Wrightwood route. The 100.8-mile out-and-back course climbs through the Angeles National Forest to Mt. Hillyer and back, passing Red Box, Chantry Flats, and Mt. Wilson along the way. With roughly 20,000 feet of climbing, a 33-hour cutoff, and rugged, remote singletrack, it’s one of the toughest 100-milers around, and a qualifier for both Western States and UTMB.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
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Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run Additional Details:
Finish this one and you don’t get a medal, you earn a buckle, the traditional reward in 100-mile ultrarunning that AC100 finishers wear as a badge of the sport’s toughest test. Fifteen aid stations spread across the course, spaced anywhere from 3 to 12 miles apart, serve up water, electrolytes, ice when conditions allow, and the rotating spread of real food ultrarunners rely on late in a race like this. Runners with support crews can bring on a pacer starting at Chilao, around mile 49, just as the trail gets tougher and the night miles begin. By the finish, the atmosphere turns into a rolling festival of its own, with crews, pacers, and volunteers creating an electric scene for whoever comes through, whether that’s the front-runners or the last finishers battling the 33-hour cutoff.
Course Information
Profile: Very Hilly
Type: Out and Back
Surface: Trails
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 33 hours
# of Finishers
100 Mile: ~50% of 200 to 250 entrants
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 20,000 ft
Elevation Loss: 20,000 ft
Average Temperature
- Low: 51°F
- High: 82°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Plans for every ultra distance, from your first one to your longest day yet.
Things to Do in Wrightwood, CA, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Jackson Lake
Take in mountain views at Jackson Lake near Big Pines, a peaceful spot for fishing and picnicking in the Angeles National Forest — a relaxed, flat way to spend a rest day.
Outdoors & Trails
Pacific Crest Trail
Hike a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail from Wrightwood toward Camp Hachey through the Angeles National Forest — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs after race day.
Landmark
Mount Baden-Powell
See the 9,400-foot peak of Mount Baden-Powell, a landmark summit in the San Gabriel Mountains above Wrightwood — a relaxed way to spend a taper day.
Sports & Entertainment
Big Pines Recreation Area
Stop by the Big Pines Recreation Area and Grassy Hollow Visitor Center for trail maps and outdoor recreation near Wrightwood — a relaxed, low-impact way to spend an afternoon after race day.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run
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