2026 Jackson Hole Marathon - Sep 26 Countdown

Q: When is the 2026 Jackson Hole Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Jackson Hole Marathon is on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The full marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time under the elk-antler arches on Jackson Town Square. There is also an optional 7:00 a.m. early-bird start for runners who expect a 15-minute-per-mile pace or slower, giving them extra time to make the aid-station cutoffs.

Q: Where does the Jackson Hole Marathon course go?

It is a scenic point-to-point from town to the mountains. The course starts on Jackson Town Square, passes the National Elk Refuge, joins the valley's paved Community Pathway, loops rural Teton County around South Park, crosses the Snake River near mile 17, and follows pathway from Stilson to Wilson before finishing under an elk-antler arch in Teton Village, at the base of the Tetons below the Grand Teton. About 99.6 percent of the route is paved road and pathway, with the last 0.1 mile finishing on grass.

Q: How does the altitude affect the Jackson Hole Marathon?

This is the most important thing to plan for. The entire course sits above 6,000 ft (about 6,037 ft to 6,312 ft), so runners arriving from sea level will feel the thin air — breathing is harder, paces run slower, and dehydration comes faster. Most coaches suggest either racing within a day of arriving or allowing 1 to 2 weeks to acclimatize, since the awkward middle window (3 to 5 days) is often when altitude feels worst. Add 10 to 30 seconds per mile to your goal pace and start conservatively.

Q: Is the Jackson Hole Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified (certification WY17001TK) and a Boston-qualifying race. Its profile is close to net-neutral — roughly 520 ft of gain against 500 ft of loss — so it is not a downhill aided course and is not affected by Boston's net-downhill adjustments. The catch is the altitude rather than the terrain. Check your target time on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: Is the Jackson Hole Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is gently rolling, not flat and not a true downhill course. Total climbing is around 520 ft with a near-equal descent, so there is no big hill — just steady undulations across the valley and pathway system. The terrain itself is friendly; the real difficulty is racing it at over 6,000 ft. Use the pace calculator to plan altitude-adjusted splits rather than your sea-level pace.

Q: What is the time limit for the Jackson Hole Marathon?

The finish line in Teton Village closes at 2:15 p.m., giving runners who start at 7:30 a.m. about 6 hours 45 minutes on course. Runners who need more time can take the 7:00 a.m. early-bird start. There are also enforced aid-station cutoffs at points along the course, so check the current rules page if you expect to be near the limit.

Q: How do I register for the Jackson Hole Marathon, and how big is it?

Registration is online through RunSignup; there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served and prices rise as race day approaches. It is a small destination marathon — the full marathon drew about 248 finishers in 2025 (it usually finishes around 220 to 250), so it feels intimate and uncrowded, with a half marathon and quarter marathon sharing the weekend. The small full field and remote pathway miles mean long quiet stretches, so come prepared to run your own race.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Jackson Hole Marathon - Sep 26
City	Jackson
Date	2026-09-26 at 07:30
Field Size	~248 runners
Time Limit	6 hours 45 min
Cutoff pace	9:36/km
Timezone	America/Denver
Official Site	Jackson Hole Marathon
Registration	Register · 140 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	7.9°C / 46°F
Humidity	55%
Wind	11.4 km/h
Rain Chance	27%
Typical Conditions	Crisp late-September Jackson Hole morning at high altitude — around 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) near the 7:30 a.m. start, warming into the 60s by midday with low humidity and a real chance of a frosty start

What to Prepare: Late September in Jackson Hole is high desert at over 6,000 ft, so expect a cold, sometimes frosty start near 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) and a warm, dry, sunny finish. Dress in a throwaway layer you can shed, start your hydration plan early because thin mountain air dehydrates you faster, and bring sun protection — the altitude makes UV stronger than the temperature suggests.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 11.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	1.7°C	8.4°C	13.2°C
Dew point	-6.5°C	-1.6°C	2.9°C

