Flat grade share
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 74.5% Favoured
Montana Marathon (Billings) vs Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofMontana Marathon (Billings) or Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon — 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
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%
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%
| Metric | Montana Marathon (Billings) | Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 74.5% ✓ | 56.3% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | -2.5% | -4.6% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 7.2% | 11.2% |
| Steep-up share | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Downhill share | 18.3% | 32.5% |
| Total ascent (m) | 193 m | 256 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.6 m/km | 6.1 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 3,750 m | 4,020 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 39 m | 96 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 1.0% | 2.4% |
| Total descent (m) | 446 m | 735 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -253 m | -479 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.6% | 15.1% |
| Start elevation (m) | 1,211 m | 2,769 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 958 m | 2,290 m |
| Scenic score | 97/100 | 100/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 71/100 | 77/100 ✓ |
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 | Montana Marathon (Billings) | Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Billings, Montana | Estes Park, Colorado |
| 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 | Roads open to traffic. | Mixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use paths |
| Elevation character | Net Downhill | Net Downhill |
| Terrain | Unavailable | Mixed, Trail, Road |
| Scenery | Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City | Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront |
| Atmosphere | Unavailable | Scenic Tour, Destination |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Moderate |
| Total ascent | 193 m | 256 m |
| Climbing density | 4.6 m/km | 6.1 m/km |
| Total descent | 446 m | 735 m |
| Net elevation | -253 m | -479 m |
| Max absolute grade | 15.6% | 15.1% |
| Flat grade share | 74.5% | 56.3% |
| GAP factor | -2.5% | -4.6% |
| Cutoff | 6:30:00 | Unavailable |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Unavailable |
Schedule
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-06-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Billings, Montana
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Estes Park, Colorado
Actual distance
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 42.2 km
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Held
Course type
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Point To Point
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Point To Point
Surface
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Roads open to traffic.
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mixed: road shoulders, dirt trail and paved multi Use paths
Elevation character
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Net Downhill
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Net Downhill
Terrain
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Unavailable
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mixed, Trail, Road
Scenery
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Mountain, Forest, Lakeside, Parkland, Waterfront
Atmosphere
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Unavailable
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Scenic Tour, Destination
Technicality
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Non Technical
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Moderate
Total ascent
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 193 m
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 256 m
Climbing density
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 4.6 m/km
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 6.1 m/km
Total descent
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 446 m
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 735 m
Net elevation
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -253 m
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- -479 m
Max absolute grade
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 15.6%
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 15.1%
Flat grade share
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 74.5%
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- 56.3%
GAP factor
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -2.5%
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- -4.6%
Cutoff
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 6:30:00
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Unavailable
Entry model
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Open
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Boston_equivalent
- Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon
- Unavailable
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, Montana Marathon (Billings) or Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon?
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.