The Western States 100 has no section more consequential than the 23 miles from Foresthill to Auburn. The high alpine portions of the course — the Escarpment, Red Star Ridge, Duncan Canyon — are remote and wild, accessible only if you're running the race or willing to drive deep into the Eldorado National Forest. Foresthill is a real town on a real road, and the trail from there to the Placer High School finish track runs through terrain that any runner can reach and cover on any given weekend.
This is the section where Western States becomes about what you have left, not what you had when you started. Vincent Bouillard moved through the field on this stretch today to set the course record. It is where races — and legs — end.
The Section in Brief
Cal Street and the canyon descent: miles 62–78 (~16 miles, ~2,400 ft descent). The trail leaves Foresthill (elevation ~3,000 ft) and drops along Cal Street — a long bench traverse on the canyon wall above the Middle Fork American River. Cal Street is the most spectator-dense mile of the race, and as a trail it's one of the most enjoyable sustained descents in the Sierra Nevada: wide, smooth, south-facing, with the canyon floor visible below the entire way.
After Cal Street, the route descends deeper into the canyon through the Dardanelles, Peachstone, and Ford's Bar aid-station segments before reaching the traditional Rucky Chucky river crossing at mile 78. The ford was knee- to waist-deep when course-record holders passed through today.
Green Gate to Highway 49: miles 78–90 (~12 miles, rolling). After the river, the trail climbs out of the canyon to Green Gate, then proceeds along the ridgeline above the American River through Auburn Lake Trails. This section is where tired athletes make their final calculation: single-digit miles to go, and the decisions made in the canyons already locked in. For independent runners, it's where the route transitions from canyon drama to forest trail grind.
Robie Point to the Track: miles 98.9–100.2 (1.3 miles). The trail climbs briefly to Robie Point, and then descends into Auburn's streets for the last mile onto the Placer High School rubberised track. In race conditions, athletes who have been moving for 13 to 30-plus hours step onto a 400-metre oval surface to complete the final straight in front of a crowd that has been awake since the morning.
Running It Independently
Car shuttle, point-to-point: the cleanest option. Arrange a vehicle at Placer High School in Auburn and drive the start car to Foresthill (roughly 25 minutes on Foresthill Road). Run 23 miles point-to-point. For an experienced trail runner, allow 4–6 hours.
Out-and-back from Foresthill: run Cal Street and the canyon descent to the Rucky Chucky crossing (~12 miles one-way), return the way you came. Gives roughly 24 miles and 2,400 feet of descent each way. No shuttle required.
Access: Foresthill is 45 minutes east of Sacramento on I-80 and then Foresthill Road. Standard parking at the Foresthill Community Center. Auburn sits directly on I-80 with easy airport access from Sacramento International (40 minutes west).
Trail surface: packed dirt and rock, well-maintained, some exposed roots on the canyon sections. Confident trail runners only — the sustained descents on Cal Street are long and unrelenting, and the mid-canyon sections require attentive foot placement.
Connect with training partners, earn travel miles, and discover terrain worth crossing borders for.
Join ZealZagFollow us on InstagramWhen to Go
April through early June offers the most reliable conditions: cool mornings, manageable canyon temperatures, firm trail surfaces. The creek crossings are higher in snowmelt season (March–May) but typically passable.
Late June — race week itself — is the only time you experience what today's athletes experienced: 35-plus-degree canyon heat in the afternoon, the full psychological weight of the distance, and a finish line waiting at the end of a 25-hour window. Running even a short section of the course the day before the race gives you the spatial reference that race coverage can't provide.
October and November are ideal for runners who want cool, dry conditions and low crowds. California's fire season can close trail corridors — check current status with Placer County Parks and the Auburn State Recreation Area before any trip.
Where to Base
Auburn is the obvious choice. The town sits at the I-80 / Auburn-Folsom Road junction with the full range of accommodation from chain hotels to short-term rentals in the historic Old Town district. The Auburn State Recreation Area — which covers most of the American River canyon near the finish — begins at the town edge.
Foresthill is a small mountain community (population roughly 2,000) with limited lodging. Most runners day-trip from Auburn or Sacramento.
What Else to Do
Auburn State Recreation Area contains not just the Western States trail but a network of mountain bike trails, river access points, and equestrian routes through the American River canyon system. Trail runners building volume for the race often spend a week in Auburn in late spring, running the canyon routes and accumulating time on the specific trail surfaces.
Old Town Auburn is a ten-minute walk from the Placer High finish track. An independent running store, restaurants, and a stretch of preserved gold-rush-era buildings — functional post-run infrastructure with some history behind it.
Lake Tahoe, 90 minutes east on I-80, adds altitude and landscape variety to a training week based in Auburn. Combine canyon sections one day with high-altitude runs on the Tahoe Rim Trail or around Squaw Valley the next.
Frequently Asked
Do I need permits to run the Western States Trail? The trail crosses National Forest, BLM land, and private easements. No permit is required for recreational use outside of the race itself. Stay on the marked corridor.
Is the Rucky Chucky ford passable? It depends on snowpack. In a heavy snow year, the ford runs thigh-deep well into June. By October it's typically ankle to knee. Check current conditions via Placer County trail reports or the Western States social channels before heading out.
How long does the Foresthill-to-Auburn run take? For a fit trail runner, 4–6 hours point-to-point. The Cal Street descent is fast, but the canyon mid-section is technical enough that pushing pace costs you in the final miles to Auburn.
Where can I find other runners doing the WS course? Connect via Find Athletes in Auburn or Foresthill on ZealZag. Race week in late June draws a consistent community of athletes running course sections in advance of the event.
For today's race results — Bouillard and Lichter's course records, the unprecedented sub-14 men's triple — see our Western States 100 2026 field report. For the full Sierra Nevada course overview from Olympic Valley, see our Western States course guide.
