General Course Description

The course is five races in one: the 6k really fun run, a 20 mile “fun run”, a 53k, a 50 miler and a 100k. All distances start and finish at Millpond County Park, five miles north of Bishop, California.

The 6k is an out and back from Millpond County Park, through the campground, and then following the other route’s markings to the Tungsten City Aid Station, then returning the same way.

All distances other than the 6k head through Millpond Campground before heading north then west around the Tungsten Hills, where the first aid station is encountered at mile 4. Climbing steadily on four wheel drive roads, the course continues up and around the main north west side of the Tungstens before briefly leveling out as the second aid station is neared at mile 9.8. After passing through the aid station, all distances turn right and again head uphill, towards Basin Mountain, Mount Tom, and the Buttermilk aid station at mile 11. The Buttermilk aid station is the turn around for the twenty mile fun run. 

All distances other than the 6k head through Millpond Campground before heading north then west around the Tungsten Hills, where the first aid station is encountered at mile 4. Climbing steadily on four wheel drive roads, the course continues up and around the main north west side of the Tungstens before briefly leveling out as the second aid station, Junction, is neared at mile 9.8. After passing through the aid station, all distances turn right and again head uphill, towards Basin Mountain, Mount Tom, and the Buttermilk aid station at mile 11. The Buttermilk aid station is the turn around for the twenty mile fun run, which turns around here and returns to the Junction aid station. Continuing on new terrain, the course continues mostly downhill, with a few short up hills, to the Highway 168 aid station. Now it’s all down hill, passing through Tungsten City aid station and on to the finish where we’ll have food and drink a plenty. 

All distances other than the 6k head through Millpond Campground before heading north then west around the Tungsten Hills, where the first aid station is encountered at mile 4. Climbing steadily on four wheel drive roads, the course continues up and around the main north west side of the Tungstens before briefly leveling out as the second aid station, Junction, is neared at mile 9.8. After passing through the aid station, all distances turn right and again head uphill, towards Basin Mountain, Mount Tom, and the Buttermilk aid station at mile 11. The Buttermilk aid station is the turn around for the twenty mile fun run, which turns around here and returns to the Junction aid station. All other distances continue uphill on the Buttermilk Road, heading higher into the Eastern Sierra. The route stays on a rough, four wheel drive road and finally heads into a bit of forest as it nears McGee Creek aid station at mile 15. The course continues climbing to the busy Edison aid station at mile 17.4. This is the turn around for 53k racers. 53k racers will reverse the course back to the Junction aid station at mile 25. Continuing on new terrain, the course continues mostly downhill, with a few short up hills, to the Highway 168 aid station. Now it’s all down hill, passing through Tungsten City aid station and on to the finish where we’ll have food and drink a plenty. 

All distances other than the 6k head through Millpond Campground before heading north then west around the Tungsten Hills, where the first aid station is encountered at mile 4. Climbing steadily on four wheel drive roads, the course continues up and around the main north west side of the Tungstens before briefly leveling out as the second aid station, Junction, is neared at mile 9.8. After passing through the aid station, all distances turn right and again head uphill, towards Basin Mountain, Mount Tom, and the Buttermilk aid station at mile 11. The Buttermilk aid station is the turn around for the twenty mile fun run, which turns around here and returns to the Junction aid station. All other distances continue uphill on the Buttermilk Road, heading higher into the Eastern Sierra. The route stays on a rough, four wheel drive road and finally heads into a bit of forest as it nears McGee Creek aid station at mile 15. The course continues climbing to the busy Edison aid station at mile 17.4. This is the turn around for 53k racers. Lucky 50 milers and 100k folks get to now do the famous “Edison Loop”, a counter clockwise, 6 mile or so tour of the high country of the area, with great views to Mt. Tom, Mt. Humphreys, and out over the Owens Valley to the White Mountains. 

After returning to the Edison Aid station at mile 23.4 the route continues over a hill and across highway 168 (not too busy, but be cautious here anyway) and to the Intake 2 aid station at mile 26. One final out and back to the Bishop Creek Aid Station will see you returning to Intake 2 at mile 32. One final climb and descent and you’re back to Edison Aid for the final time, and mile 35. Now it’s a long downhill cruise, likely into the heat of the day, retracing your steps all the way back to the Junction aid station at mile 42.5.  

Continuing on new terrain, the course continues mostly downhill, with a few short up hills, to the Highway 168 aid station. Now it’s all down hill, passing through Tungsten City aid station and on to the finish where we’ll have food and drink a plenty. 

All distances other than the 6k head through Millpond Campground before heading north then west around the Tungsten Hills, where the first aid station is encountered at mile 4. Climbing steadily on four wheel drive roads, the course continues up and around the main north west side of the Tungstens before briefly leveling out as the second aid station, Junction, is neared at mile 9.8. After passing through the aid station, all distances turn right and again head uphill, towards Basin Mountain, Mount Tom, and the Buttermilk aid station at mile 11. The Buttermilk aid station is the turn around for the twenty mile fun run, which turns around here and returns to the Junction aid station. All other distances continue uphill on the Buttermilk Road, heading higher into the Eastern Sierra. The route stays on a rough, four wheel drive road and finally heads into a bit of forest as it nears McGee Creek aid station at mile 15. The course continues climbing to the busy Edison aid station at mile 17.4. This is the turn around for 53k racers. Lucky 50 milers and 100k folks get to now do the famous “Edison Loop”, a counter clockwise, 6 mile or so tour of the high country of the area, with great views to Mt. Tom, Mt. Humphreys, and out over the Owens Valley to the White Mountains. 

After returning to the Edison Aid station at mile 23.4 the route continues over a hill and across highway 168 (not too busy, but be cautious here anyway) and to the Intake 2 aid station at mile 26. One final out and back to the Bishop Creek Aid Station will see you returning to Intake 2 at mile 32. One final climb and descent and you’re back to Edison Aid for the final time, and mile 35. Now it’s a long downhill cruise, likely into the heat of the day, retracing your steps all the way back to the Junction aid station at mile 42.5.  

Continuing on new terrain, the course continues mostly downhill, with a few short up hills, to the Highway 168 aid station, and the Tungsten City Aid Station at mile 48.5. You make the famous left turn, continuing on a long, fairly gentle, uphill to the Sage City aid station. You didn’t think this would be an easy 100k, did you? Now you do a 4.6 mile out and back to the turn around, where we’ll have a sticker or hole punch for your bib. One last climb, back up to Sage, and it’s all glorious downhill, pass Tungsten City one last time, and onto the finish, where we’ll have food and drink, hoses for rinsing, and comfortable chairs to rest in. Congrats! 

Maps, GPX and profiles

100k map at Caltopo | 100k pdf map | 100k gpx file | 100k profile pdf 50 Mile map at Caltopo | 50 mile pdf map | 50 mile gpx file | 50 mile profile pdf 53k map at Caltopo | 53k pdf map | 53k gpx file | 53k profile pdf 20 Mile map at Caltopo | 20 mile pdf map | 20 mile gpx file | 20 mile profile pdf We highly recommend that you put the gpx files into your phone and that you use a mapping app such as Gaia or Avenza during your race.

Start and finish location

The race start and finish area is located at Millpond County Recreation area, well signed off of highway 395 from both north and south directions, roughly a ten minute drive from central Bishop. 

Bishop Ultras is produced and operated by the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) as a non-profit fund raiser. ESIA is a non profit. The races are conducted with permits from these land managers: Inyo National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, LADWP, Inyo County Parks, and Caltrans. In accordance with common decency and respect, Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Bishop Ultras and ESIA are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

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