06/18/2027 to 06/20/2027
Get Directions
AT A GLANCE
When: June 18-20, 2027
Where: The Village at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley
Cost: Free to watch; race registration opens Dec. 7, 2026
The Broken Arrow Skyrace returns to Palisades Tahoe June 18-20, 2027, according to the Palisades Tahoe events calendar, with the start and finish in the Village in Olympic Valley. It's one of the biggest mountain running events in North America, drawing more than 3,700 runners from 31 countries in 2025, and registration for 2027 opens December 7, 2026 at 9 a.m. Pacific.
What the Broken Arrow Skyrace Is Like
Broken Arrow is built in the style of classic European skyraces, which means steep climbs, off-trail scrambling and a lot of time above tree line. The courses throw in exposed rocky ridges, hand lines, a ladder and snow slopes, with big views of Lake Tahoe along the way. On the 2026 course, the flagship 23K took in Emigrant Pass, Red Dog Ridge, KT-22 and Washeshu Peak, topping out around 9,000 feet at the Stairway to Heaven ladder near the Headwall lift before finishing at the KT Sun Deck. Down in the Village, the weekend feels half race, half festival. Elite runners from around the world line up next to recreational runners, crews and families crowd the start arch in front of Coffeebar, and the Vendor Village stays busy from morning until the awards. In 2025, it was the only U.S. stop on both the WMRA World Cup and the Golden Trail World Series.
Event Highlights
The race menu is huge. It includes the Ascent, 11K, 18K, the flagship 23K and the 46K, plus multi-race challenges like the Triple Crown, Iron Crown and Iron Face Challenge. Young runners get their own spotlight with the Trail Futures NTN races for ages 10 to 20 (the U-18 Eagle and U-14 Kestrel) and a Kids Race. In 2026, the race offered a $150,000 prize purse, the largest of any independent trail race in the world, including a $30,000 winner's purse in the flagship 23K. Off the course, the 2026 Vendor Village ran all weekend with free Kodiak Cakes pancakes, gear pop-ups, live podcast race previews and awards on the Events Plaza Stage.
Tickets, Cost and What to Bring
Watching is free. Runners register through the race website starting December 7, 2026 at 9 a.m. Pacific, and under the 2026 policies, entries were non-refundable and non-transferable, so be sure about your distance before you sign up. The 2027 schedule isn't posted yet. In 2026, racing ran Friday through Sunday, with the Ascent and 18K on Friday, the 46K and 11K on Saturday morning and the 23K waves starting Sunday at 8 a.m. To watch from up high in 2026, ACG sponsored free Aerial Tram rides to High Camp at 8,200 feet for everyone during race-morning windows all weekend, and Palisades offered discounted day tickets, $19 for adults and $13 for kids, outside those hours. If you're supporting a runner, know the rules: outside aid isn't allowed for most distances, and only 46K runners can get help, in a designated crew area near the Village aid station. Bring sun protection and a warm layer for the high country.
Parking and Getting There
Palisades Tahoe sits just off Highway 89 between Truckee and Tahoe City, about 42 miles from Reno. The race website doesn't publish a parking plan, so reach out to the organizers if you have questions. The simplest way to skip the parking hunt is TART. Its buses are always free, the Highway 89 route runs daily between Tahoe City and Truckee with stops in Olympic Valley, and TART Connect offers free on-demand rides within its service area through an app. Amtrak and Greyhound both stop in Truckee if you're coming from farther away.
Local tip: Want to see runners in the high country without racing? Ride the Aerial Tram to High Camp and cheer at Julia's aid station, the race's recommended cheer zone. To catch the Ascent finish, the race says to plan on about 1.5 miles and 800 feet of climbing on foot from the top of the tram, so wear real shoes.
Register and find spectator details on the Broken Arrow Skyrace website.
Stay Close to the Start Line
Whether you're racing or cheering, our West Shore vacation homes keep you close to Olympic Valley for race weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2027 Broken Arrow Skyrace?
Palisades Tahoe lists the 2027 Broken Arrow Skyrace for June 18-20, 2027, in the Village at Palisades Tahoe. Registration opens December 7, 2026 at 9 a.m. Pacific.
What distances are at the Broken Arrow Skyrace?
The race offers the Ascent, 11K, 18K, 23K and 46K, plus the Triple Crown, Iron Crown and Iron Face Challenge. There are also Trail Futures NTN youth races for ages 10 to 20 and a Kids Race.
Can spectators watch the Broken Arrow Skyrace?
Yes, and it's free to watch. Races start and finish in the Village at Palisades Tahoe, and in 2026 spectators could ride the Aerial Tram free during race-morning windows to cheer at Julia's aid station at High Camp.
How hard is the Broken Arrow Skyrace 23K?
On the 2026 course, the 23K was 14.25 miles with about 4,500 feet of climbing, mostly above tree line, topping out near 9,000 feet at the Stairway to Heaven ladder. Runners had to be 18 or older with a 7-hour cutoff, and the course changes slightly each year.
Is there a kids race at the Broken Arrow Skyrace?
Yes. The weekend includes a Kids Race, and in 2026 it started Sunday morning at the finish line. Older youth runners can enter the Trail Futures NTN races for ages 10 to 20.