Wet-day chance: 27% Runnability: 86/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Scenic point-to-point
Elevation Gain	522m
Terrain	Road and paved community pathway (gently rolling, high altitude, grass finish)
Profile	A genuine destination point-to-point that trades flat speed for Teton scenery the whole way. The full marathon starts beneath the famous elk-antler arches on Jackson Town Square at 7:30 a.m., winds past the National Elk Refuge and through Jackson neighborhoods, then joins the valley's paved Community Pathway system for long, quiet, car-free miles. Runners loop through rural Teton County around South Park, take in open views of the Jackson Hole valley and the Teton Range, cross the Snake River around mile 17, and follow pathway sections from Stilson to Wilson and the Centennial Pathway before heading north toward the Grand Teton and an elk-antler-arch finish in Teton Village. The whole race sits at altitude — roughly 6,037 ft to 6,312 ft, never dropping below 6,000 ft — which is the single biggest factor for visitors arriving from sea level. The profile is gently rolling and close to net-neutral (around 520 ft of gain against 500 ft of loss), so there is no big climb or downhill bail-out; about 99.6 percent of the route is on paved roads and paved pathway, with the final 0.1 mile finishing on grass. It is USATF-certified (WY17001TK) and a Boston qualifier, but the thin air, not the terrain, is what slows most people here — this is a scenery-and-bucket-list race, not a flat PR machine.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Jackson Hole Marathon - Sep 26

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Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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What to Wear Running by Temperature — Clothing Guide

Enter temperature, wind, and rain to get specific clothing picks for head, torso, legs, hands, and f...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Jackson Hole Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 Jackson Hole Marathon is on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The full marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time under the elk-antler arches on Jackson Town Square. There is also an optional 7:00 a.m. early-bird start for runners who expect a 15-minute-per-mile pace or slower, giving them extra time to make the aid-station cutoffs.

Where does the Jackson Hole Marathon course go?

It is a scenic point-to-point from town to the mountains. The course starts on Jackson Town Square, passes the National Elk Refuge, joins the valley's paved Community Pathway, loops rural Teton County around South Park, crosses the Snake River near mile 17, and follows pathway from Stilson to Wilson before finishing under an elk-antler arch in Teton Village, at the base of the Tetons below the Grand Teton. About 99.6 percent of the route is paved road and pathway, with the last 0.1 mile finishing on grass.

How does the altitude affect the Jackson Hole Marathon?

This is the most important thing to plan for. The entire course sits above 6,000 ft (about 6,037 ft to 6,312 ft), so runners arriving from sea level will feel the thin air — breathing is harder, paces run slower, and dehydration comes faster. Most coaches suggest either racing within a day of arriving or allowing 1 to 2 weeks to acclimatize, since the awkward middle window (3 to 5 days) is often when altitude feels worst. Add 10 to 30 seconds per mile to your goal pace and start conservatively.

Is the Jackson Hole Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified (certification WY17001TK) and a Boston-qualifying race. Its profile is close to net-neutral — roughly 520 ft of gain against 500 ft of loss — so it is not a downhill aided course and is not affected by Boston's net-downhill adjustments. The catch is the altitude rather than the terrain. Check your target time on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Is the Jackson Hole Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is gently rolling, not flat and not a true downhill course. Total climbing is around 520 ft with a near-equal descent, so there is no big hill — just steady undulations across the valley and pathway system. The terrain itself is friendly; the real difficulty is racing it at over 6,000 ft. Use the pace calculator to plan altitude-adjusted splits rather than your sea-level pace.

What is the time limit for the Jackson Hole Marathon?

The finish line in Teton Village closes at 2:15 p.m., giving runners who start at 7:30 a.m. about 6 hours 45 minutes on course. Runners who need more time can take the 7:00 a.m. early-bird start. There are also enforced aid-station cutoffs at points along the course, so check the current rules page if you expect to be near the limit.

How do I register for the Jackson Hole Marathon, and how big is it?

Registration is online through RunSignup; there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served and prices rise as race day approaches. It is a small destination marathon — the full marathon drew about 248 finishers in 2025 (it usually finishes around 220 to 250), so it feels intimate and uncrowded, with a half marathon and quarter marathon sharing the weekend. The small full field and remote pathway miles mean long quiet stretches, so come prepared to run your own race.