Flat grade share
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 74.5% Favoured
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon vs Montana Marathon (Billings)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofEstes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or Montana Marathon (Billings) — which comes out ahead?
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon has the stronger available profile on course flatness, scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- -4.6% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 56.3%
- lower ascent
- 256 m
- climbing density
- 6.1 m/km
- net elevation
- -479 m
- maximum grade
- 15.1%
Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- -2.5%
- flat grade share
- 74.5% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 193 m
- climbing density
- 4.6 m/km
- net elevation
- -253 m
- maximum grade
- 15.6%
| Metric | Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon | Montana Marathon (Billings) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 56.3% | 74.5% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | -4.6% ✓ | -2.5% |
| Uphill share | 11.2% | 7.2% |
| Steep-up share | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Downhill share | 32.5% | 18.3% |
| Total ascent (m) | 256 m | 193 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 6.1 m/km | 4.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 4,020 m | 3,750 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 96 m | 39 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.4% | 1.0% |
| Total descent (m) | 735 m | 446 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -479 m | -253 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.1% | 15.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 2,769 m | 1,211 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 2,290 m | 958 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 97/100 |
| Conditions | 77/100 ✓ | 71/100 |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- -4.6% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 4.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 3,750 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 1,211 m
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 77/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon | Montana Marathon (Billings) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Estes Park, Colorado | Billings, Montana |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Point To Point | Point To Point |
| Surface | Mixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use paths | Roads open to traffic. |
| Elevation character | Net Downhill | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Mixed, Trail, Road | Unavailable |
| Scenery | Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront | Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City |
| Atmosphere | Scenic Tour, Destination | Unavailable |
| Technicality | Moderate | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 256 m | 193 m |
| Climbing density | 6.1 m/km | 4.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 735 m | 446 m |
| Net elevation | -479 m | -253 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.1% | 15.6% |
| Flat grade share | 56.3% | 74.5% |
| GAP factor | -4.6% | -2.5% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Unavailable | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Billings, Montana
Actual distance
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
Course type
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Point To Point
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Point To Point
Surface
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use paths
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Roads open to traffic.
Elevation character
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Net Downhill
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mixed, Trail, Road
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Unavailable
Scenery
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City
Atmosphere
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Unavailable
Technicality
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Moderate
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 256 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 193 m
Climbing density
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 6.1 m/km
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 4.6 m/km
Total descent
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 735 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 446 m
Net elevation
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- -479 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -253 m
Max absolute grade
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 15.1%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 15.6%
Flat grade share
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 56.3%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 74.5%
GAP factor
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- -4.6%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -2.5%
Cutoff
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Open
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Open
Qualifying status
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Unavailable
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Boston_equivalent
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.
Common questions
Which is flatter, Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon or Montana Marathon (Billings)?
Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.