How hilly is the Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon?
The Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon is described as mountainous. The course listing puts the climb at 4,115 m.
Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon
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.
Official entry requirements ↗Data current as of
Decision summary
Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon at a glance
- Cut-off average pace
- 10:44/km
- Typical conditions
- 81/100
- Evidence depth
- 51 verified facts
18:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon has known course details for its ultramarathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 100.6 km
- Terrain
- Trail, Gravel
- Scenery
- Mountain, Forest, Parkland, Countryside, Riverside
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon route go?
The Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon route starts at Northeastern terminus of the Glenwood Horse Trail at the Hellgate Parking lot, near Big Hellgate Creek, 2.3 miles from Natural Bridge Station, VA and finishes at Camp Bethel, near Fincastle, VA (10 miles north of Troutville, VA). Underfoot, expect predominantly singletrack mountain trail (Glenwood Horse Trail) with gravel roads; technical, with steep climbs and descents, often frozen, icy or snow-covered. It passes Big Hellgate Creek, Petites Gap, Camping Gap, Overstreet Falls and Floyds Field. Famous 12:01 A.M. midnight start, so most of the course is run in winter darkness by headlamp.
What should runners know on race day for the Hellgate 100K Ultramarathon?
Drop bags allowed for runners without a crew at Floyd's Field (22.5 mi) and Bearwallow Gap (42.5 mi); one bag, transported between the two. 9. Pacers are not permitted; runners are aided by crews and aid stations only.
Race character
Scenery
- Mountain
- Forest
- Parkland
- Countryside
- Riverside
Atmosphere
- Wilderness
- Nighttime
Terrain
- Trail
- Gravel
- Elevation character
- Mountainous
- Technicality
- Technical
- Source-stated ascent
- 4,115 m
Entry, logistics and records
Records and field
- Men's course record
- 10:10:38 (Brian Culmo)
- Women's course record
- 11:59:06 (Rachel Spaulding)
- Field size
- 150
- Field cap
- 150
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Qualification entry: Entry is listed as qualification-based.
- Cut-off
- 18 hour overall time limit; intermediate cutoffs at Headforemost/Floyds Field (22.5 mi) by 6:40 A.M. and Bearwallow Gap (42.5 mi) by 12:30 P.M.
- Qualification status
- Not a qualifier for other races; entry is by application and Race Committee acceptance based on prior ultra experience, not a lottery.
Race day logistics
- Aid stations
- 9
- Pacers
- Pacers are not permitted; runners are aided by crews and aid stations only.
- Bag drop
- Drop bags allowed for runners without a crew at Floyd's Field (22.5 mi) and Bearwallow Gap (42.5 mi); one bag, transported between the two.
- Medal
- Sub-18-hour finishers receive a special Patagonia finisher award rather than a medal.
- Finisher tee
- Registered runners receive a Capilene Zip-T; finisher awards are Patagonia jackets/items, varying by finish place and gender. Five-time finishers receive a special award.
Access and course status
- Start
- Northeastern terminus of the Glenwood Horse Trail at the Hellgate Parking lot, near Big Hellgate Creek, 2.3 miles from Natural Bridge Station, VA
- Finish
- Camp Bethel, near Fincastle, VA (10 miles north of Troutville, VA)
Course facts
- Course type
- Point To Point
- Surface
- Predominantly singletrack mountain trail (Glenwood Horse Trail) with gravel roads; technical, with steep climbs and descents, often frozen, icy or snow Covered.
- Landmarks
- Big Hellgate Creek, Petites Gap, Camping Gap, Overstreet Falls, Floyds Field, Jennings Creek, Little Cove Mountain, Bearwallow Gap, Bobbletts Gap, Day Creek, Blackhorse Gap, Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, Devils Marbleyard, Camp Bethel
- Notable features
- Famous 12:01 A.M. midnight start, so most of the course is run in winter darkness by headlamp. Nicknamed for its brutal weather and David Hortons course-design 'Horton miles' (the 100K is actually about 66.6 miles)
- The course crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway four times (Petites Gap, Floyds Field, Bobbletts Gap, Black Horse Gap) and intersects the Appalachian Trail. Nine aid stations
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 3°CTypical temperature
- 13 kphTypical wind
- 3 mmTypical rainfall
- 81Favourability /100