July 13, 2025
Put your grit, guts and determination to the test with a 50-mile course that packs more punch (per mile) than even the mighty Race Across the Sky. From technical climbs to high-speed descents, the Silver Rush 50 MTB takes riders across Leadville’s breathtaking panoramas and under the shadow of 14,000-foot Rocky Mountain peaks. With 8,000 feet of elevation gain over 50 miles, Silver Rush offers the perfect trial run — and qualifying event — for the LT100 MTB.
EVENT SCHEDULE
*2025 Schedule coming soon*
2024 schedule for reference:
FRIDAY
- 2:00pm – 7:00pm Packet Pickup
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- No onsite registration.
- ID is required.
- Packets must be picked up in person – they will not be mailed or given to others.
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
SATURDAY
- 5:00am – 5:45am – Packet Pickup – 50 RUN ONLY
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- No onsite registration.
- Photo ID required.
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 5:00am – 5:45am – Drop Bag Drop Off (50 Run only)
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill in Leadville Truck
- 6:00am SILVER RUSH 50 RUN START
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 9:00am SILVER RUSH 15 RUN START
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 10:00am – 3:00pm – MTB (50 and 15) Packet Pick Up
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- No onsite registration
- Photo ID required
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 12:00pm – 8:00pm Finish Festival
- 1:00 pm – 15 Mile & 5K Awards
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 4:00pm – 50 Run – Drop bags will be returned to start/finish (base of Dutch Henry hill)
- 8:00pm – 50 Run – Drop bags – all drop bags must be picked up!
- 8:00pm – LT100 Run Lottery Coin Drawing
- 50 mile runners only
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
SUNDAY
- 6:30am – 7:45am – Silver Rush MTB Packet Pickup
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- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- No onsite registration.
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 8:00am – SILVER RUSH 50 MTB START
- 8:00am – Wave 1 – self seeded
- 8:05am – Wave 2 – self seeded
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill – US Highway 24 and McWethy Dr.
- Note:
- Top of the hill – Qualifier coin will ONLY be at the top of the hill for wave 1 – first male and first female only
- There are no drop bags allowed for the Silver Rush 50 MTB
- 8:15am – 8:30am – Packet Pickup – SR 15 MTB ONLY
- 9:00am SILVER RUSH 15 MTB START
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill – US Highway 24 and McWethy Dr.
- 12:00pm – 5:00pm Finish Festival
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill – US Highway 24 and McWethy Dr.
- 1:00pm – 15 MTB Awards
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
- Location: Base of Dutch Henry Hill
- 5:00pm – 50 Mile Awards Ceremony and LT100 MTB Qualifier Selection
- LT100 MTB Qualifying Spots will be awarded
- Must be present to claim your LT100 MTB Qualifier Spot
REGISTRATION & PRICING
Registration opens January 8th, 2025
2025 event pricing coming soon.
Minimum Ages:
- Silver Rush 50 MTB: 16+ on race day
- Silver Rush 15 Mile MTB: 18+ on race day
- Silver Rush 15 Mile MTB JUNIORS: 12-18 on race day
- Silver King & Silver Queen: 16+ on race day
AID STATIONS & COURSE CUTOFFS
AID STATIONS
- There will be five well-supplied aid stations along course!
- Aid stations will offer: Water, Skratch Labs hydration, bars and chews, Precision Fuel & Hydration Gels, Assorted foods including bananas, figs, pretzels, chips, etc.
- Mile 7.7 – Black Cloud Outbound
- Mile 14.3 – Printer Boy Outbound
- Mile 24 – Stumptown Outbound (12:50pm cutoff)
- Mile 34.2 – Printer Boy Inbound (2:20pm cutoff)
- Mile 40.3 – Black Cloud Inbound
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Aid stations will offer Skratch Labs (On- Course Nutrition), Precision Fuel & Hydration gels, water, and assorted foods including bananas, figs, pretzels, chips, etc.
