Angeles Crest 100 is a 100 miles ultra marathon in Wrightwood, United States. Distance: 161km. Elevation: 6,100m D+. Difficulty: brutal (Challenge Rating 56/100). DNF rate: 40%. Time limit: 34h. Surface: trail. Established 1986.
Angeles Crest 100
Wrightwood, California, United States
"100 miles through the mountains behind LA — extreme heat, 6100m of climbing, and a 40% DNF rate."
A brutal California mountain 100-miler through the San Gabriel Mountains with extreme heat, massive descents, and one of the highest DNF rates in American ultrarunning.
The Course
Point-to-point through the San Gabriel Mountains from Wrightwood to Loma Alta Park in Altadena. The course traverses the Angeles National Forest, crossing high desert, pine forests, chaparral, and exposed mountain terrain. A classic California mountain ultra with massive net downhill.
mountainous
point-to-point
11
2,860m
Runner Experience
Solid aid station network with 11 stops along the course. Standard ultra fare — food, electrolytes, first aid.
Post-race gathering with awards, food, and shared stories. The ultra community spirit is strong at Angeles Crest 100.
Race Day Weather
22°C
8° – 38°
20%
5%
August in the San Gabriels. Extreme heat at lower elevations, cool at the high points. Very dry. Exposed canyon sections can reach 40°C.
Stats & Records
1986
150
30:00:00
17:35:48
Jorge Maravilla (2018)
21:48:33
Kaci Lickteig (2019)
Entry
$275
January
weeks
Lore & Trivia
The Angeles Crest 100 traverses the San Gabriel Mountains above Los Angeles — a wilderness so close to the second-largest city in America that you can see the smog below while running ridgelines at 2,800m. Founded in 1986, it's one of the oldest 100-milers in the US and has a reputation as the thinking person's hundred: technical, remote, and hot, with a course that demands mountain sense rather than raw speed. The race starts in the dark at Wrightwood and finishes at Loma Alta Park in Altadena, passing through burn zones, abandoned mine sites, and sections of trail so narrow that a stumble sends you hundreds of metres downhill. The San Gabriels are Los Angeles's backyard — and AC100 reveals them as genuinely wild.
- ▸ Founded in 1986 — one of the oldest 100-milers in America.
- ▸ The San Gabriel Mountains rise directly above Greater Los Angeles.
- ▸ Starts at 1,800m in Wrightwood and traverses to Altadena at 400m.
- ▸ Sections of trail pass through recent wildfire burn zones.
- ▸ The race has been cancelled multiple times due to fires in the San Gabriels.
- ▸ Total elevation gain exceeds 5,800m in 100 miles.
- ▸ One of the few 100-milers where you can see a city of 10 million from the course.
You can see the lights of LA from the ridgeline at midnight. Ten million people sleeping while you're suffering above them.
Notable Editions
Hal Koerner's Dominance
Two-time Western States champion Hal Koerner used AC100 as his proving ground, showcasing the race's status as a top-tier mountain hundred.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Angeles Crest 100? +
Angeles Crest 100 is a 100 miles (161km) ultra marathon with 6,100m of elevation gain. The course is point-to-point on trail terrain.
How hard is Angeles Crest 100? +
Angeles Crest 100 is rated brutal with a Challenge Rating of 56/100 (Challenging). The DNF rate is 40%. Runners have 34 hours to finish.
How do I enter Angeles Crest 100? +
Must have completed a qualifying 100-mile or equivalent event. Entry is by lottery. Entry costs $275. with a maximum of 250 starters.
What is the weather like at Angeles Crest 100? +
Average temperature is 22°C (range 8°C to 38°C) with 20% humidity and a 5% chance of rain. August in the San Gabriels. Extreme heat at lower elevations, cool at the high points. Very dry. Exposed canyon sections can reach 40°C.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Angeles Crest 100? +
Crew access is allowed. Pacers are allowed after 55km.
What is the course record for Angeles Crest 100? +
The men's course record is 17:35:48 set by Jorge Maravilla in 2018. The women's course record is 21:48:33 set by Kaci Lickteig in 2019.
What is the average finish time for Angeles Crest 100? +
The average finish time is 30:00:00. About 150 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 40%.
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