Here’s the information for the 2025 Antelope Island Buffalo Run.

Big News for 2025

1. This will be the 20th year for the Buffalo Run.  I know, that’s a long time.
2. The race is going back to a Friday/Saturday format.  But there will be substantial differences.  Read below for the dates and times.
3. The start/finish area will still be at the marina like it was for 2024.
4. The entry limit is still 600.
5.  No early start available for the 50 mile.
6.  No more sleeping in for the 100 mile runners.

Dates and Times

Why start all races on Friday?  Starting in 2022, the park is not allowing any special events to happen on the weekend or holidays. This is due to the huge increase in visitors over the past couple of years and the lack of adequate infrastructure (roads, parking etc.) to handle both an influx of the regular visitors to the island, plus the addition of several hundred cars for the race.  The issue isn’t with the trails, it’s with the roads and other park infrastructure.  By starting all of the races Friday morning, the only runners that will still be on the course on Saturday are the relatively few numbers of 100 mile runners, and the vast majority of those runners will be done by noon on Saturday.

Antelope Island Buffalo Run 25K:

• Friday March 28th, 2025
• 9:00am

Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50K:

• Friday March 28th, 2025
• 8:00am

Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50 Mile:

• Friday March 28th, 2025
• 7:00am

Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100 Mile: 

• Friday, March 28th, 2025
• 6:00am

TRAINING RUN DATES:  They will be held the first Saturday of each month starting in December. Routes will be posted to the Buffalo Run facebook page and sent out to all runners that are signed up.
Most trail runners in the Salt Lake City area are now well aware of the island and how awesome a winter training ground it is. There are usually multiple groups going out to various trails during the weekends. Check out the Wasatch Wrangler Facebook page, as there are always postings about island runs through the winter. As a volunteer on the island, I will also be out there running as well. I’ll try to remember to post on the Buffalo Run facebook page as well as the Wasatch Wrangler page, when I will be out there and the details. See our FACEBOOK Page for full details.

Entry

Registration opens October 1st, 2025.

Here’s the link to register for any of the distances. Electronic registration only.  Make sure you enter before either the race fills, or the cutoff date. Once past the cutoff date or entry limit, it’ll be hard to persuade me to let you in. You may have to grovel before me.  I like groveling, it’s fun to watch.  If needed, I will have a wait list for each race.

Entry Fees for 2025

 25K – $93.58 ($103.15 after Jan. 31)

50K – $111.91 ($121.73 after Jan. 31)

50 mile – $124.61 ($134.93 after Jan. 31)

100 mile – $241.72 ($252.58 after Jan. 31)

Please note that these prices are not what you will see on ultrasignup.  Due to a new pricing transparency law passed in California, ultrasignup is required to post the complete price, including taxes and their fees. 

Refunds, Transfers, Rollovers

Discount codes – There are none, don’t ask, I don’t do them. The only way to get a discount is to VOLUNTEER!

I now have an official refund, rollover, and transfer policy, you can find it here.

Entry Limits

600 runners for all distances.  I may limit the number of 100 mile runners at the request of the park.  No limit just yet.

Course Description

Ok, you’ve made the decision to read a bit further about this little event.  The 50 Mile and 100 Mile courses are the same, however, the order in which you run it has changed.

The 25K and 50K courses will be quite a bit different.  See the map and notes below.

**With the use of the new start/finish area, there will be course changes. Check back for descriptions this fall.**

 

50 Mile/100 Mile Course Map

 

50/100 Mile Course Narrative

 If you have run either the 50 mile or 100 mile in the past, the actual course remains the same, but the order in which you run the trails will be different.  The start is at the marina.  You will go about 11.5 miles straight south to the Ranch.  After reaching the Ranch, you will turn around and run back up the Mountain View Trail to the fence.  Turn left at the fence and run up the hill and along the dirt road next to the fence.  Follow the dirt road as it sweeps right.  There will be a short section of pavement before you head out on the Lakeside trail over to the next aid station at Bridger Bay campground.  Continue around the Lakeside trail and down the dirt road over to the White Rock Bay trailhead.  Run the trail out to the Elephant Head aid station, the out and back on the Elephant Head trail, then continue around the Split Rock Loop and back to Elephant Head aid.  After that run back to the White Rock Bay trailhead.  Turn right and follow the fence back down to the Mountain View trail.  Turn left and run back to the marina.  If you’re running the 100 mile, go out and do it again.

Here’s a link to the 50 mile/100 mile course.

