The Western States 100 is one of those races that fuels dreams long before you ever cross its start line. 100.2 miles, or just over 161 km, thousands of metres of elevation change, California’s canyons and the legendary finish in Auburn, taking part in Western States is a truly special goal in an ultra trail runner’s career.
But before thinking about crossing the Middle Fork of the American River or finishing on the Placer High School track, you first need to secure your bib.
The Western States 2027 schedule is now confirmed. The race will take place on June 26 and 27, 2027. To enter the lottery, you must complete a qualifying trail race within the deadlines set by the organization. Lottery applications will be open from November 1 to 21, 2026, ahead of the December 5, 2026 draw.
So, how can you give yourself a chance of lining up at Western States in 2027? More importantly, what do you need to plan several months before the draw?
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Western States 2027: why should you prepare your application now?
The first thing to understand is that registration for the Western States does not begin in November.
It starts much earlier.
To enter the 2027 lottery, you must have completed an official qualifying race during the period defined by Western States. For the 2027 edition, this period runs from November 3, 2025, to November 8, 2026. A race that is not included on the official list cannot be used to qualify, and virtual events are not accepted.
In other words, if you dream of Western States 2027 and have not yet completed your qualifying race, the calendar quickly becomes important.
First, you need to:
- choose a qualifying race;
- check that it appears on the official list;
- finish it within the required cutoff time;
- then wait for lottery applications to open.
It is therefore a project built several months in advance.
How do you qualify for Western States 2027?
Western States has an official list of qualifying races. It includes events over different distances, provided they meet the criteria set by the organization.
The minimum distance for a race to be considered a qualifier is 100 km. For races shorter than 100 miles, the organization requires at least 2,500 metres of elevation gain. The selection process also takes the number of finishers into account.
Before registering, make sure the event is included on the official list of qualifiers for the 2027 lottery.
It is a small check that can save you from a major disappointment a few months later.
Qualifying does not guarantee a bib
This is probably the most important point to remember. Finishing a qualifying race does not mean you are registered for Western States. Qualification simply allows you to enter the selection process. For the vast majority of applicants, access then comes through a lottery.
Western States is limited to 369 runners because of restrictions related to passage through the Granite Chief Wilderness. This number is tied to the historic conditions that allowed the race to continue through this protected area.
That is why the number of applicants far exceeds the number of available places.
Western States 2027: key dates to remember
If your goal is to take your shot at Western States 2027, here is the schedule to keep in mind:
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| End of the qualifying period | November 8, 2026 |
| Lottery opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Application deadline | November 21, 2026 |
| Lottery draw | December 5, 2026 |
| Western States 2027 | June 26-27, 2027 |
Applicants must be at least 18 years old on race day and have a valid qualifying race. Once selected, runners receive an invitation to complete their registration.
If you want to run Western States 2027, now is the time to check your eligibility, not after the draw.
What if I am selected in the lottery?
It is probably the scenario you start dreaming about once your lottery application is confirmed. One morning in December, you check the results and your name is there. From that moment, the project takes on a completely new dimension.
Western States is no longer just a distant goal. It becomes a race on your calendar.
The organization then provides a limited period to finalize registration. For 2027, selected runners have ten days to complete their registration after receiving their invitation.
And that is when specific race preparation really begins. Securing your bib is one thing. Being ready to take on 100.2 miles is another. This is where RunMotion Coach comes in, offering an ultra training plan tailored to your fitness level and race goal.
What should you prepare for at Western States 2027?
Western States is not simply a 100-mile race to run as fast as possible.
The course starts at Olympic Valley, at altitude, before crossing the Sierra Nevada and the Granite Chief Wilderness. Runners then gradually drop into the American River canyons, with long descents and especially demanding climbs.
The route covers around 100.2 miles and features more than 18,000 feet of climbing and nearly 23,000 feet of descent.
It is this succession of terrain that makes the preparation so specific.
For a runner used to Alpine trails, the challenge will not necessarily be finding elevation gain. For runners from relatively flat regions, the challenge is different: you need to learn how to absorb hours of downhill running, keep moving when your legs begin to tire, and maintain effective fueling and hydration over a very long duration.
And do not forget the heat. While conditions vary from year to year, Western States is traditionally associated with high temperatures in the canyons and around Auburn.
A race where management matters as much as fitness
Western States is also fascinating because it forces you to think about your race strategy long before the start. In an ultra of this distance, going out too fast can come at a huge cost in the second half.
The opening miles can make you want to soak up the atmosphere and the excitement of the start. But the race unfolds over many hours, with long descents, technical sections, temperature changes and fatigue that gradually becomes more significant.
Managing your effort, fueling and hydration must therefore be part of your preparation. To manage your race strategy, RunMotion has created a tool that gives you your paces, split times, nutrition and hydration strategy, all tailored to your target finish time: Race Strategy.
You need to be able to keep moving forward after several hours of racing.
The Rucky Chucky crossing: one of the race’s defining moments
It is hard to talk about Western States without mentioning the river crossing. Around mile 78, runners reach the Middle Fork of the American River at Rucky Chucky. It is one of the event’s iconic sections.
By that point, more than 120 km have already been covered. Fatigue is significant, but the finish also starts to feel real. Yet there is still enough distance left for nothing to be settled.
That is the unique nature of 100-mile races: even when you can finally see the goal, you still need to be able to run.
What if I am not selected?
It is a possibility to accept from the start.
The Western States lottery is designed to select participants from a pool of applications larger than the number of available places. Runners who are not selected and remain eligible can retain additional tickets for future lottery entries.
In other words, a first application can also be the beginning of a multi-year project. You can then see the journey differently:
2026: I find my qualifying race.
November 2026: I enter the lottery.
December 2026: I discover the draw results.
And if it is not your year, the project can continue. That long-term commitment is also part of Western States culture.
Can you get a place other than through the lottery?
Yes, there are several specific routes into the race.
Western States awards automatic entries in certain situations and also runs the HOKA Golden Ticket Races, a series of events that allow some of the best male and female trail runners to earn a direct invitation. For 2027, six races are part of this series.
There is also a charity lottery that offers the chance to win an automatic entry, provided the qualification requirements are met.
But for runners who simply want to take their chance, the main route is this: qualifying race → application → lottery → registration.
Why start dreaming about Western States 2027 now?
Because you do not prepare for Western States in a few weeks. Even before knowing whether your name will be drawn, you can start building the project.
Choose a qualifying race.
Prepare for a first 100 km goal.
Work on long descents.
Learn to manage several hours of effort.
Test your race nutrition.
Build experience through ultra races.
Then, one day, perhaps receive that famous invitation. And from there, the project takes on a whole new dimension.
Western States 2027 will take place on June 26 and 27, 2027. But if you hope to be on the start line in Olympic Valley, the first key date is much closer: your qualifying race must be completed before November 8, 2026, and your lottery application must be submitted between November 1 and 21, 2026.
Western States 2027 schedule at a glance
Before November 8, 2026
→ complete an official qualifying race.
November 1-21, 2026
→ submit your lottery application.
December 5, 2026
→ lottery draw.
June 26-27, 2027
→ meet in Olympic Valley for the start of the Western States 100.
There is only one question left to ask:
What if 2027 were the year you took your chance?