COURSE CUTOFFS
- Racers that do not make the cut off at the aid stations will NOT be able to continue the race
- Cutoffs at aid stations are based on gun time – and have factored in various start times
- Cutoffs at finish are based on chip time
- 12:50pm – Mile 24 – Stumptown
- 2:20 pm – Mile 34.2 – Printer Boy Inbound
- 4:35 pm – Mile 48.4 – Finish Line – Total Course Cutoff (8hrs and 30 minutes)
COURSE INFO
The 50-mile out-and-back course takes racers through the historic mining district on the east side of Leadville. Primarily on dirt roads, first set by miners and their burros, it will begin at the Cloud City Ski Hut (located just below Colorado Mountain College on Hwy 24 on the South end of Leadville). None of the roads used will be closed to vehicle traffic, so please use caution. The route will take runners by and between many grand and historic gold and silver mines.
- 48.4 miles
- 7,503′ Elevation Gain
- 12,024′ Highest point
- Interactive Map / GPX File
CREW & SPECTATOR INFORMATION
We recognize crews as a critical component to all of our events. Our courses cover open roads and trails and careful consideration must go into how and where crews and spectators can access their athletes. A conscious plan around this is a foundation of our partnership with the community, USFS, BLM, City of Leadville and Lake County officials to ensure we are providing a safe event experience to everyone involved.
To support local community impacts and maintain safety on public roads, the only areas where crew and and spectators are allowed on course are:
- Start/Finish Area
- Printer Boy Aid Station (mile 14.3 outbound, mile 34.2 inbound)
- Stumptown Aid Station (half way point, turnaround)
Printer Boy Aid Station and Stumptown Aid Station can be accessed using public roads, please follow the spectator map below for driving directions.
In an effort to maintain positive community relationships, it’s important to be aware our race courses cross multiple Private Property Sections including, but not limited to the following areas: Powerline, Sugar Loaf Mountain, County Road 2, near Oro City Aid Station, County Road 1 near Ball Mountain.
PARKING & SHUTTLES
Parking and overall congestion in Leadville will be a crucial topic for everyone this season and for our presence in Leadville moving forward.
All athletes and spectators will be required to park at the Community Fields, Middle School Parking, and High School Parking lot and take a shuttle (or run, walk, bike) to the start line.
Please reference this Google Map for parking and shuttle locations, detailed driving directions below.
There will be NO athlete or spectator parking at the start line. The map below outlines parking locations and shuttle pickup spots. The shuttle locations are under 1 mile from the race start and will run efficiently and quickly to get you to where you need to be!
Parking Locations open to all spectators:
Community Fields Parking Location: Go West on W 6th St until it dead ends into McWethy Dr
Middle School Parking Location: Go West on W 6th Street, corner of McWethy Dr and W 6th St
High School Parking Location: Go West on W 4th St, High School is on the left side (if you make a hard turn onto Washington St, turn around)
Parking Location open to ONLY crew:
Printer Boy Crew Parking Location: Travel South on Harrison St, turn left on Monroe St, turn right on S Toledo St. Follow S Toledo St until you see signs for Crew Parking.
Stumptown Aid Station (LIMITED CAPACITY):
Stumptown Aid Station Parking Location: From Harrison St, go South on E 5th St, slight right turn on 1, follow 1 at the 38A fork, continue through Parking signage.
Shuttle Schedule
Shuttles run through the following dates and times:
EXPO Day
Friday, July 5
Community Fields Parking ➡️ Expo (Dutch Henry Hill)
1:45PM–7:15PM (running every 15 minutes)
RUN Race Day
Saturday, July 6
Community Fields Parking ➡️ Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill)
5:00AM–8:30PM (running every 15 minutes)
Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill) ➡️ Printer Boy Aid Station (and back)
6:00AM–5:00PM (running every 30 minutes)
Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill) ➡️ Stumptown Aid Station (and back)
7:30AM–2:30PM (running every 30 minutes)
Printer Boy Aid Station ➡️ Stumptown Aid Station (and back)
7:30AM–2:30PM (running every 30 minutes)
MTB Race Day
Sunday, July 7
Community Fields Parking ➡️ Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill)
6:00AM–6:00PM (running every 15 minutes)
Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill) ➡️ Printer Boy Aid Station (and back)
7:30AM–3:00PM (running every 30 minutes)
Start/Finish (Dutch Henry Hill) ➡️ Stumptown Aid Station (and back)
8:30AM–1:30PM (running every 30 minutes)
Printer Boy Aid Station ➡️ Stumptown Aid Station (and back)
9:00AM–1:30PM (running every 30 minutes)
RESULTS & PHOTOS
ATHLETE GUIDE
Note: Information in the Athlete Guide is always subject to change, please monitor our website in the weeks leading up to the event.