 

 25K/50K Course Map

  

 

25K/50K Course Narrative

The start is at the Marina.  Runners will run up the road for about a quarter mile, then on to the Mountain View Trail.  At about one mile, 25K/50K runners will turn right and go up the hill alongside the fence.  Runners will continue on the dirt road along the fence until they reach the White Rock By Trailhead (2.8 miles).  This is the first aid station.  Runners will then run the same course as the 50 Mile/100 Mile runners out to the Elephant Head Aid station (8.3 miles).  Runners will turn around here and follow the signs back to the White Rock Bay Aid.  Once there runners will run the dirt road along the fence back down to the Mountain View Trail and turn left and run back to the start/finish.  The actual distance is about 26.4k/52.8k (16.4/32.8 miles).  If you’re running the 50K, you get to go back out and do it again.

Here’s a link to the 25k/50k course gpx.

Bear 100 Bear Tag

What is a Bear Tag?

This tag will guarantee you a comped entry into the next Bear 100 race! – The 2025 Edition (not 2024)

In order to skip to the front of the pack you need a Bear Tag. This is like a hunting tag given to those that are lucky enough to hunt bears. It is rare and highly prized. Only a few can earn their way into The Bear 100. This is your chance! We have saved a spot for you elite Bear hunters.

How do I get a Bear Tag?

If you are the first male or first female of the following races you are gifted your own Bear Tag!

Races where you earn your Bear Tag:

Bear 100 (Sept 2024)

4 Tags will be gifted at the Bear 100.

Top Male & Top Female

1 random Male finisher & 1 random Female finisher

DC Peaks 50M (Oct 2024)

Buffalo Run 50M (March 2025)

Scout Mountain 50M (June 2025)

Snow Peak 50M (June 2025)

White Pine 50M Backcountry Run (Aug 2025)

Wait, What?

Go sign up for one of the 50 Mile races listed above and win your way into The Bear 100 for 2025. If you succeed, you get your own Bear Tag for next year’s Bear 100. If you win it and choose to decline the Bear Tag, it passes down one spot to 2nd place. If 2nd place declines, the Bear Tag has expired and nobody gets to use it.

Happy hunting, earn your own Bear Tag and then join us at The Bear 100!

Start Times

Now that you’ve read about the courses, you’re probably wondering when all this fun starts and how long do you get the privilege of running around on Antelope Island. Well, here’s that info.

100 mile – This race will start at 6:00am on FRIDAY, March 29th.
50 mile – This race will start at 7:00am on FRIDAY, March 29th.
50K – This one starts on FRIDAY at 8:00am on March 29th
25K – This one will start at 9:00am on FRIDAY, March 29th.  So you get to sleep in AND eat breakfast, plus finish a little early. Added bonus, you don’t have to share the trail with all of the 50K, 50 mile, and 100 mile runners.

Time Limits and Cutoff Times

With the new start times and dates, all runners will have until 4:00pm on Saturday, March 30, to complete their race.  This is 34 hours for the 100 mile runners, 33 hours for the 50 mile runners, 32 hours for the 50K runners, and 31 hours for the 25K runners. 

There are two hard cut off times for the 100 mile runners, and one for the 50 mile runners.  These times are based on a roughly 20 minute pace.  

For 100 mile runners, one hard cut off is 11:00pm on Friday at the start/finish area.  This is the half way point of the race (50 miles) and we feel that if you cannot maintain a 20 minute pace at this point, then in all likelihood you will continue to slow down and not meet the 4:00pm finish time.

The second hard cut off is for both 50 and 100 mile runners is 12:00pm on Saturday at the White Rock Bay aid station going out to Elephant Head.  This is at miles 28 and 78.  The reason for this cut off is that the next 19 miles are very remote with the only aid station being Elephant Head.  If we had several people end up dropping at Elephant Head it would be difficult to get everyone out with limited transportation.

Course Records

25K
Men	1:44:00	2024
Women	1:52:33	2024
50K
Men	3:27:51	2024
Women	4:07:01	2021
50 Mile
Men	6:15:36	2011
Women	6:55:29	2012
100 Mile
Men	14:34:00	2013
Women	18:26:45	2021

Drop Bags

For the 25K, no drop bags. What? Yep, no drop bags. Why do you need a drop bag to run a little 25K? I’ll bet you don’t put out drop bags for your 12 mile training runs. Think about it, you’re only going to be out there for a few hours, you can survive that long and for that far without your favorite little homemade rice bar, homemade gel, or whatever else you think you need to survive.

