Bridger Ridge Run

🏔️ Event Overview

The Ed Anacker Bridger Ridge Run is a remote and aesthetic ~20 mile foot-race along the crest of the Bridger Mountains, near Bozeman in Southwest Montana. It is a not-for-profit event enabled by about as many volunteers as participants.

🏃‍♂️ Race Organization

The Bridger Ridge Run is put on & sponsored by the Big Sky Wind Drinkers, which is a premier running club for runners of all ages and abilities. Some videos, photos, and history of this event can be found on this Big Sky Wind Drinkers webpage.

⛰️ Course Difficulty

Essentially the entire route involves unstable footing, challenging ascents, brutal descents, and unpredictable weather along an exposed ridge. Experience with mountain running is important.

• Access: No part of the route can be accessed by a road.
• Supplies: All supplies, including water, are hauled to Aid Stations through human volunteering.
• Tracking: Aid Stations will carefully track each participant's progress.
• Water Policy: Note: the race is "cupless" (ie, Aid Stations will not have cups).

🤝 Volunteering

This entire event is enabled through volunteer effort. We offer a diversity of volunteering opportunities -- some well in advance of the event, and some during the event. Check out our Volunteer page for specific opportunities.

• Entry Incentives: Our registration process is designed to reward and incentivize volunteering for this event.
• Lottery System: Anyone seeking to register for this event must submit an application to our lottery.
• No Wait List: Note: we do not use a "Wait List".
• Communication: We will send periodic emails to registered participants with detailed instructions, information, and policies about the event.

✍️ Registration Process

(See the Registration Process page for more details.)

• Limit: The number of participants is limited to 250, as per the permit we receive from the US Forest Service.
• Application: An application process is intended to offer broad participation and reward volunteering.
• Lottery Notification: All applicants will be notified of their status before the close of May.
• Disqualification: Participants who arrive after cut-off times will be disqualified.

❗ Cancellation Policies

If, for any reason, a registered participant cancels their participation in the race after they sign up, they will not be granted a refund.

This event is committed to complying with governmental guidelines. For instance, we may impose strict rules of participation, or cancel the event altogether, due to a forest fire or due to CDC guidelines. If, for some reason, we cancel the race, registered participants will have these options:

1. Roll-Over: “Roll-over” their registration to the following year.
2. Donation: Donate their registration fee (and still get swag).

📅 Pre-Race Meeting

Participants, especially first-timers, are strongly advised to attend the pre-race meeting which will take place at 5:30pm the Friday before the Start at the Fish Hatchery.

• Conditions: Up-to-date conditions and weather prediction, including lightning hazard discussions.
• Route Description: Discussion of the route and answers to questions.
• Race Rules: Overview of race rules, including disqualification policies.
• Logistics: Discussion of race-day logistics.

🚦 Start Line Logistics

The race starts at 6:30am at the Fairy Lake Trailhead.

Transport: Each participant must arrange their own transport to the Start Line. There is no shuttle service available.

• Carpooling: Participants are encouraged to park their vehicles at HRDC (206 E Griffin Dr).
• Start Waves: Registered participants will be grouped into Start Waves, each spaced 5 minutes apart.
• Wave Assignments: Registered participants will be assigned a wave number, details will be emailed.
• Finishing Time: Each participant's finishing time will be recorded according to their assigned wave.

🗺️ Route Description

Here is a link to a downloadable GPS file of the route, including aid stations and other information.

• Elevation Start: The route embarks from Fairy Lake parking area (elevation 7,600').
• Critical Cuts: Cut-off times are imposed at specific points along the route.
• Disqualification: Participants must notify the Aid Station Lead if they drop out.
• Finish Line: The route ends at the Fish Hatchery (elevation 4,900').

🛑 Finish Area

The Finish Line is at the Fish Hatchery, by the Drinking Horse Trailhead.

Participants will be clearly directed from the M Trailhead through the Drinking Horse tunnel to the Finish Area.

• Medical Support: The Finish Area will have a medical team and snacks for participants.
• Awards: Awards will be given to top three overall finishers in each gender category.
• Social Gathering: Everyone is invited to hang around the Finish Area for refreshments and celebration.
• Shuttle Service: A shuttle bus will be operating to transport people between the Finish Area and HRDC.

📊 Results

Muddy Dog Sports does the timing for the race.

Results can be found on My Race Results.

📅 Event Date

The Bridger Ridge Run will take place on August 15, 2026 at the Fairy Lake Trailhead, Bozeman, MT. For more details, visit the official race page.