AWARDS
Didn’t pick up your award in Leadville? Not to worry. You can order your award(s) to be shipped: Ship My Award
15 Mile Awards Time: 1:00PM
50 Mile Awards Time: 5:00PM
Location: Base of Dutch Henri Hill
- US Highway 24 & McWethy Dr.
- Dutch Henry Tubing Hill
All 50 finishers receive a medal.
Results will be posted online concluding the event.
LT100 MTB Qualifying Spots will be awarded at the awards ceremony, must be present to claim your LT100 MTB Qualifier Spot.
Silver King & Silver Queen awards will be awarded to athletes that conquered BOTH the Silver Rush 50 Run and Silver Rush 50 MTB at the awards ceremony.
Award Categories
Silver Rush 15-Mile MTB participant awards will be in the following category:
- Top 3 Men
- Top 3 Women
- Top 3 Non-Binary
- Top 3 Para Male
- Top 3 Para Female
- Top 3 Juniors Male
- Top 3 Juniors Female
Silver Rush 50-Mile MTB awards will be in the following category:
- Top 3 Overall Male
- Top 3 Overall Female
- Top 3 Para Male
- Top 3 Para Female
- Top 3 Non-Binary
- Top 3 singlespeed
- Top 3 tandem (teams)
- Top 3 age group
- 19-under
- 20-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70+
Age group awards will be based on the age an athlete will be on RACE DAY.
LT100 MTB QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
The Leadville Silver Rush 50 is a qualifier for the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB. There are a total of 50 LT100 qualifier coins up for grabs at this year’s race. Half of the total LT100 coins will be distributed based on performance and half of the coins will be given away in the Event Lottery at the conclusion of the awards ceremony. Only the 50-mile distance serves as a qualifier for the LT100 MTB.
25 slots will be distributed based on performance:
- Slots will be distributed to each gender and age group (20-29, 30-39, etc.) based on the percentage of total athletes in those age groups, with a minimum of one slot for every age group.
- The top athletes in each age group will receive the allocated slots.
- In the event a top athlete elects not to accept a slot, the slot will roll down to the next athlete in the results within the age group.
- In the event slots are not claimed after the roll down in each age group, those slots will be allocated to the Event Lottery, as described below.
25 slots will be distributed through the Event Lottery:
- Finishers of the SR50 distance will be eligible to win an LT100 MTB coin in the Event Lottery.
- All finishers under the predetermined maximum finish time who have indicated their desire to participate in the lottery will be entered in the lottery.
- Names will be drawn from the eligible lottery athletes and slots will be given out.
- In the event an athlete opts not to accept a slot, the slots will roll down to the next athlete that is drawn until ALL slots have been distributed.
- Qualification slots must be claimed in person immediately.
- Registration for the Leadville Trail 100 MTB must be completed and paid for during the designated time offered.
- Only solo riders/runners competing the required distance under the allotted cutoff time will be considered as potential qualifiers.
- All registration fees for the LT100 Run are nontransferable and non-refundable
Visit our LT100 MTB Qualification System page for more information
LT100 MTB CORRAL INFO
Your time at the Leadville Silver Rush 50 MTB can be used to enhance your corral position at the LT100 MTB.
