Deadwood: Sunday buses, an uphill first half and a 15:00 closure
The festival begins on June 5, but the full marathon is on Sunday. The official schedule lists marathon buses leaving the Days of 76 Rodeo Grounds at 06:30. Selected hotel departures have separate times and reservation requirements, so check eligibility before assuming you can board a hotel bus.
The half marathon starts farther along the same trail. It has its own bus departures even though both races start at 08:00 and share the finish. Confirm the distance and destination when boarding, and keep the essentials you need before the start with you.
The course description places the main descent after the earlier climbing, with a particularly steep section around miles 19.6–20. Prepare for controlled downhill running late in the race and avoid chasing an early pace that ignores the opening profile. The rail-trail setting still requires attention to footing and other participants.
The seven-hour finish window includes all stops. Review the final rules and support arrangements rather than assuming an official result will remain available after the 15:00 closure. Aid is described as no more than three miles apart, usually closer to two; compare the final station products with supplies you have already practiced using. Plan a finish meeting point at the Deadwood Trailhead and check the return-bus location and service window. The published schedule provides transport back to hotels and the parking area, but companions should use their own access instructions. Recheck the final map because the website still links an older downloadable course file. Bring familiar equipment for the confirmed surface, use the race-week forecast, and save the transport timetable so that an early-morning connectivity problem does not disrupt your arrival.
Confirmed race date
Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon: June 6, 2027. Verified on October 14, 2026 against the official event information.
Last-known race profile
These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. The previous race date does not establish the next edition. Use the confirmed date above and recheck the final participant instructions before committing to a race-day schedule.