The Broken Arrow Skyrace is a June trail running festival at Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley, California, the former Squaw Valley and a past Winter Olympics venue. Created to emulate European mountain classics like Sierre-Zinal and Zegama-Aizkorri, it bills itself as one of North America's largest and most competitive trail running events. The flagship 23K has been a stop on the World Mountain Running Association World Cup and pays one of the biggest prize purses in the sport.
There is no lottery. Registration opens on UltraSignup in early December at 9 AM Pacific time, first-come, first-served, and the organisers say it is common for every distance to sell out on the day it opens. The 23K is their most popular distance, so after opening day the rolling waitlist is the main way in. For official details, head to the Broken Arrow Skyrace website.
Key dates
- Registration WindowOpen Dec 2026
- Race dayJun 20, 2027
Windows are shown to the month until the organiser confirms them. Subscribers get the exact day, by email, on the morning it opens.
The registration date is set. The opening is announced. Now it just has to not slip past you. Set up a BibsAlert and we'll email you the moment the Broken Arrow Skyrace registration goes live.
How to enter the Broken Arrow Skyrace
The 23K is entered first-come, first-served, with a waitlist once it is full, plus places for elite runners and selected run clubs. Entries cannot be refunded or transferred, so only register if you plan to run.
1. General Registration (First-Come, First-Served)
Register on UltraSignup, the race's registration platform, linked from the official 23K page. Registration opens on a morning in early December at 9 AM Pacific time, and places go in order until they run out. The organisers say it is common for every distance to sell out on opening day. You must be 18 or older to run the 23K. Runners holding a partial credit from the previous edition get an early registration window in the second half of November.
2. Waitlist
Once the 23K is full, add yourself to the waitlist on UltraSignup. Your card is not charged to join. Invites roll out in order: when a registered runner withdraws, the next runner on the list gets an invite, so the sooner you join the better.
3. Elite Application Program
Elite women and men start in their own invitation-only waves. Athletes with a legitimate shot at the podium or the top 20 can apply through the Elite Application Program, which can include complimentary entry and lodging. The top ten men and women in the 23K are invited back the following year, and invited runners still register on UltraSignup.
4. Inclusivity Initiative
BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and non-binary run clubs selected through an application process receive complimentary entries, the 23K among them, along with footwear, equipment and a travel stipend.
The course
The Broken Arrow 23K is a single technical loop around Palisades Tahoe, mostly above treeline. Its exact length and climbing change slightly each year with the snow.
- Start: the start arch in front of Coffeebar, in the Village at Palisades Tahoe
- Finish: the KT Sun Deck, Palisades Tahoe
- Distance: 22.9 km (14.25 miles), one loop
The first 3.25 miles follow singletrack along the Western States trail and are the fastest, most runnable part of the course. The route then climbs to the top of Snow King and along Red Dog Ridge, with views of Lake Tahoe, wraps around KT-22 and climbs steeply to the top of the Headwall lift. An exposed rocky ridge leads to the Stairway to Heaven ladder and Washeshu Peak, the high point of the race at about 9,000 feet. Runners then drop into Shirley Basin, always the snowiest section, past the Siberia aid station, climb back to High Camp and descend the Thunder Mountain singletrack to the finish. Expect scrambling, exposure, steep talus and snow patches, with hand lines installed where needed. Poles are allowed, but if you start with them you must carry them to the finish, and traction devices are allowed in snow years. There are no drop bags, pacers or crew on the 23K.
Why run the Broken Arrow Skyrace?
- The Stairway to Heaven: an exposed ridge scramble and a ladder near the top of Washeshu Peak, about 9,000 feet up.
- A world-class field: the flagship 23K has been part of the World Mountain Running Association World Cup and pays one of the biggest prize purses in trail running.
- Every runner celebrated: the race's motto is that whether you finish first or last, you are a rockstar, and a co-race director sends runners off and welcomes them home at the finish with a massive cowbell.
Missed out?
Spots for the Broken Arrow Skyrace sell out fast. If you missed this year's window, you still have options:
- Charity & partner entries: Many races reserve guaranteed places with charity partners and official tour operators, even after general entry sells out. Check the official website for partners.
- Try a similar race: Check the related races below for races with similar entry types, dates, or locations.
- Be ready next year: Set up a BibsAlert so you don't miss the moment registration opens.
Questions runners ask
How fast does the Broken Arrow 23K sell out?
The organisers say it is common for every distance to sell out on the day registration opens, and the 23K is their most popular distance. Registration opens on UltraSignup in early December at 9 AM Pacific time.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes, on UltraSignup. Joining is free and your card is not charged. Invites go out in order as registered runners withdraw, so the sooner you join the better.
Can I transfer my entry or get a refund?
No. Entries are not transferable, and anyone found to have transferred one is banned from the race for life. There are no refunds.
Is there mandatory gear?
The organisers publish recommended rather than mandatory gear: poles, a hydration vest, high-traction shoes, eyewear, sun protection and identification, plus a shell, warm layer, gloves and a hat in cold weather. June weather at Broken Arrow has ranged from extreme heat to snow and lightning.
Looking ahead
Registration opens on UltraSignup in the first week of December at 9 AM Pacific time, after an early window in late November for runners holding a partial credit. Every distance commonly sells out on opening day, so be ready the moment it opens, or join the waitlist straight away. Set up a BibsAlert to get notified when registration opens.