Late June · Mountain West · Point-to-Point
Missoula, MT · Sunday, June 27, 2027
Missoula sits at about 3,200 feet in a valley at the meeting point of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot rivers, ringed by the Rattlesnake and Sapphire ranges, and the course finishes by crossing a bridge over the Clark Fork into downtown. Despite the altitude, it's a certified, modestly net-downhill course marketed toward Boston qualifiers, with late June timing ahead of the deeper summer heat.
Classic Big Sky country finish across bridge
Opens the race organizer's website
Typical start
54°
Cooler than 22% of U.S. marathons
Modeled historical conditions
Elevation gain
180ft
Flatter than 63% of races
Estimated total climb
Field size
1.5K
Larger than 60% of races
Estimated field
PR potential
9.4/10
Top 11%
Almanac model
Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.
180 ft gain · -400 ft net
Net downhill course, point-to-point.
Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.
6 AM
46°
Start
54°
Midday
65°
Typical start sits at 54°F, good conditions.
Typical dew point 42°F, 16% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.
The bottom line
This is a course built to give time back.
Missoula Marathon is a strong choice for a fast time on tired legs, and the route gives back elevation for most of the 26.2 miles. The tradeoff is your quads, which will feel the descent in the closing miles.
A point-to-point course around Missoula, MT, that gives back elevation for most of the race.
Races with a comparable profile.
Event: MISSOULA MARATHON | Verified 8/26/26: 492 ft gain / 315 ft loss (corrected from template 180/580). Base altitude ~3,000-3,260 ft. USATF certified BQ course, marketed as flat/fast.
Gallatin Valley mountain backdrop
Event listed as: Marathon