ZERO WASTE & LEAVE NO TRACE
Our races are Zero Waste events. Look for recycle and compost bins at every aid station and start/finish. Please discard any trash in an appropriate container. Intentional littering on the course will be grounds for disqualification. The course—on trails both public and private—travels past many historic sites and through areas of exceptional beauty. Help us keep them pristine.
We will be recycling all plastic, aluminum and cardboard during these races, and all our events. We’ll take care of this at the aid stations. At the start/finish, please ensure you place trash or recyclable materials in the appropriate containers, which will be well marked.
VOLUNTEERS
From the very beginning, volunteers have made the Silver Rush 50 MTB possible. We truly appreciate all that our great volunteers do to make our races run smoothly and to make the racers’ experience unforgettable. If you are going to be in town for the Silver Rush 50 MTB, we would love for you to join the family and pitch in. Thanks in advance for your help — we couldn’t do it without you!
You can find more information here.
CAMPING
Colorado Mountain College will offer camping during the Silver Rush weekend.
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Camping registration will open on March 15th.
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Four days, three nights, showers, and water.
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All proceeds go to the CMC XC/Track team.
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For information, Please email Darren Brundgardt at dbrungardt@coloradomtn.edu.
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Register here: https://www.runningguru.com/E1.asp?eID=116228
DEFERRALS
90 + Day Out From Event:
- Option 1: Receive a 60% refund on the entry fee.
- Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of 40% of the entry fee.
- 50-mile MTB Option 1: Receive a $81 refund.
- 50-mile MTB Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of $54.
- 50-mile Tandem Option 1: Receive a $120 refund.
- 50-mile Tandem Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of $80.
- Sliver King & Silver Queen Option 1: Receive a $162 refund
- Silver King & Silver Queen Option 2: Defer into the following year, pay a deferral fee of $108.
- 15-mile MTB Option 1: $20
- 15-mile MTB Junior Option 2: $10
89 Days or Less From Event:
- Defer into the following year, and pay a deferral fee of 40% of the entry fee.
No transfers.
A race entry can only be deferred one time and only to the following year’s event.
You can defer your entry through your Chronotrack account, here: Register.ChronoTrack.com
Here is an instruction article: https://support.chronotrack.com/hc/en-us/articles/204834280-How-do-I-Defer-or-Change-my-Race-Registration-
If you have any questions please contact the Athlete Services Manager at leadville@ltevents.zendesk.com
BIKE SHIPPING
Bike Flights
If you will be handling your own bike assembly and packing and box or case storage, ship your bike with our official bike shipping partner, Bike Flights.
Click here for more information.
Cycles of Life
Cycles of Life is a full service bike shop right in the town of Leadville, providing shipping services, all types of minor and major repair, tune-ups, custom wheel building, suspension and fork overhauls, bike fitting and more. To make things easy for you, have your bike shipped directly to the shop where Cycles of Life will unpack, assemble, inspect, fully tune and prepare your bike for race day. Post-race, simply drop off your ride and Cycles of Life will repack and ship to your destination.
Click here for Cycles of Life shipping package options and details.
SILVER RUSH 15-MILE MTB
Silver Rush 50 weekend will have a 15.5-mile MTB race on the Sunday 9:00 a.m! This race will start and finish on the same course as the Silver Rush 50 MTB. This race provides an excellent entry option into mountain bike racing and will, of course, be accompanied by the tremendous Leadville views along the way.
- 15.6 miles
- 1676’ Elevation Gain
- 10,900’ Highest Point
SILVER KING & SILVER QUEEN
One race not enough for you? Try two days of exhilarating challenges. First, spend Saturday running the Silver Rush 50 Run, and follow it up on Sunday with the Silver Rush 50 MTB. Finish both and you’ll earn respect from everyone. Finish both events within the allotted time and you’ll forever be known as a Silver King or Silver Queen.
The Silver King & Silver Queen challenge will take place beginning with the Silver Rush 50 Run on Saturday and ending with the Silver Rush 50 MTB on Sunday.
Racers that finish within the time limits of both of these races will receive a Silver King or Silver Queen award. The male and female with the overall fastest combined times will be crowned the Overall Silver King and Overall Silver Queen.