Race Information:

Race Check-In:
*Friday, June 14th 11:00am – 5:00pm at The Bent Rod in Challis.
*Then from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Challis City Park.
*Yes, you can check in race day morning, but we’d prefer everyone check in Friday.

Start Times
Cutoffs
Drop Bags
Crews
Pacers
Post Race & Aid Station Food
Awards & Schwag
Refunds & Switching Distances
Age Minimums
Special Thanks
Challis Running
Where did the name River of No Return come from?

Start Times

• 108k: 5:00 am
• 55k: 6:30 am
• 32k: 8:30 am – approx.

Cutoffs

Runners must DEPART the aid station by the following times:

108K

• Juliette Creek: 10.5 hours (3:30 pm)
• Bayhorse Lake: 13 hours (6:00pm)
• Squaw Creek: 16 hours (9:00 pm); headlamps after 6:00 pm
• Buster Lake: 19 hours (12:00am)
• Custer Motorway: 21 hours (2:00 am)
• Finish: 22 hours (3:00 am)

55K

• Bayhorse: 5.5 hours (12:00 pm)
• Keystone: 8.5 hours (3:00 pm)
• Finish: 12:30 hours (7:00 pm)

32K

• Keystone: 6 hours (3:00)

Drop Bags

All drop bags are collected on race morning at the start. Please look for the proper sign with your desired location.  Don’t confuse Bayhorse & Bayhorse Lake!
Please label your drop bag with your name and bib number.
Please do NOT leave any valuables including keys, iPods, cell phones, etc in your drop bag.
Challis Running and the Race Management is NOT responsible for the loss of any drop bags.

Drop Bag Locations:

• Bayhorse  (Mile 16)
• Bayhorse Lake (Mile 38.5)
• Buster Lake (Mile 55.6)

Crews

Crews are encouraged and welcomed to support all runners.

Crews are not permitted to provide assistance to their runners outside of any designated aid stations and are not permitted to pace or drive next to their runners or provide light to their runners along the driving roads.

Crews are NOT PERMITTED at Birch Creek Saddle, Keystone, Ramshorn, Juliette. Crews accessing any of these aid stations will result in their runner disqualification.

As many crew members and supporters as desired are welcome to run with their runner from the upper end of Main Street in Challis to the Finish at the Challis City Park (approximately 1 mile).

Pacers (108k only)

Pacers can be picked up at:

• Bayhorse Lake (Mile 38.5)
• Squaw Creek (Mile 47.6)
• Buster Lake (Mile 55.6) 4WD ONLY!
• Custer Motorway (Mile 63.7)
• Pacers are allowed in the 108K race beginning from Bayhorse Lake (Mile 38.5) to the finish.
• You may have more than one pacer to help you get to the finish line, but runners may be accompanied by no more than one pacer at a time.
• Pacers need to check in prior to running, and need to clearly identify themselves at every aid station.
• Pacers should be well conditioned to travel the distance with their runner.
• Pacers are responsible for their own transportation to and from their starting location. Race management will not organize or facilitate any shuttle.
• Pacers may eat and drink from the aid station tables.
• Pacers must enter and exit aid stations with their runner.
• No “muling” is allowed. “Muling” is when a pacer carries any supplies (drinks, food, clothing, etc) for the runner outside of the aid station area.
• No dogs, no bikes, no horses.
• As many crew members and supporters as desired may accompany a runner from the upper end of Main Street in Challis to the Finish Line at the Challis City Park, approximately the last mile.

Post Race Food

All finishers will be treated to a post race meal at the Challis City Park.

Aid Station Food

Water
Tailwind
Bananas
Oranges
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Pretzels
Potato Chips
Gummy Bears
Bread-Peanut Butter-Jelly
Coke-Pepsi-Sprite-Ginger Ale
Granola Bars
M&Ms
Cookies
Potatoes
Tortillas-quesadillas
Otter Pops (108K select only)
Saltine Crackers
Potato Chips
Chicken Soup
Salt

Awards & Schwag

The following overall places will be awarded: 

• Top 3 men/women overall
• Top 3 in each age division
• Top 3 Masters (over 40)
• Tech Shirts for all participants.  Finishers jackets 55K, 108K.
• Finisher RONR mug for 32K.  Custom RONR finisher River Rock for all finishes.

Refunds & Switching Distances

Please see the Registration page.

Age Limits – Minors

Those under 18 years old must get written consent from the race directors. If you feel you are able to run 10 or more miles through the mountains of Idaho and you are under 18, please contact [email protected] before registering. We will go over your resume and determine if you are capable of safely finishing the race. We may require a parent to stay with you throughout the race if you are very young. Parents check with race management first, then proceed to register. We reserve the right to remove anyone under 18 from the course at any time, if they failed to obtain parental permission and race management approval.

Special Thanks

• Custer County Search & Rescue
• Snake River Search and Rescue

The Mission of Challis Running

Our mission is to showcase the RONR Endurance Runs as a world-class ultra-running event. The RONR Endurance Runs provide a tangible backcountry experience for runners from the beginner to the elite level. Come test your mettle on these challenging courses! Directed by Paul Lind & Family.

River of No Return?

The Main Salmon River was called “The River of No Return” back in early mining days when boats could navigate down the river but could not get back up through the fast water and numerous rapids. The Salmon River flows through a canyon that is five thousand feet deep and nearly two hundred miles long. When Lewis and Clark encountered this gorge, they turned back and followed an old Indian route around the area. Early fur trappers also avoided the Salmon canyon. Because the canyon was too rugged for wagon roads, access was by packhorses over difficult trails or by river. Wooden, flat-bottomed boats were developed to take supplies and mining machinery from the end of the road at Salmon into the canyon. The Salmon River was too swift to bring these boats back up river for another trip, so they were dismantled, and the boards were used as lumber. Since these boats never came back to Salmon, the “River of No Return” as a term came into use around 1900. The romantic name lives on today, even though jet boats can navigate upstream.