How hilly is the Sundance to Spearfish Marathon?
The Sundance to Spearfish Marathon is described as net downhill. The course listing puts the climb at 65 m.
Sundance to Spearfish 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.
Decision summary
Sundance to Spearfish Marathon at a glance
- Typical conditions
- 64/100
- Evidence depth
- 33 verified facts
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
Sundance to Spearfish Marathon has known course details for its marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 42.2 km
- Terrain
- Mixed, Gravel
- Scenery
- Canyon, Countryside, Mountain, Forest, Riverside
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the Sundance to Spearfish Marathon route go?
The Sundance to Spearfish Marathon route starts at Cement Ridge in the Black Hills and finishes at Spearfish, South Dakota (approx. 3,640 ft elevation). Underfoot, expect first 12 miles on runnable improved gravel roads, remaining 14 miles on paved highway. It passes Spearfish Canyon, Spearfish Canyon National Scenic Byway (US 14A), Savoy and Dances with Wolves winter film site.
Race character
Scenery
- Canyon
- Countryside
- Mountain
- Forest
- Riverside
Atmosphere
- Destination
- Scenic Tour
Terrain
- Mixed
- Gravel
- Elevation character
- Net Downhill
- Technicality
- Non Technical
- Source-stated ascent
- 65 m
- Net elevation
- -907 m
Entry, logistics and records
Records and field
- Field size
- Small field; 85 finishers in 2025, historically 61-86 finishers per year
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
- Qualification status
- Boston Qualifier; USATF Certified fast downhill course (25.9% of 2025 finishers ran Boston Qualifying times).
Access and course status
- Start
- Cement Ridge in the Black Hills
- Finish
- Spearfish, South Dakota (approx. 3,640 ft elevation)
Course facts
- Course type
- Point To Point
- Surface
- First 12 miles on runnable improved gravel roads, remaining 14 miles on paved highway
- Landmarks
- Spearfish Canyon, Spearfish Canyon National Scenic Byway (US 14A), Savoy, Dances with Wolves winter film site
- Notable features
- USATF-certified, almost entirely downhill except for one climb from mile 2.00 to 2.56 with 169 ft gain
- descends Spearfish Canyon Hwy (Rt 14A, a National Scenic Byway)
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 18°CTypical temperature
- 20 kphTypical wind
- 1 mmTypical rainfall
- 64Favourability /100