For the 50K, the only drop bag locations will be the White Rock and Elephant Head aid stations and the start/finish.

For the 50/100 mile the drop bag locations will be Lower Frary, Ranch, White Rock Bay, Elephant Head, start/finish.

See the table below for aid stations and mileage.

 Aid Stations

These stops will be stocked with the usual assortment of ultrafood and beverages. For the 50-mile and 100-mile a few of the aid stations will have something hot, especially through the night and late the next day.

Crew and Pacers

For the 50 Mile and 100 Mile, crew and pacer info is on the chart above.  For the 25K and 50K pacers are not allowed.  Crew can meet at any designated aid station and help their runner.  

For those of 100 mile runners having a pacer through the night, pacers must be on the island before 10:00pm.  The gate closes at 10:00pm and will not reopen until 6:00am on Saturday morning. 

For any race, crewing outside of a designated aid station is not allowed.  You can cheer your runner on, but do not give them any sort of aid outside of an aid station.

Crew/Family On Course Parking

White Rock Bay Aid – Please park in the day use parking lot.

Lower Frary Aid – You must park in the Upper Frary parking lot and hike down.  Parking in the lower Frary parking lot is very limited.  If your crew parks in the lower lot, they risk getting you DQ’d.

Ranch – You must park in the dirt equestrian lot.  Do not park in the paved lot, that is for park visitors.

Start/finish – You must park in the large dirt parking lot.  Please don’t park in the paved lot as there is another business that needs access and parking.

Bridger Bay – Crew/family are not allowed at this aid station.  The reason being that there just isn’t enough parking available.  Plus, this is a campground and we need to keep it somewhat calm and quiet, especially at night.

Elephant Head – This is a remote aid station. The only vehicular access is for the aid station personnel.  If you would like to go out there, please park in the White Rock day use lot and plan on a 6.8 mile round trip hike.  It’s not a strenuous hike.

Course Marking

Course markings are a combination of pink ribbons, flour arrows, directional signs, and grade stakes with reflective tape on them.  Pay attention and you won’t get lost.  Keep in mind that you are responsible for knowing the course. All intersections where there is the chance that you could go off course will be marked. However, there are very few confidence markers in between intersections.

Camping and Lodging

Race camping will be at the empty field next to the marina. You won’t have to walk as far, we have way more room, and we won’t interfere with the folks using the day use area for the day. Bonus! Bring your tents, you can bring your RV’s. If you want to camp there, it will be an extra $12.93/family and this is good for FRIDAY night, March 28th. If you elect to pay me when you show up rather than prepay, it’ll cost $15.00.  Bring your own food for dinner and breakfast. Keep in mind that you will need to pay the entry fee ($15) on to the island for Thursday night as your race entry is good for FRIDAY, March 29th only. If you want to get a spot in one of the campgrounds, you will need to make those arrangements with the park.  Also, the main gate closes at 10pm, plan on being on the island before then or you’ll be locked out.

There are also several campgrounds on the north end of the island with individual campsites. These are $30/night for no hook-ups, and $40/night for water/electrical hookups (new campground) and you’ll need to pay the park for that. Keep in mind that those campgrounds completely fill on the weekend, so get your reservation early! If camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of hotels just off the Antelope Island exit on I-15. The closest hotel to the island is the Hampton Inn, however, there are several other hotels/motels within a mile of the Hampton Inn.

Race Timing

We hand time this race. We use two different methods of timing. We use timing software from Ultrasignup.com plus we have a paper back up. When you cross the finish line, make sure that your bib # is showing. Makes it easier on the timers. If you drop out of the race, you must drop at an aid station and notify the aid station personnel. If you drop down in distance, make sure you notify the timers so they can adjust the results accordingly. We have a couple of screwups every year because of this.

Watching the Race

The course is a wide open trail, no cover, and in certain areas, you can see for several miles. Friends and family are welcome to hike the trail, bring your horse along, bring the kids, dogs (must be on a leash at all times). Bring the binoculars too. There are numerous places from which family, friends, and anyone who’s interested can watch your progress, or lack thereof. Once the 50 and 100 mile runners are on the Mountain View Trail you will be able to see them almost the entire way to the ranch from the road. There are two places where the trail actually crosses the road and numerous places where you can view several miles of the trail. Keep in mind that you must remain on the road or designated trails when in this area of the island. The park also requests that you not park along the shoulders of the road. There are turnouts at several points along this road where you can get a good view of the trail and the runners. As always, you can go to the accessible aid stations (Mountain View, Lower Frary, and the Ranch) as there is parking available at these locations.

