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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Half Marathon
  • 21.1 km
  • Keystone
  • Event weekend starts
  • Past event

Mount Rushmore Half Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 7.6% versus flat · net elevation 87 m

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of Source last verified

Decision summary

Mount Rushmore Half Marathon at a glance

Route ascent
603 m

Lower than 8% of comparable mapped races

Typical conditions
47/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
34 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Mount Rushmore Half Marathon route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Mount Rushmore Half Marathon, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Mount Rushmore Half Marathon?

The Mount Rushmore Half Marathon route has 603 m of ascent, 516 m of descent and an estimated 7.6% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Mount Rushmore Half Marathon route go?

The Mount Rushmore Half Marathon route starts at Ghost Canyon Getaway, near Hermosa, SD; race starts at 7:00 am and finishes at Borglum Story Museum in the town of Keystone, SD. Underfoot, expect begins on a well-packed dirt road for about 3 miles before turning to pavement for the remainder. It passes Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills and Borglum Story Museum.

Race character

Scenery

  • Mountain
  • Countryside
  • Forest
  • Historic

Atmosphere

  • Destination
  • Scenic Tour
  • Wilderness

Terrain

  • Mixed
Elevation character
Hilly
Technicality
Non Technical

Entry, logistics and records

Entry requirements

Entry status
Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
Qualification status
Not a Boston Marathon qualifier; open recreational half marathon with no qualifying standard.

Race day logistics

Expo / packet pickup
Pre-race expo on Friday, September 11, 2026, 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
Medal
Finisher medals for everyone who finishes the race; place medals for the top 5 male, female and non-binary overall, the Masters 40+ group, and the top 5 in each age group.

Access and course status

Start
Ghost Canyon Getaway, near Hermosa, SD; race starts at 7:00 am.
Finish
Borglum Story Museum in the town of Keystone, SD.

Course facts

Course type
Point To Point
Surface
Begins on a well Packed dirt road for about 3 miles before turning to pavement for the remainder.
Landmarks
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills, Borglum Story Museum
Notable features
  • Limited, discounted entries are offered to members of the Early Access List, who also get access to registration 48 hours before the general public
  • late registration prices increase on March 23, 2026
  • Six aid stations at miles 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 12 offering water, Gnarly Hydrate, Honey Stinger gels and fruit (at later stations), with toilets at each and a medic at the mile 7 aid station

How hilly is the Mount Rushmore Half Marathon?

17%21%19%23%20%
  • Steep descent 17%
  • Descent 21%
  • Flat 19%
  • Climb 23%
  • Steep climb 20%
Total ascent
603 m
Net elevation
+87 m
GAP factor
7.6%
Longest climb
2,140 m at 6.0%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 21°CTypical temperature
  • 20 kphTypical wind
  • 4 mmTypical rainfall
  • 47Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Mount Rushmore Half Marathon flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 7.6% slower than a flat course, with about 603 m of total ascent.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (3)

Read the full methodology →