Wasatch Front 100 is a 100 miles ultra marathon in Kaysville, United States. Distance: 161km. Elevation: 8,200m D+. Difficulty: brutal (Challenge Rating 56/100). DNF rate: 30%. Time limit: 36h. Surface: trail. Established 1980.
Wasatch Front 100
Kaysville, Utah, United States
"One of America's original 100-milers — a brutal Wasatch Mountain traverse with 8200m of climbing."
A legendary 100-mile traverse of Utah's Wasatch Mountains — one of the original American mountain ultras with 8200m of climbing.
The Course
A rugged traverse of the Wasatch Mountains from Kaysville to Soldier Hollow. The course follows the Wasatch Crest, Great Western Trail, and numerous mountain passes through alpine terrain, aspen forests, and exposed ridgelines. Known as the toughest 100 in the American West alongside Hardrock.
mountainous
point-to-point
12
3,048m
Runner Experience
Solid aid station network with 12 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 Wasatch Front 100.
Race Day Weather
12°C
-2° – 28°
25%
20%
September in the Wasatch. Extreme temperature swings — hot in canyons, freezing on ridges at night. Very dry. Altitude above 3000m.
Stats & Records
1980
250
30:00:00
18:30:55
Karl Meltzer (2003)
22:16:30
Beth Pascall (2023)
Entry
$250
January
instant
Lore & Trivia
The Wasatch Front 100 runs through the mountains above Salt Lake City — the spine of the Wasatch Range that rises dramatically from the Salt Lake Valley floor. Founded in 1979, it's one of America's oldest 100-milers and a Grand Slam of Ultrarunning event. The course is deceptively brutal: while the Wasatch mountains top out at modest elevations by Western standards (2,800m), the terrain is relentless — steep, rocky trails that climb and descend without respite, accumulating over 8,000m of total gain. The race starts and finishes in the dark, with two full nights on the trail. The Wasatch running community is tight-knit and legendarily supportive — aid stations are lavish, crews are passionate, and the pacers who guide runners through the second night are considered essential, not optional.
- ▸ Founded in 1979 — one of America's oldest 100-milers.
- ▸ Part of the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (Western States, Vermont, Leadville, Wasatch).
- ▸ Over 8,000m of total elevation gain — relentlessly steep terrain.
- ▸ The Wasatch Range rises directly behind Salt Lake City.
- ▸ Runners experience two full nights on the trail.
- ▸ Karl Meltzer — the all-time 100-mile finishes record holder — calls Wasatch his home race.
- ▸ Aid stations are famous for their quality — hot food, soup, grilled cheese.
- ▸ The pacer tradition at Wasatch is deeply ingrained — experienced pacers are recruited months in advance.
Wasatch looks modest on paper. Then you run it and discover that 8,000 metres of gain in the Wasatch is different from 8,000 metres anywhere else.
Notable Editions
Karl Meltzer's Record
Utah legend Karl Meltzer, the most prolific 100-mile finisher in history, set the Wasatch course record on his home turf — a performance that combined local knowledge, tactical brilliance, and the crowd support of a runner beloved by his community.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Wasatch Front 100? +
Wasatch Front 100 is a 100 miles (161km) ultra marathon with 8,200m of elevation gain. The course is point-to-point on trail terrain.
How hard is Wasatch Front 100? +
Wasatch Front 100 is rated brutal with a Challenge Rating of 56/100 (Challenging). The DNF rate is 30%. Runners have 36 hours to finish.
How do I enter Wasatch Front 100? +
Must have completed a qualifying 100-mile event. Entry is by lottery. Entry costs $250. with a maximum of 350 starters.
What is the weather like at Wasatch Front 100? +
Average temperature is 12°C (range -2°C to 28°C) with 25% humidity and a 20% chance of rain. September in the Wasatch. Extreme temperature swings — hot in canyons, freezing on ridges at night. Very dry. Altitude above 3000m.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Wasatch Front 100? +
Crew access is allowed. Pacers are allowed after 60km.
What is the course record for Wasatch Front 100? +
The men's course record is 18:30:55 set by Karl Meltzer in 2003. The women's course record is 22:16:30 set by Beth Pascall in 2023.
What is the average finish time for Wasatch Front 100? +
The average finish time is 30:00:00. About 250 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 30%.
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