Awards

Some exciting news.  I have offered some prize money for each distance for a number of years now.  It’s not a huge amount but it beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.  For 2025 I’m talking with a couple of sponsors to significantly boost the amount of prize money and to offer a significant amount for course records.  Stay tuned for more info. 

There is prize money for the top three men, women, and nonbinary of each distance. Age group awards will be given out for the usual 10 year age groups for men, women, and nonbinary.  Overall and age group awards will be given out as you cross the finish line, or mailed out after the race.  We will also have some giveaways just for showing up.  For the giveaways, you must be present to win.

The 100 mile finisher award will be a belt buckle made out of a buffalo chip. Just kidding, it will be made out of some sort of metal like substance, plus you’ll get a handmade finisher coffee mug as well. 

All other finishers will get a handmade finisher coffee mug.  These mugs are made locally by a fellow ultrarunner.

If you are running the 100-mile and elect to DNF, you will get an unofficial 50 mile finish provided you got that far. 50 mile finisher mugs WILL NOT be given to those 100 mile runners who elect to drop at 50 miles or more.

Other Activities

Don’t want to watch the race? Why not? It’s so exciting. Anyway, there’s a wonderful visitor’s center at the north end of the island and the Fielding Garr Ranch at the south end of the island. Also, there are many other trails to explore. One other thing, we can always use the help from your family members that get bored going to these races. Volunteering at a race is a definite good time. If you’ve never done it, try it.

Rules

Here are a few of the rules. We’ll make up others as needed.

First, NO TRASHING THE PARK. If you are observed purposely dropping litter of any kind (including the little gel tab thingies and fruit peels), you will be removed from the race. Period. We will have trash cans setup a ways outside each refreshment stop. Please don’t leave your trash next to a course marking sign, just carry the stuff to the next aid station.

Second, ALL 50 mile and 100 mile runners MUST check in to each and every aid station. It is up to you to make sure that your name/bib and time in is recorded by an aid station volunteer. If you do not and there is a question about whether you ran the complete course, it will be up to you to prove that you did (GPS track). If you do not do this, you run the risk of a DQ.


Third, no cutting the course (it’s not nice) or leaving the trail unless it’s to get out of the way of a buffalo.

Fourth, if you drop, you MUST drop at an aid station and let a volunteer know. We don’t want to be searching for your sorry “missing-butt” on the island when in reality you are at home drinking a beer/soda.

Fifth, no crew aid allowed between aid stations. That just makes it a little unfair for those who don’t have the luxury of a crew.

Sixth, please be courteous and yield to the horses when you’re on the trails. Let them know you’re coming up behind them well ahead of time and if you are coming head on, step to the side and wait for them to pass

Seventh, and we shouldn’t have to say this, but be very nice to the volunteers and park employees, they’ve given up their day of cleaning house, shopping, yard work, to be out here catering to your needs and listening to your whining, thank them profusely. The point of these rules is that Antelope Island State Park has been more than enthusiastic about us having the race. We want to keep it that way so we can do it again. We also plan on having course marshals from the Trail Patrol out to help with any problems etc.

Eighth, please read the policy on dogs participating.

Race Check In

For all runners, check in will begin at 4:30am on Friday, March 29.  The check in location is at the large parking lot on your left just before the entrance station.  There will be a sign pointing the way.  DO NOT go past the entrance station without your bib.  All runners must check in there unless you come out to the island on Thursday afternoon and find me.  I should be at the marina most of the day.

Your bib will get you on to the island without having to pay the entrance fee. If your family comes out later and separately, they will need to pay the $15 entrance fee. Same with your crew/pacers. If they come out separately, they will need to pay the entrance fee.

Medical

Hopefully we will have the services of a volunteer EMT similar to last year.

For the 100 mile, there isn’t a qualification. You’re big boys and girls and should know what’s going on with your body. However, we reserve the right to pull you if you are clearly not with the program and are looking like death warmed over. Aid station personnel also have the authority to yank you out of the race if they deem your health to be in jeopardy.

Post Race Feed

Once again buffalo stew, so here’s the deal. Everyone attending the race and planning on eating after needs to bring ONE can of veggies of some sort. We really don’t care what it is (although the RD is not a big fan of olives or mushrooms so any of those will not be going into the stew). Also, come on people, please don’t clean out your pantry on us. Don’t bring stuff unsuitable for a stew, don’t bring stuff that’s expired either (we do check those dates on the cans). If you don’t want to eat it, what makes you think the rest of us do? Stop by the store and spend less than a buck on something we can use. There’s a WalMart on the way to the island. What we’ll do is dump it all in a big kettle with the buffalo meat and stir it up. The stew has turned out pretty good every year, should be pretty good again, especially on a cool day in March. The race will also provide the drinks. Rooster’s Brewery is the official beer sponsor of all the Buffalo Run Adventures races. We’ll also have a pot of stew for you vegetarians out there as well. For you intrepid 50 and 100 mile runners, we’ll hold on to your food cans until you start crossing the line.

For you 100 mile runners, we may go with breakfast/lunch on Saturday.  Not sure just yet, but you’ll get something.

The post race feed is free for runners and volunteers, if you want to feed your family, there will be an option for you to purchase meal tickets for $7.22/person during sign up. IF YOU CHOOSE TO PAY AT THE RACE…the cost will be $8.00/person.

Weather

Typically, Antelope Island is drier than the cities to the east and nearer the mountains. Here are the averages for March 29th for Syracuse, UT, the nearest town. There shouldn’t be any bugs, which is a good thing on the island. If it rains or snows, the trail may get muddy in spots, but generally it drains pretty well. Keep in mind, daylight savings time will be in force on race day. This means that you 50 mile runners will be running in the dark for about an hour (some of us are always in the dark). Bring a flashlight or headlamp.

• Sunrise 7:26a.m.
• Sunset 7:43 p.m.
• Average High 58 Deg F
• Average Low 35 Deg F

If we get an average day with sunshine, it’ll be a great race day.  Most years the weather is actually pretty nice.

Directions to Antelope Island

If you’re coming from either the north or south on I-15, take exit 332. This exit has a state park sign on the freeway. It’s also the Antelope Drive exit. Once at the traffic signal off the exit, go west on Antelope drive. This means turn left off the northbound exit and right off the southbound exit. Drive about 4-5 miles towards the Great Salt Lake (west). Just before the lake you will run out of houses, etc. and see the main gate on to the island causeway. Just prior to the main gate, there is a paved parking lot on the left. This is where you check in unless you checked in early at Wasatch Running Center. NOTE: You 100 mile runners must check in at the parking lot. Go across the causeway towards the island, enjoy the scenery of the mud flats, water and definitely enjoy the smell affectionately known as “lake stink”. The smell isn’t apparent on the island unless there is a good breeze blowing. Once on the island, follow the road as it veers left. Do not take the road to the visitor’s center. Follow the signs to White Rock Bay. We’ll have some race signs out on race day to help those that are directionally challenged. Once you get to the race area, you will be directed where to park by our friendly staff of parking enforcers.

Just a reminder that if you carpool with your friends and your family comes out later, they will have to pay the entrance fee to get on the island.

Misc

Every year some of our runners have a friendly chat with some bison as they are running.  As in close enough to touch them. It’s a bit scary, but no one got hurt. We will have the services of the volunteer Trail Patrol to hopefully keep them off the trail.
If you encounter bison on the trail, generally they will get out of your way, however, some of the bulls (1500-1800 lbs.) are obstinate and won’t budge. Bison will also charge you (and not with credit cards) if you enter their personal space (seems to be about 10-25 yards or so based on the RD’s experience). The charges are generally short but can result in having to clean out your shorts, and that leads to chafing issues. If you see a tail go up, then you might want to look for a somewhat safe place to go. Head for a rock field if you can, they generally won’t follow. Don’t look them directly in the eye, they take it as a challenge. Go off trail enough to get around them. You’ll possibly see all sorts of other animals, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyotes, bighorn sheep, porcupines, and countless birds (chukar, meadowlarks, seagulls (the Utah state bird), shore birds, etc.).  Don’t forget that several years ago Earl headbutted a spectator that was harassing him.  Earl is still out there. The point here is that the Bison are very large, very fast, and very wild animals! They can be extremely dangerous, I cannot emphasize this enough.

Why Are We Putting On This Race?

You may wonder this, you may not. Sometimes I wonder. Those of us organizing and helping out love to run trails. We feel that this is one way to give a little back to the trails and those who provide and maintain them (the State Park) and introduce people to Antelope Island State Park.  Antelope Island State Park has been wonderful to work with and are enthusiastic supporters of this event.  Antelope Island State Park has a fund that is used to provide park equipment such as picnic tables, signage, etc. Some of the race proceeds will go to this fund to help improve the park for all visitors.